TTC - Public Consultation

The Toronto Transit Commission has launched another (un)successful campaign, with the hopes of informing city-dwellers about the serious budget crisis they are currently experiencing.

First, some background information, taken from http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/myttc.html.

In the past 10 years the TTC has grown by over 90 million riders. We’ve been replacing our aging vehicles, expanding our network, and improving our stations. We’ve launched our Transit City plan, a vision for transit that will bring high-speed light rail to Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke.
But that’s where the good news ends. This year, there isn’t enough money to operate the TTC’s service, and the City has been forced to ask for major cuts. We need your help.

Our budget crisis

A decade of underfunding has created a financial crisis for the TTC and the City. While other world cities thrive, Toronto’s reserves are empty and it is struggling to pay for services. We can’t afford to invest in transit or other programs.

The TTC has a plan to keep up with growth, but without a combination of uploaded services, property taxes, and some new taxes like the Land Transfer Tax or the Vehicle Registration Tax, we can’t afford it. City Council delayed its decision to approve new taxes until after the provincial election this fall. Without new revenue, we are forced to find cuts now.
If you haven’t laughed so far, then you’re about to! Now for the advertisement that is appearing in newspapers, and on posters everywhere…

My TTC:

“a safe ride home”

“cleaner air for my kids”

“getting to work before my boss (she drives)”

Hah. Nice try TTC! I would say for the majority of unfortunate riders, a more accurate representation would be something more like:

My TTC:

“puts my life at risk, as I wait for 15 minutes or more at the shadiest bus shelter in Toronto after work”

“does not have air-conditioning, is muggy, and smells of urine, deodorant-less people, and cheap perfume” Okay, so not ALL TTC cars and buses do not have A/C, only about 90% of them.

“means that I will have to call work AGAIN to remind them that I’ll be late”

P.S. I still love you, Toronto. We all have our flaws - yours just happen to be worth billions of dollars.