I’ve been in the news twice this week. Yesterday, the Sun’s Jenny Yuen contacted myself and Steve Munro, asking for our comments on the TTC’s decision to hike fares by as much as 16% come the new year. Steve’s comments didn’t make it, but mine did (see here, along with a fair amount of column space devoted to a grassroots effort to organize a strike by TTC riders to protest the coming fare hike.
The article led directly to a phone call by a representative of CFRB 1010’s Bill Carroll Radio Show, which was also discussing the fare increase and the coming strike. I agreed to give my opinions, and was told to hold the line. While I listened to the two radio personalities discuss their issues with rude drivers on the TTC, and their (understandable) frustration with the fare hike, one of the presenters announced that they would be talking to “one of the organizers” of the TTC Riders strike; namely, me.
Well, I hastily corrected them on that score. Though I think the TTC Riders’ strike is an interesting idea, I’ve not had anything to do with it. Indeed, the remarkable thing about this strike (details here; official web site here) is how spontaneous it has been. It appears that one woman just set up a Facebook page, and the whole thing snowballed, thanks to blogs and Twitter.
I apologize to the producers of the Bill Carroll Radio Show for the confusion. I answered their questions as best they could, and I hope we had an interesting and positive discussion, but I also hope that they eventually managed to get the actual strike organizer on the line.
So, how do I feel about all of this? Well, I didn’t organize it, and I won’t be participating in it (given that I now live in Kitchener, the point is rather moot), but I wish the organizers all success, because I understand their frustration. I don’t agree with their focus on the TTC as “the enemy”, so to speak, but I hope that their action will also send a message to the municipal and provincial politicians which control the TTC’s subsidy.
The TTC has little choice but to raise fares at this point. The TTC is one of the two least-subsidized public transit agencies in North America. Even New York City receives more government subsidy per rider than the TTC. If our provincial and municipal governments don’t step up to increase the TTC’s funding, and if we believe (as many do) that the TTC’s service has been cut enough, then simple math dictates that the remaining funds can only come through fare increases. The TTC’s Riders pay for three-quarters of the operation of the system. Back in 1988, when the TTC carried the same number of riders with 300 additional buses and streetcars — a time many would say the TTC was a much better service than now — TTC Riders paid for only two-thirds of the operation of the system. It’s not rocket science to see the main source of the problem, here. The striking riders should be talking not only to the TTC, but to City Hall and Queen’s Park telling our governments that fare hikes and service cutbacks are not the answer. We need our governments to spend more to ensure that our streets flow more freely, and our economy moves more smoothly.
I have been an advocate for public transportation for decades. I have been assisting with the Transit Toronto web site for over twelve years. During this time, I’ve seen public transportation change from an afterthought to something which politicians are starting to pay more attention to. However, it can be easy for a politician’s attention to waver. The proposed TTC Riders’ strike shows that the citizens of Toronto have become a lot more engaged and enraged about the quality of public transportation in their city. They know that it’s important, and they know that they deserve better, and they’re starting to make noise.
And that’s a good thing to see.
Further Reading
The TTC can cut service. The TTC can get real about flimsy, costly, less than touted hybrid buses. The politicians can stop caving in to all demands immediately after a wildcat strike on a Friday at midnight. The TTC can end transferable passes. The TTC can stop grandstanding over raised streetcar lanes and politically wonover Stubway projects.
Bad idea. The service is still overcrowded, and it’s only now that we’re starting to provide a reasonable level of service throughout the city at all hours of the day. This is the definition of public service. I say, raise fares before you cut service.
Not entirely their fault. The technology is being pushed by various political interests outside of the TTC, and the technology did promise higher fuel efficiency during an era when fuel costs were an exceptional burden. I think the TTC is getting as real as they can about these buses, by taking them off the road, and raising a stink over the on-road specs being less than promised, but I suspect that, though they’d buy cheap diesels if they could, they still need government money to make that purchase, and the government will only give them money if they buy something else.
I share your frustration here, and have written about it before. Our politicians are loathe to spend money on routine maintenance and basic service. They want flashier things that get their pictures in papers, even though they benefit fewer riders.
To what are you referring? The last strike (legal) was settled through binding arbitration. And as for the wages the TTC drivers, collectors and mechanics make, well, believe it or not, they’re not too far off the market. There’s only a couple dollars difference between TTC drivers and drivers in Mississauga or Montreal. And the TTC (and GO Transit) has had difficulty keeping its drivers. More than a few take the TTC (and GO’s) six week training session to land a bus drivers license (I forget what the class is), only to have those candidates jump ship to private charter bus companies where the pay is similar, hours are better, and you get tips.
If private companies are poaching the TTC and GO its drivers, you’re not going to get much savings if you union-bust.
More than a few people would disagree with you on this one. Have you taken your suggestion up with Steve Munro?
The Sheppard Stubway was the fault of Mel Lastman and other politicians, not the TTC itself. Please keep the responsibilities straight, here.
And what grandstanding? It took twenty-five years from the initial proposal to restore streetcars to Spadina Avenue, and the consultation between community, roads commission and the TTC over the project was astonishing. The St. Clair project itself began as a proposal to upgrade track that was already due for rehabilitation — a $6 million expense over what was already on the budget. The other stuff that ballooned the price: hydro wire burial, streetscape rehabilitation, et cetera? Those were other departments and politicans who added ideas to the project like it was some Christmas tree. Again, not the TTC’s fault.
Hi James - I’m sorry there was any confusion, but I am glad you spoke to some of the media - there are many transit aficionados such as yourself with knowledge far greater than mine that should be shared.
I didn’t mean for the action to become such a focal point for people’s frustrations, but I am not surprised it did in retrospect. I’ve tried to emphasize that I don’t want it to be about the operators or the union as the problem, and I also want to recognize the place that funding takes in this mess. It just seems to the casual observer that there are areas where the TTC fails to manage its money well, and without explanation of the situation that puts the TTC in this fare hike bind, it’s hard for people to accept. No matter the opinion, I am just glad people are talking about transit and what we need to do to change it.
It’s my hope that we can bring together a group of people who will not only advocate for the ridership, but for the TTC itself as well - and that’s to the federal and the provincial governments. And municipal election time approaches…
I actually love the TTC. And I love most things about it, including most of the operators. But the last few years have been very hard on our relationship. ;)
Thanks for all your work and writings!
Nicole.
I agree with Nicole.
The TTC doesn’t care enough about customer service to the casual observer and rider. The operators are not to blame, management is.
While it’s been getting better, there is a long way to go.
I was wonder why not does Toronto something like Lodon england and charge tax for traffic instead of raising fairs all the time.
also there is a big tax waste during south bound during rush hour.
there 17 ttc employees and about 5 cops all to get users to south part of the platform
I feel this does not work and bring a wedge between riders and ttc
I feel this should stop
please help me stop this
The city has limited taxation power. People have talked about a congestion charge, as in the case of London, England, but there are doubts whether the city has the legal power to raise it. It may be something that only the province can impose. The city may have power to toll the Gardiner and the DVP (city-owned limited access roads), but the danger there is that you simply shift traffic onto the sidestreets, increasing congestion. Similarly, London has an advantage that Toronto does not have: it’s London. There’s a big, big cachet in locating your business there, and people will pay for the privilege. A similar situation exists in Manhattan. For Toronto, however, which was (and is) losing businesses to the cheaper realms of the 905 area code, such a tax could accelerate the process and prove self defeating.
And as for the “big tax waste”, I think you’re wrong. For one thing, counterflow commuting is increasing, so that trains in both directions are getting more crowds during rush hour. For another, it’s sort of hard to run subway trains in one direction. They eventually have to return to the start of the line to begin their journeys again.
But you’re basically right: if you want a transit service that has decent fares and you don’t want to cut services to get it, then your only solution is increased subsidy from either the city or the province. And that hasn’t happened. So what you need to do is write to city hall and Queen’s Park and tell them that improved transit subsidies mean a lot to you as a voter.
It is a tax waste to have 17 employees and four cops that thousands dollars a day for the tax payer.
I do not know about you but I believe that money can be better spent.
TTC should not raise transit cost if they mismanage their money like this.
Basically it is not working and riders are getting upset
FYI: The decision to was made by a local councillor Adam Gambrone and not provincail.
I asked everyone to email him this just a tax waste period
Here is his web site http://www.adamgiambrone.ca/
Also I do not agree with you about congestion charge j It is a excuse not to try it and we need a Mayor who will to try it and push this idea.
It will help public transit and lower cars in the down town area.
FYI: it was the same argument made against this tax in London until one Mayor took a bold move and it worked.
So on May 10th I ask everyone to stop ttc mismanagement and implement a congestion tax Before that date email email and email Adam.