By the numbers: TTC union’s plan to fix public transit

The TTC’s union, ATU Local 113, issued a 156-page report on Toronto’s transit future on Monday. The report outlined 68 recommendations on how to fix North America’s third largest urban transit system with a workforce of 10,000 people.

Below is a by-the-numbers look at the report and some of the proposals the union supports:

  • The system carries two million riders a day.
  • TTC ridership is 540 million in 2014 (15 per cent higher than five years ago).
  • To keep the current system in a state-of-good repair TTC needs $2.7 billion over the next 10 years.
  • If annual growth pattern for ridership holds 2.5 per cent it will mean an increase of 60 million over the next four years.
  • Fares can’t remain frozen and need to grow at the rate of inflation.
  • Fare freeze costs TTC $23 million to 38 million a year.
  • 70 per cent of riders use bus and streetcar as part of their trip.
  • ATU endorses TTC’s report to increase service and reduce wait times and overcrowding on surface routes mentioned in August report Opportunities to Improve Transit in Toronto.
  • In 2010 the TTC rider subsidy was 93 cents and is 79 cents in 2014.
  • TTC riders pay 68 per cent of the cost of operating public transit.
  • The union supports TTC’s plan to expand overnight bus and streetcar service in 2015.
  • The union support TTC’s time-based transfer.
  • 2014 will see 142 new articulated buses with plans for 100 new buses each year going forward.
  • The union is alarmed at the list of core state-of-good repair and safety projects, such as track replacement, building upkeep and tunnel repairs, which will cost around $9 billion over the next decade and that around $2.7 billion of that remains unfunded.
  • $1.17 billion base capital plan is one-quarter funded by provincial and federal governments with the remaining three-quarters or $850 million coming from the City of Toronto.
  • the union proposes a “serious advocacy campaign” particularly in the lead up to the 2015 federal election to pressure the government to pressure the Feds to enact a national transit strategy.
  • The union says those with mobility challenges deserve more so riders of Wheel-Trans should have 90-minute service guarantee by 2016.
  • Union endorses the construction of some sort of relief line.
  • ATU supports moving quickly to begin detailed studies of John Tory’s SmartTrack plan and that the city should advance the $8 million to $15 million required for engineering studies.
  • ATU recommends TTC begin a study a new fare structure such as weekend passes, quarterly passes and other possibilities such as peak and off-peak fares.
  • The city should work with the province to establish a low-income pass.
  • The TTC’s program of placing a supervisor with a paramedic at busy stations should be extended to other busy stations including Sheppard-Yonge, Union and elsewhere on Bloor-Danforth.
  • The city should create a special parking unit with increased tow capacity to improve enforcement of traffic bylaws on transit routes.
  • Hire new mechanics and expand TTC’s apprenticeship program.
  • Create a corps of retired TTC employees who are willing to help out on short notice in emergencies such as unscheduled subway shut downs.
  • Improve the Airport 192 Rocket to include onboard Wi-Fi and a change or fare vending machine near the stop at Pearson airport.
  • TTC should team up with car-sharing programs and the TPA’s Bike Share program.
  • Installing shelters for any stop serving more than 100 people per day.

To view the full report, click here.

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