City
Fix the TTC - Let Gas Prices Rise
So people are lining up at the pumps due to the increasing speculation that gas prices are going to skyrocket.
I say, let it happen. I am a big fan of anything that will increase ridership on public transportation. I will be honest, my reasons for wanting more people to be taking the TTC are not exactly noble or selfless. I am not claiming that my motive for wanting people to use public transit is to keep our air clean, or to promote alternative fuel sources, etc, etc.
I want people to take public transit so we can finally have a city, province, and federal government that will begin funding it properly. And I do not mean, fund it so we can buy more utterly useless streetcars - they look nice yes, but not at all practical. (This will be a subject of a future entry I promise) Instead, I want to see a serious overhaul of our subway system or alternatively, above ground light rail similar to what can be found in Vancouver in the form of the "Skytrain."
Our subway system is severly lacking, not to mention that we overpay for what it actually provides. Not only do I believe all the taxes received on gas should go towards funding the public transit (PT), but I also believe that we need to make this city less attractive to drive a car in. One way of doing that would be to start raising the price of parking. If you look at other major cities in North America (ie. New York or Washington D.C.), parking is insanely expensive. As a result, very few people can afford to drive, and as such, ridership is at a premium,and so are the revenues of their PT systems.
I know raising parking rates is only part of a bigger solution we need. We are all victims of a legacy of bad planning, and hopefully we can begin turning it around.
I would love to hear from other people on what they would do to improve the TTC - Let us know at blogTO.
Discussion
14 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
The only qualms I see with them are they are horrible to try to drive around (which doesn't bother me, as I rarely use a car, and anything to encourage less cars on Toronto's roads is a good thing in my opinion) and unless someone's fully able bodied they're almost impossible to get on and off of. I can relate slightly here as I often have a stroller (with a kid in it) and I definately don't look forward to boarding and getting off streetcars.
But our current fleet of streetcars are old, and the new ones that will be introduced over the next several years will be much more accessible. I think they'll be similar to the new buses, with ramps that fold out so people in wheelchairs can roll right onto them.
Also, I think the TTC's plan is to build many more streetcar routes, as they can build ten times the amount of streetcar routes with the same money it takes to build a subway route.
But I agree, Let Gas Prices Rise.
Remember how everyone complained about the pollution, so you would remove all the roads and put nothing but trains in?
Remember how your approval rating skyrocketed after that?
Remember how, two rounds later, people were complaining about not having any roads, and your apprioval rating plummeted, and people started not paying their taxes, causing your worldbank loan to be revoked?
Remember getting frustrated and then coaxing Godzilla and all manner of natural disaster to destroy your city of ungrateful citizens, revelling in all the terrific destruction, carnage and horrors you could summon with one god-like click of a button?
Good times...
They simply aren't pracitcal. Short term, you're right street cars are cheaper, but longterm - when you factor in maintaining the streetcars, and replacement cars - the subway is much cheaper. Roads do not need to be torn up, and subway cars have a much longer life.
P.S. I love Sim City.
My first mode of transport is foot, followed by TTC. I live in a spot where it is easier and faster to walk everywhere than to take trasit.
And I agree that streetcar track repairs and upgrades are a pain, and not just for motorists. Have you seen St. Clair lately, since they started the streetcar track upgrades? It's a mess for everyone: TTC, motorists, cyclists and walkers. Hopefully once it's over, traffic will move more smoothly, and the infamous gridlock at Yonge and St. Clair will end.
You want to make it cheaper - put trolleys on your streets (and anyway whatever you'll build will cost billions - becouse it's not what it really costs but what you're willing to pay, and you overpay omost everything).
Streetcar repairs and upgrades are pain? I do live in Europe and it's not much pain - I assure you. And there are even trams that remember IIWW - if you want to, you'll keep them (in Swiss there are such trains too).
What I was surprised when I lived in Toronto, was that your public transport was not accessible - (to old and disabled). Apart this it's perfect. Believe me.
And that is true - you're still paying little for gas, rise prices to european levels and you'll see more interest. I'm really amused what is going on in the USA, all those 'rich' Americans whining and saying they'll stop driving because they pay a bit more...
And the elevated system to be honest is more costly and rather not esthetic.
When trams/streetcars have a dedicated lane, (that works properly, which means signal priority over cars,) you get many of the benefits of a subway line at a fraction of the cost.
The problem with Toronto's streetcars, at least their traditional routes, is that they function essentially like buses. (Except for Spadina and St. Clair.) in this case though, buses that can't divert around traffic blockages.) It's a problem with Toronto's implementation, not tram technology itself.
Know what I mean?
Personally, I'm a big fan of subways - have you seen other cities subway systems??? I'm thinking of Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York specifically - I realize that there are alot of bad ones as well, but why should Torontonians settle for mediocrity.
Auto companies have launched or relaunched environmentally friendly vehicles in Canada first because we are more likely to embrace it. (see Vespa and the Smart Car) I think we should be setting the bar in our public transit as well.
Unless you have hard numbers to back up that claim, stop making it ... it's not even a rational argument, transit expansion is based on population density: if you have the density, a subway makes sense.
You've set up a false argument, it's not streetcars vs. subways, it's streetcars vs. buses. The subway is the spine the surface routes feed. What are you proposing? Replacing ALL the surface routes with subways? A subway isn't feasible if the density isn't there to support it, just look at the Sheppard line sucking up all that money.
Keep in mind that if the density is there, transit routes can be profitable. The reason the TTC loses money (and it doesn't lose much, comapred to other transit systems) is because it has to service so much suburban sprawl. And yeah, higher gas prices will apply pressures that will help solve that problem.
I cannot give you numbers right now, but I remember that when I read articles (with numbers), it was obvious that Toronto has, if not the best, one of the best public transport systems in the world.
At first - especially compared to other 'american' cities - it has one of the best indications/ratios of 'return'. It's well known that practically everywhere you put more money then you get from tickets, but in Toronto you put evidently less. That means that as a taxpayer you pay less ;)
As for price of the ticket - please be just - for $2 (it is 2.25?) you get everywhere in nearly 5 million metropolis. Where else you'll pay so little? Be honest.
The TTC is clean, efficient, safe. Someone gave as the example dirty, smelly and dangerous NYC subways... Has he ever traveled there?
I love subways (especially such art beauties as in Stockholm), but you cannot build them everywhere. Remember all that discussion with Sheppard line? It is expensive and Toronto - thank god! - is not so dense. Any subway line is linked also to the plans for development of an area. You're not building one under family houses in rural areas.
I lived in many cities - but believe me I find the TTC super organized. It is so clear to get from point A to B there is no problem.
Quite another problem is why you replace buses or trams with the same buses or trams, not with low floor, efficient, modern (or ecological). Ask your politicians. It is possible to get cheap and good ones.
Oh and by the way - you have to think globally, see more. Get an example of Paris - there is ROER, metro and trains. A system that can move easily and quickly huge masses from suburbs to the centre. This is NOT functioning in Toronto.
To get from one end to another in subway takes here soooo long. Because this is only a normal line of subway, stopping every 200 meters. Get GO transit electrified (and your trains), make it really a mean of transportation for those from outside Toronto. Link it to the TTC the way that when I go a bit further I can get quickly with GO to one point and then with bus, subway or tram to my final destination.
No extra money needed - only a bit of thinking
In Amsterdam (Paris and many other cities) you can get directly from plane to fast train (I mean really FAST train - such as TGV) and get - or to the city centre in very short time or elsewhere in the country. This is a modern system.
But sadly America (as a continent) is based on cars, more - on private cars.
Anyway even with traffic in Toronto's centre you shouldn't complain. It is quite OK, not big. And it is also because there ARE difficulties for those who drive to the centre. Not only steep park prices, also little place where you can leave your car (and not for too long) and such difficulties as 'bumbs' or no turns that slow traffic - all this causes that really Toronto (at least for a European) is a nice place, with limited traffic, no jams and even pedestrian friendly - quite a success as for America.