Route Causes: TTC Promises To Get You To Work Faster With More Buses Across The City
Posted November 24, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It couldn’t have come at a better time.
As riders shiver in bus shelters across the city, the Toronto Transit Commission announced that it would be adding 93 new vehicles to its fleet.
“Basically it is coming about because people are coming to the TTC in this environmentally-conscious city of ours…with tons of congestion, people are realizing that it is just smart to keep your car at home and take public transit,” explains vice-chair Joe Mihevc.
“We are now carrying more passengers than ever in the history of Toronto…465 million riders in the last 12 months,” he adds.
There are also plans to make the commission more accessible.
“The new street cars, when they start to come in 2011 and 2012, will have low floors,” Mihevc assures.
The plan calls for rebuilding older buses as well as purchasing 130 hybrid vehicles. It should affect nearly all of the 168 routes across Toronto.
Because of the addition, riders won’t be waiting for more than half an hour. For the most part, routes that once only ran during peak hours will now go all day, and 93 buses will be added to rush-hour service.
It will cost the city $21 million this year alone, with more money expected down the road.
In February, the city announced $20 million into improving the transit service. That money went to bettering 77 bus and some streetcar routes.
By Monday afternoon, riders were already feeling the difference.
“Faster, earlier, smoother,” beamed one passenger. “Even the driver seemed friendlier.”
“I’m happy with the service. It’s great. More people have the opportunity that there are more buses coming,” agreed another.
Is your route one of those that will benefit? Click here for all the service changes.
