The poor TTC. Getting beat up for raising fares. Trying to fill in a $106M gap next year. The 25 cent increase it expected to bring in $45M. What are they supposed to do? They just can't win. Even with increasing ridership over the recession, they're losing money.
I was surprised to learn that the TTC provides the most rides per capita in North America yet it has one of the lowest subsidies among North American transit systems.
Apparently New York's transit system gets a US$1.71 subsidy per ride compared to CAN$ 0.59 per TTC ride. (A ride on NY subway is US$2).
I stumbled upon this fascinating report written in 1958 looking at the problem NY had with their transit system because they originally had a mandate to be self-sustaining.
"...The Authority is currently losing over $2,000,000 a month...the 15-cent fare cannot possible be continued...This imminent fare increase will accelerate the continuing downslide in riding of subways and buses. In fact, the drop in riding from the increase alone will be so sharp that it will immediately wipe out close to half the additional revenues the higher fare should bring in...[U]nder the rule of the self-sustaining fare, there will be another hike to 25 cents and then to 30 cents in a few more years, with even greater declines in riding."
Perhaps if they were allowed more support for expansion to relevant areas (Subway along Queen, Eglinton, Finch etc) people would use it more in lieu of their cars.
ReplyDeleteIf it were up to me, I'd tax those darn 905ers who drive into our city, and use that money to fund the expansion.
Can't wait until Jane grows up and becomes a 905-er
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a chicken egg thing. If the TTC expanded service so that it saved both time and money for 905ers to take TTC, you'd see way more people using it. Toll roads are one way to expand and apparently it's being considered: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/723876--making-a-case-for-toll-roads
ReplyDeleteApparently we should also be considering a municipal sales tax: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/11/05/348055.aspx similar to what NY, Chicago, Denver and Pheonix have.
Please distribute this widely.
ReplyDeleteYou may have heard that OCAP is having a TTC action (see below). We are looking for help with flyering.
Flyering Times:
1) Outside/Inside Broadview Subway Station:
Tuesday, December 8th: 4:30pm
2) Outside/Inside Dundas West Subway Station:
Wednesday, December 9th: 4:30pm
Also, if you would like to sign up to to do outreach, or organize a separate leafleting time, please email us at the OCAP office at: ocap@tao.ca
Lastly - if you have access to a photocopier let us know.
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Angry about the TTC Fare Hike?
It's time to make transit affordable!
Public Action Against the Transit Fare Hikes
Saturday, December 12th
1pm
Toronto City Hall (Queen and Bay)
The Toronto Transit Commission is facing a $100-million deficit in its operating budget for next year. On November 17th the Commission ignored community outrage, and instead voted for a TTC fare hike of 25cents/fare and an increase of over 10% per monthly pass. In the new
year, they expect us to pay $6 for ONE round trip on transit! Riders already cover more than 80% of TTC operating costs and it is by far the least-funded mass transit system in North America. This increase is outrageous and unacceptable - and we should refuse to pay!
Lately, we've been hearing a lot about shortfalls and deficits. We cannot forget where these deficits come from. When the economic crisis hit, the federal and provincial government quickly found BILLIONS of dollars of public money to bailout banks and corporations. Now these same governments want us to believe that they can't find any money to support public transit? As usual, big business gets bailed out, and the people get sold out. Worst of all the bourgeoise socialists affiliated with the NDP on Toronto City Council behind such trying to end the
special diet and trying to prevent those eligible for Ontario Works from receiving it.
For poor and working people in this city, especially for families, transit costs are already too high and often unaffordable. This fare hike will
hurt the people who are already struggling to make ends meet. The TTC deficit should not be loaded onto the backs of people who need transit.
It should not be paid for by riders and it should not be paid for by the workers who run the buses, subways and streetcars.
Paying more for transit is only one attack on already inadequate public services. Lay-offs and deeper cuts to all essential services like Welfare,
Disability, and the Ontario Drug Benefit are coming next if we don't fight back. Our communities demand affordable transit, real income levels,
affordable housing, childcare, and education.
Transit is a necessity and it is a basic right. Not only are we fighting this fare hike, but we are demanding that transit be federally funded and
affordable for everyone. If we mobilize, and together refuse to accept this fare hike, we can take back transit.
Come out December 12th
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP)
ocap@tao.ca / 416-925-6939
www.ocap.ca