The TTC has been soldiering on despite the nastiness of COVID-19 in Canada’s largest city. You can still get from here to there via buses, streetcars and the subway. Premier Doug Ford has announced that the province will be giving up to $1.6-billion to municipalities to help public transit get through financial shortcomings. $400-million, a first phase of funding of that payout, will go to the Toronto Transit Commission. <Photo – Urban Toronto>
It’s estimated that the TTC will still be short $700-million by the end of the year. Associate Minister of Transport for the Greater Toronto Area said “This additional funding will keep municipal transit systems running and will help keep trains, buses, and stations safe so people can feel confident in choosing public transit as they go back to work.”
Category Archives: Transport
ALL IN A ROW – BIKE SHARE TORONTO KEEPS ON EXPANDING
COVID-19 HAS PUSHED THE CITY TO ADD MORE CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE & BE QUICK ABOUT IT
Mayor JOHN TORY will be pushing city council to approve the installation of an additional 25-kilometres of on-street bike paths this year. “A huge, long corridor will mirror transit so for those who are anxious about riding transit, will have a place to cycle in a safe way”. the Mayor said. 
Plans are to install curb lanes along University Avenue from Bloor to Adelaide streets, and along Danforth Avenue.
The Bloor Street West cycle network could be expanded as well. If approved, some lanes would be ready by CANADA DAY, July 1.
POLITICOS SHOULDN’T RUN PUBLIC TRANSIT; PROOF OF THAT – THE GOV. OF NEW YORK VS ANDY BYFORD
ANDY BYFORD, who did an outstanding job as CEO of the TORONTO Transit Commission (TTC) moved to the U.S. two years ago and took over the broken MTA in New York City. As head of the subway and buses, he made a real effort to turn around a transit system in crisis. And he was succeeding.
Then he ran into New York State Governor, Andrew M. Cuomo.
Just like Toronto’s Doug Ford, Mr. Cuomo believes he has the know-how to run one of the world’s largest public transit systems, and he made this clear to Mr. Byford. although the two men seldom spoke to each other.
Then the distance between them widened. The outcome – Andy quit several times in the past, but two weeks ago he signed off for good.
Read the story by JIM DWYER of the squabble between Byford and Cuomo (does he ever run the state?), in the February 3rd New York Times at this address – https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/nyregion/cuomo-andy-byford-mta.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
“ANDY, we need you up here. C’mon back!”
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOMBARDIER – THE LAST OF TORONTO’S NEW STREETCARS, #4603, IS ON ITS WAY
The last of 204 new streetcars ordered by TORONTO – #4603 – will soon be arriving in the city. The push to build all of these cars has been long and frustrating, but now that seems to be behind us. Way to go Bombardier and its Thunder Bay crew!
WHERE DO THEY GET THESE IDEAS? MPP MICHAEL COTEAU THINKS FREE TRANSIT IS A NIFTY ONE
Presently, the Toronto Transit Commission has all it can do to handle overstuffed subway trains, streetcars and buses. Imagine if the entire population could ride free-of-charge.
MICHAEL COTEAU, who’s hoping to become leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, says “It’s taking an issue like climate change, and looking for opportunities to improve transit.” This may very well be, but who’s going to pay for it? No details are forthcoming.
TORONTO Transit is expected to collect about $1.3-billion in fares this year. The money is used to operate Canada’s largest transit system. If that is tossed aside, what’s going to replace it?
Children under 13 already ride free on both the TTC and the GO suburban transit system.
And seniors do get a deal with Presto cards. Shelagh Pizey-Allen, executive director of TTCriders, a non-profit advocacy group, said she supports lower fares and believes transit should be free for lower-income residents. But “people who can afford a car won’t ditch it if their bus is infrequent and unreliable.” (or packed to the rafters). “You don’t have to change overnight,” says MPP Michael Coteau.
STREETCAR INFRASTRUCTURE – YOU MIGHT CALL IT CABLING – SPADINA AVE. AT COLLEGE ST.
TORONTO boasts more streetcar mileage than any other North American city – and that includes SAN FRANCISCO. These are working machines, an important part of the TTC transit system. You can see the University of TORONTO’s Architecture School behind these two air-conditioned beauties. <PHOTO ABOVE – @amar_22 . . . . . #streetsoftoronto>
THE WORKHORSES OF QUEEN ST. ARE DOWN TO THE LAST TWO & THEY’LL RETIRE ON LABOUR DAY
TORONTO’s articulated light rail (ALRV) streetcars have laboured long and hard since the late 1980’s. They weren’t expected to live so long, but they have, thanks to a huge investment by the TORONTO Transit Commission. Once there were 52 of them, and now only a couple remain in service. And those two take their last rides on Monday, September 2nd. One will head west from the Russell Carhouse near Queen E. & Greenwood Ave.; the other will depart from Bathurst and Wolesley Streets. The very last departure will be from the Wolesley Loop to the Russell Carhouse. Rides are free from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
UNION STATION TORONTO >>> UNION STATION CHICAGO – AMTRAK IS WORKING ON IT
AMTRAK, the American passenger railroad, has seriously proposed a Chicago/Toronto service on its Wolverine Line. ”Amtrak is exploring places to modernize and expand its network. A Chicago/Western Michigan to Detroit to Toronto corridor is one of the routes where we see promise,” Marc Magliari, Amtrak Public Relations Manager, told NARCITY.
The travel time would be about the same as the AMTRAK service from TORONTO to New York City – anywhere from 10 to 12 hours. Both Chicago and New York are each around 500 miles from TORONTO. In terms of border crossing, upgrades would have to be made.
TORONTO’S EX-TRANSIT CEO, ANDY BYFORD, IS HAVING ‘A SET-TO’ WITH NEW YORK STATE’S GOVERNOR
<PHOTO – ANDY BYFORD strap-hanging, by JEFFERSON SIEGEL, NY Daily News>
<PHOTO – New York State governor, ANDREW CUOMO>
ANDY BYFORD and New York State governor ANDREW CUOMO haven’t spoken to each other for the last four months. And Cuomo believes the governor’s role, as an elected official and micromanager, is to be responsible for New York City’s vast and mal-functioning subway system. According to the New York Times & The Post, Byford is on the verge of quitting.
NYC Council Speaker, COREY JOHNSON is calling for city control of the subways. He says “losing Andy would be a tremendous loss . . . In Andy We Trust.”
“The governor can’t stand a competitor for praise,” an MTA insider added. “It’s really a very bad situation, but Andy takes it well.” VERONICA VANTERPOOL, an MTA board member said she was worried about losing Andy Byford – “I’m fearful that now we have someone who has worked so tirelessly to restore public confidence. If he leaves, it would be a significant setback for the agency.”
<PHOTO – New York Times Magazine>
<The MTA is responsible for much more than subways, and ANDY BYFORD is its CEO>
As for ANDY himself, whose fans are legion within the MTA – “I love New York, I love this job, I believe in this system, I believe in this agency, and I’m here for the very long haul.”
DON’T EVER LET POLITICIANS PLAY TRAINS WITH YOUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
Toronto Savvy 