Twitter: @TOinTransit
TTCriders group gives transit commission failing grade RAHUL GUPTA @TOinTransit When it comes to affordability, accessibility and frequency of service, the TTC fails dismally, according to a recent report released by a transit advocacy group. In its report card measuring the TTC’s performance over the last year, the group TTCriders says the transit commission gets a failing
grade for charging expensive fares, not providing fully accessible service to the disabled and for not providing a level of service that reflects increased ridership. In terms of environmental sustainability, the TTC gets no mark since it doesn’t publicize information on the levels of smog emissions and greenhouse gases that are reduced through the use of public transit.
“The report card makes it clear the TTC is not on track to building a public transit system that serves the need of transit users,” said TTCriders spokesperson Franz Hartmann during a press conference at city hall. Hartmann, who is the executive director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance, said the TTC does receive a passing mark for calling for transit expansion and
Special transit council formed to discuss regional transit options RAHUL GUPTA @TOinTransit Agnes Gee hates her commute. The Barrie resident spends upwards of four hours per day riding the GO bus to downtown Toronto, where she works. She’d rather drive, but the bus is her only affordable option right now, she says. “It sucks, pure and simple,” said Gee, who was sitting outside the Union Station GO bus terminal last Friday morning. “We need more transit.” The Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance says it wants to hear more from commuters like Gee who are frustrated with the slow growth of a regional transit network connecting Toronto with surrounding municipalities making up the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The level of congestion worsens as the region grows ever larger – projections indicate by 2031 the GTHA will have added over three million people. CivicAction has formed a special council of advocates (or champions),
dedicated to kick-starting a public conversation about transit. Last Friday, seven members of the Regional Transportation Champions Council were introduced to the media by group chair John Tory and CEO Mitzie Hunter. In all, 27 members have already been named. Tory said the council will meet together and with the public to discuss how to create awareness for a regional transit strategy in line with the Metrolinx Big Move, which calls for $40 billion of transit investment over the next 25 years. The initial list of champions includes business, public sector and not-for-profit leaders, individuals from all walks of life who will work together and with the public to create awareness not only for transit expansion, but the means to pay for it, said Tory. “We think now is the time to discuss and to decide to fully engage the public in this much-needed dialogue,” said Tory at the event. The members of the council are former City of Toronto chief planner Paul Bedford,
Joe Berridge from Urban Strategies, Michael Cooper of Dundee REIT, Patrick Dillon from the Provincial Building and Trades Council of Ontario, Blake Hutcheson of the Oxford Properties Group, the Canadian Automobile Association’s Faye Lyons and Abdul Hai Patel of the Canadian Council of Imams. The council, which will eventually number 40 in total, has already begun to meet and strategize about a fall campaign, which it hopes will get the public clamouring for better transit rather than politicians who can’t work together, said Tory. Bedford, a longtime advocate for regional transit funding said it will take around three billion dollars a year in dedicated transit funding if the region can meet its goal in providing a comprehensive network paid entirely through funding tools such as a GTHA sales tax or parking levy. “This is essential that we solve this,” said Bedford. “Other regions around North America and the world are doing this. We need to do the same.”
examining ways to raise long-term funding through tax dollars. Hartmann said solutions for increasing the TTC’s performance lie in recognizing the importance of not only expanding the current system, but maintaining it as well. “We have to invest in both maintaining current service and we need to expand it,” he said. “If we don’t, we doom ourselves and transit riders to economic and environmental
harm.” Hartmann said TTCriders was in constant contact with TTC brass, and was pleased the commission has begun to compile its own performance stats, which are released daily. “The more information that’s out there, the better it will help riders,” he said. To view the report online, visit www.ttcriders.ca
Metrolinx CEO wants transit funding commitment from federal government RAHUL GUPTA @TOinTransit The CEO of provincial transit planner Metrolinx said the agency plans to go out this fall and speak with the general public about how to pay for transit expansion. While he did not elaborate on a schedule for the public consultations, Bruce McCuaig said Metrolinx wants to get feedback across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) on the range of revenue generating measures the agency is considering on behalf of the province. “Whether it’s one funding stream or a combination, that’s the conversation we have to have with the public,” said McCuaig, who joined Metrolinx in 2010. “If you go around the world you’ll see communities have these types of conversations all the time.” While Metrolinx must report to the provincial government in 2013 on how to pay for transit funding, McCuaig, who was the deputy minister of transportation for the Liberals before he joined the planning agency, said residents of the
Bruce McCuaig
made it crucial to support transit investment. “The common message from the federal government should be a long term commitment to transit and transportation,” he said. “National investment in transit should be a cornerstone of what municipalities can rely upon.” McCuaig said the scrapped OneCity transit proposal, which called for a Scarborough subway along the existing rapid transit line, conflicted directly with approval from citay council last spring for an LRT line, which has already received funding from the ministry of transportation. “We have alignment with the city and the province on that project,” said McCuaig. “What we have with OneCity is two councillors who have come forward saying they have a different vision and they think we should go back and review that piece.”
GTHA can’t expect large scale spending from the province for transit to continue. He said a public conversation is necessary to determine how to best find money for projects years down the road. “Governments really don’t have the financial wherewithal to keep investing at a level they have been investing in,” he said. “I don’t think we can expect the next 18 billion dollars to come from the Ontario treasury.” Nonetheless he called on the federal Best Buy CORRECTION NOTICE government to boost NEWSPAPER RETRACTION FOR THE BEST BUY its support for transit JULY 20 CORPORATE FLYER Please be advised that spending, saying the this product: 7” Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (WebCode: economic strength of 10206559) advertised on the July 20 flyer, page 1, may not be available for purchase in select stores Toronto and surround- due to limited inventory and delays in shipment. ing municipalities We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.
25 | THE VILLAGER | Thursday, July 26, 2012
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