From Cork to Toronto

When the OHIP "Premium" was introduced with a name designed to spin the impact of an extra tax, many people noted that unions with collective agreements retaining a provision to pay the old OHIP Premium would make claims. The Liberals said "we don't think that will happen" but declined to outlaw the possibility. Now TTC (among others) is paying the OHIP Tax on behalf of their unionised staff, at a cost of $6 million annually to the Commission (that's over two million TTC tokens, Dalton). Before the last election, the Liberals promised an extra holiday - Family Day - in February, which will cost Toronto taxpayers $2.3 million but some private sector workers are finding out that they will lose a non-statutory holiday in August in return . Typically, the Labour Minister's response is a shrug - "no big deal". "I think it's a terrific initiative and 83 per cent of Ontarians agree it's something this province should be doing," ...

Apparently TTC are making big changes to Broadview and Kennedy stations this week. But hey, why bother telling anyone on the Service Disruption page (which seems to be down anyway), even if it means people who didn't bother getting transfers to Kennedy now need one. Apparently the powers that be don't even tell the drivers. Can we please hire whoever does passenger information at GO Transit? At least they seem to be trying . Meanwhile months after Adam Giambrone solicited ideas for the TTC website, no progress to report.

We don't know where the money's coming from yet (but that Health Tax is definitely staying now since the Libs haven't the stones to hike fuel taxes) but some of the McGuinty $17.5 billion, 902km plan (on the Premier's website , not Transportation!) is not just welcome but stunning :  the new routes of Crosstown GO, Bolton GO, and Havelock GO the extensions to Lakeshore East, Richmond Hill and Stouffville Transit City suddenly has a pulse Electrification of Lakeshore opens the door to future electric VIA Rail or electric local rail in the 416 Other bits I'm less enthused by -  most important - no sign of a ministerial signature yet on the Simplified Transit Environmental Assessment another subway to York Region - which presumably Toronto will pay any losses for, again. the seeming resurrection of SNC-Lavalin's divisive Blue 22 , but hopefully the EA will demand it be a GO train with a Weston stop. Sheppard East LRT (merely preserves the Don Mills mode change an...

Here's the CBC on it . Now if they could only find a way of showing... oh let's pick something random... why the subway is running slow and hundreds of people are stuck on hot platforms from Queen to Wellesley.

The previous plan to refurbish the existing streetcars seems to be out of favour in favour of low-floor streetcars which will be low-mobility-accessible, unlike the existing models. This alone should have been reason to go for them, along with a modern design (with airconditioning designed in rather than taken out and now being put back) and hopefully quieter operation, especially when stopped. The reintroduction of streetcars in Dublin showed people who would not ride buses would ride the LUAS and it's good to see TTC not yield to the siren song of more buses and one hopes the Budget Advisory Committee will see the sense in this. The important thing to know is that the existing streetcar fleet is 196 strong so 200 cars is a 1:1 replacement. That sounds fine until you realise the new streetcar lines in the waterfront and Scarborough and extensions of St. Clair to Jane and Bathurst up the hill to St. Clair (if it can be done) will result in fewer streetcars running less freque...

I saw this post which largely reproduced this article and wondered about the Toronto subway where in summer the heat and humidity alone can be oppressive at peak, especially since some cars don't have air conditioning. Now I wonder whether the conditions observed in Sweden are true here. If so, I think they increase the case for installing full length screens at all subway platforms. Not only would they increase the efficiency of air conditioning on platforms by reducing leakage into the tunnels but they would be an impediment to suicides and accidental track incursions while permitting the operation of shorter subway cars in offpeak times in a safe manner. (Note: there are operational impediments to 3/4 car operation but that's another matter.)

I came across this google mashup via various blogs including Torontoist . The map includes York Region's VIVA, TTC routes and GO Transit routes. This is just another example of the community stepping in where the TTC and other transit agencies fail to provide, such as the Subway Rider Efficiency Guide or the Subway Buttons . Sometimes this participation comes at risk from snarls from the Commission's legal rottweilers . No sign of Google Transit for Toronto yet despite the TTC discussing it in March . The GTTA will probably spend a billion dollars on consultants and tenders to produce the same thing, as they are bound to with the Smart Card project. UPDATE: Spacing has a post on this , the comments of which include a link to a Toronto Star article which seems to indicate the TTC will not proceed with Google Transit before developing its own solution first. Figures - TTC "made in Toronto" is all too frequently like Tory "made in Canada" environment po...

This was in yesterday's Post and I agree with every word. A policy of making it more obvious where the bathrooms are in each station, as well as not leaving a gap of, say, 5 stations without a bathroom would be good too. At present the policy as I understand it is to have toilets at terminal stations like Finch and junction stations like Bloor - although the last time I needed it damned if I could find the Bloor one. Some more public bathrooms in other parts of the city would be nice too. Friday, December 01, 2006 BANISH THIS: AN OPEN LETTER TO MOSCOE: CLEAN THE BATHROOMS Dear Mr. Moscoe, I am a Thornhill resident and TTC commuter. On behalf of bathroom-using women from all over the GTA, I am now going to give you an earful about the TTC washrooms. I would like to ask why the TTC bathrooms are so revolting. Have you been in any of the TTC bathrooms recently? I am familiar with the bathrooms at Finch Station, Eglinton Station and Bloor Station. They are always dirty and smelly,...

On Metroblogging Toronto a recent post contrasts the award of the TTC's new bimetallic tokens to a US firm with the award of the subway contract to Bombardier. It's worth noting the latter contract will also benefit the US as much of the components for the new cars are made there using existing plant - only 51% of the contract is guaranteed to Thunder Bay. But it struck me reading it that the reason these new, more secure tokens are possible is due to casinos rather than transit operators - the TTC is merely reaping the benefits of gambling investment. Perhaps it's time to examine whether a critical mass exists between the various transit systems and casino operators both First Nations and Provincial to invest in a token mint in Canada. At the same time, the TTC should not use these tokens as an excuse to defer the introduction of a GTA transit card as full integration of TTC, GO Transit and the other regional transit authorities is crucial to avoiding even worse grid...

(This is a follow-on to Porter 245 ) I had left my return a little later than anticipated but thought leaving at 7pm for a flight 90 minutes later from an airport 14km away wouldn't be much of a problem. I decided to give Ottawa transit another go. First problem was making exact change for the 97 again. Second problem was having obtained said change (and a coffee from a nearby Starbucks) I saw the bus disappear into the distance. Oh well, I thought, there's always another one on such a major route right? However, frequency being about every 15mins, journey time nearly 30mins and allowing for one service not happening left things too close for comfort and so I hailed a taxi as one nervous breakdown per day was enough. The fare was, well, substantially higher than $3. Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier is a modern well appointed building in my opinion. Gate 18 is fairly isolated and quiet but it's just another gate. Unlike City Centre there are no lounge facilities and wifi is...

Just back from Ottawa on a day trip for work, flying from Toronto Island Airport with Porter Airlines . Those who have read my previous posts about the airport, the airline and the Mayor will know that I am generally supportive of the airport but this was the first time I had a chance to fly from there without it costing more and at less convenient times than equivalent flights from Pearson as it was in the bad old days of Air Canada Jazz. I picked the cheapest flights available that gave me enough time to complete my business - the 0700 leaving Toronto and the 2030 leaving Ottawa. This cost $333 ($109 out, $142 back and the rest in charges and taxes), the same as Air Canada (although taking flights reflecting the longer travel time from East York to Pearson) and more expensive than WestJet ($298) but without the taxi ride I would have undoubtedly taken to get to Pearson for an early flight. I have taken TTC to Pearson but for an evening flight with plenty of time to spare. I had c...

Reading TTC General Manager Rick Ducharme's resignation letter and the response from Bob Kinnear (head of the union local that walked out on a smog day) I can't help but borrow my title today from Edward James Olmos .

From the Toronto Star : Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker pointed out that the nine-member commission of city councillors is very much pro-union. "I'm 100 per cent pro-union, so is Howard Moscoe, Joe Mihevc, David Miller," said De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre). "The employees of the TTC will never have more sympathetic people than the commission is now. " And let's not forget TTC vice-chair Adam Giambrone, whose other job is Federal NDP President. Hizzoner stacked the TTC with his pals - it's not like he's having to deal with the Lastman rearguard like the Police Services Board in his first year as mayor. Now he's going to have to take responsibility. Sadly Pitfield in her response continues to appear no more than an opportunist rather than someone with a real alternative to offer. As for Local 113 - they walked out on a day when the humidex hit 43C - something well forecasted. There is no excuse - a couple of days would have made n...

As the Tory transit tax credit draws near, I'm looking into getting a metropass. So I took one of the application forms from the subway car and read it en route to my stop. In addition to a (marked voluntary) section on my existing commuting habits and whether I have a car, there's a section which is not marked voluntary asking for my driver's licence number and my date of birth. Now, this form is used for student and senior passes so in theory it could be linked to that but you can order multiple passes with one form so that's a no. The idea of a transit authority looking for a licence they are in theory supposed to replace at least in part bugged me so I decided to read the accompanying fine print. The metropass is paid for with pre-authorised payment with penalties of $25 for having insufficient funds. However it seems the TTC also conducts credit checks: 12... (continues) The customer hereby consents to the TTC conducting credit checks and other financial verifi...

The Ontario Liberals are playing a dangerous game with the electorate. Dwight Duncan reckons Ontario can build the subway to nowhere II: revenge of the 905ers (subway to nowhere I was "Lastman's folly" ) without federal money . A more sensible approach would have been to forget the grossly premature extension into Vaughan, at least until the Tories were strongarmed into giving up some dosh by their prospective candidates in Vaughan and build the bit that has an Environmental Assessment already complete. Busways and LRT, being far cheaper, will more than provide for commuters into York from the north and commuting into the core would be far more efficient by expanding GO service in addition to providing the better connectivity to York/Steeles. Even the Downsview-Steeles extension would be more than Steve Munro would go for , although I think that's excessively hairshirted. Since it goes past the 407ETR maybe they could help fund it, then subway fares could go up an...

Much criticism has been levelled at the Tory Government's decision to use climate change money for the tax credit on monthly fare passes. Some would prefer this money to go directly to the transit authorities. There are however reasons tax deductible transit is a good idea. In Toronto, Metropass use is now cheaper than bulk tokens for a Monday - Friday commuter. For GO Transit users this is already true. Now you've actually got a Metropass, this means you might use it when otherwise the choice is a taxi or car - now there's no incremental cost and it's more responsible in climate terms. If you don't use Metropass out of commute, you are giving TTC about $7 more a month (yearly plan) or $15.75 more with the booth purchased pass than you used to, assuming 40 tokens/month @ 2.10 each bulk price. In the yearly plan, the $91 the TTC gets is actually only about $77 from the commuter and $14 from government which is returned to the commuter at the year end. The more p...

Unlike Ireland, there isn't a tax benefit to a transit pass (although the Tories did promise one). Having a Toronto Metropass is not really of much use to people (like me) who mostly use the system 20 odd days a month going to work and back as it's more expensive than 40 tokens. However, there is now an alternative - the Metropass Affinity Programme. The principle is that you show your Metropass and you get a discount at supporting stores . Sadly, this is yet another innovation, like the Spacing buttons and the Rider Efficiency Guide , that did not come from the TTC's tendered out PR/marketing operation - they're too busy making stupid posters . Moscoe claims they will listen but historically TTC staff don't want to know if it comes from the public. If they did support it openly then more partners might get involved as opposed the rather limited list so far. It might be an idea for MAP to update their website too, since Olivia Chow hasn't been TTC vice-cha...

The title's an anagram for "anagrams in transit" which has been in the news lately . It's also a pretty good description of the frequently broken escalators in the Toronto system. After a London Underground map was anagrammed , a similar map was done for Toronto and now one for Ottawa . All the transit authorities in question experienced sense-of-humour failures and released the legal hounds with their "cease and desist" notices. The TTC says anagram maps could confuse visitors - this would be plausible if they didn't use puzzles as promotions in their vehicles last year. The slavish adherence to whatever their marketers of the moment are push them close them off from suggestions from the public, as happened with the Spacing buttons - 50,000 of which have been sold, the revenue from which could have gone in part to the TTC if they were willing to participate. TTC's lack of outreach to the public is the reason NIMBYs have any traction, like the...

Joe Cordiano, Liberal MPP for the York South-Weston riding has replaced Greg Sorbara as political minister for Greater Toronto. With the upcoming Liberal budget and leaks of funding for the Spadina line, the appointment of a nearby MPP may be significant - it is also interesting that Cordiano's constituency also includes Weston through which the intended Blue 22 service to Toronto Pearson may run. Personally I would have preferred to see GO Transit given that route, with a stop at Bloor to access the subway rather than non-stop to Union.

The Provincial Liberals want to build a new subway extension, coincidentally pushing into York Region where they recently claimed seats from the Tories. Rick Ducharme, General Manager of the TTC doesn't want it right now . Transit advocates like Steve Munro don't want it. Scarberians are wondering how they got left behind when the SRT's days are numbered (another fiasco mandated by the Province btw) and the Sheppard line isn't long enough to be of help to them or anyone else. But the government of Ontario is apparently flush with cash and wants to spend it so they can "announce" the elimination of the deficit in 2007. Greg Sorbara, a big supporter of the project while Ontario Finance Minister before resigning in the face of an RCMP probe of his business dealings, is alleged to have leaked the Province's intention to commit funding to the Mayor of Vaughan - he denies this . Here's what I wonder about though: these capital programmes are usually trip...