City
On the state of the TTC and future of transit in Toronto
Last month the My City Lives crew approached me and a some other folks from Toronto publications to give our thoughts about the state of the TTC and the future of transit planning in Toronto. It was a fascinating project to contribute to, and the resulting video should prove a good entrance point to further discourse about where transit should be heading in this city.
Of the points made below, one that particularly registered with me upon watching the finished product is David Topping's argument that the conversation about transit in this city needs to be reframed. Instead of thinking about various users — i.e. the cyclist, the public transit rider, and the driver — as competing players in a system built to favour one group over another, we should work towards an understanding of transit in Toronto "as an integrated system in which all the parts work together."
That's easier said than done, of course, but getting there starts with the dialogue that we have about the subject.
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1. Billions putting all of Eglinton underground for no reason.
2. A plan that will serve hundreds of thousands less per year vs Transit City.
3. His completely unrealistic time and money wasting Sheppard subway.
1) Find savings and efficiency elsewhere. And for goodness' sake, co-ordinate. Do the utilities service people really have to rip up new asphalt every time it needs to work underground? Do you know how expensive asphalt paving really is? Maybe co-ordination with the transportation engineers would be a good idea. Get those at the city up to speed on GIS databases, Building Information Models, and social media co-ordination. You'll provide some good training to these employees too. Right now it's just Joe from TO water talking to Bob from forestry and rec, through a cell-phone, and only after they've missed each other by 3 days.
2) The city also needs to stop taking on and maintaining infrastructure from developers that have no interest in building stuff of higher quality or that will last. The story of Toronto is one where developers took advantage of the market the city has to offer, and fought to give much in return. True, the city does have standards developers must meet, but these standards aren't high enough,
If we want better transit we need a city income tax. It's pretty obvious that is the only way the funding will come about for the necessary transit infrastructure improvements, so everyone might as well agree to it and actually start ASKING for this type of thinking from our politicians.
The province gave the city the power to levy taxes years ago - it'd be nice if the politicians actually USED the powers they were given.
As a tip, to avoid road congestion in this city - we require to indent the roads to allow cars to park without blocking roadways. Some amazing examples can be found in the wealthiest parts of the city. Now just utilize that same technique in the congested parts of the city - you will witness a huge difference in traffic control.
In reference to the subway system and what concerns me, is the vibrations and the geological effects it will cause to this city. I prefer to example Montreal transit system as a better and eco-friendly route. If we can change our subway carts from what they are now to a wheel based platform - you are creating separation from the underground world and from the rest of the world.
Yes, these tips might costs millions more in upgrades, definitions and substitutions; but imagine how much more it will save this city in the long run; our health and well-being as a vastly growing community.
/tm.mahdi