Friday’s headlines

18 comments

1. Wow, that’s a first. With all that Hazel coverage, I thought she must’ve died. It’s nice to discover that it’s a positive occasion–a birthday–that has garnered all the attention.

2. They should take it over. In 1988 the TTC provided 463.5 million rides with an operating budget of 532 million. Fast forward to 2005 and they provided 431.2 million rides with an operating budget of 753 million. The increase is out of line with inflation. Not surprising really, when they do financially unwise things like replace a profitable Spadina bus route with a 200 million dollar LRT that looses $25,000 per week (Mon – Fri).

3. Glen >

   Car and streetcars move better on Spadina now. While it may be a bit slower to go from Bloor to Front n the streetcar vs. buses, you used to have to wait 5-8 minutes for a bus. Now you get a streetcar in less than 2. Its about reliability just as much as speed.

   Don’t take it over. It would be the worst thing for Toronto’s transit — when money gets crunched the majority of people on Metrolinx will fund local stuff, and the majority is suburban.

4. Glen, a 40% budget increase in one year would indeed be “out of line with inflation.” But over the 17 years you quote, it represents just 2% growth per year. If you think that’s “out of line with inflation,” I don’t think you understand how inflation works.

   Even if you look at the cost per rider, the budget increase was only about 50%. According to the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, inflation in Canada over the same period was almost 49%, so the TTC’s 50% per-rider cost increase is pretty much exactly in line with inflation.

5. Glen: $532 in 1988 is equivalent to $824, not $753! TTC is surviving on $75 million less than what it used to get in ’88.

   http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/inflation_calc.html

   Ben: If Toronto’s transit routes routes were to get the same level of subsidies as, say, York region ones get, we’d have really awesome transit. YRT would kill to have a route with as high a ridership as one of the ones TTC suggested cutting last year. Alas, we won’t get that sort of subsidy whether we amalgmate or we don’t.

6. Ben,

   I have been on Spadina for, ahem, a few decades. The old 77 service was at least as frequent as the the 501. In fact it had to be. Look at the ridership. The capacity of buses compared to Streetcars would necessitate a far larger number of vehicles.

   Don’t get me wrong. I like the LRT. But it is Champagne on a beer budget. On cannot argue that it was a wise investment.

7. the choice isn’t between the city and the province when it comes to running the TTC. there are other options! for example, why can’t it be a crown corporation with independent management, including marketers as well as engineers? among other benefits, this would remove politics from much of the decision-making and make non-governmental financing easier.

8. Using the inflation calculator linked it shows that the the TTC budget of 532 million would amount to 791.75 million in 2005 dollars. Compare that to an actual of 962 million. That is still a 170 million above inflation, or 17% above the rate of inflation. Furthermore that does not account for the decrease in ridership of 7%.

   Leo, the figures I am comparing are between 1988 and 2005, not 2007. Check the calculator again.

9. Sometimes I get the feeling though that Hazel McCallion is overrated. There’s very little criticism of her these days, and the fact that she has no political opposition, or an active media covering Missy City Hall or regular critical columnists calling for public lynchings, I guess, helps her case.

   Could you imagine David Miller getting away with the kind of tax increases that Hazel’s been putting in lately, now that the development charge gravy train is at the end of the line? Or if the Enersource gravy train mini-scandal was Toronto Hydro instead? We just get the occasional media fawning like that today.

10. Just to clear up some confusion. In my first post I listed the 2005 operating expense at 753 million. That was incorrect and may be part of the confusion here. The operating expense for 2005 was 960 million. The 753 figure represents the operating revenue.

    Sorry for the confusion and unnecessary wear and tear on the calculators.

11. I am not supportive about the province taking over the TTC.

    Depending upon the good graces of Queen’s Park politicians to maintain (and grow) transit operations in Toronto is wrong. No recent government has been friendly to Toronto (although the current Liberals are definitely an improvement). 905 votes are valued more than 416 votes (and there are more of them). Torontonians cannot assume that current and future politicians will ensure intra-city transit needs will be met.

    I would suggest that the latest subway extension to York was heavily influenced and supported by Greg Sorbrara because it stopped north of Steeles more than the fact it would meet needs of students.

    Having said that, I am curious about the example of BC Transit, which appears to be where McGuinty is going with this. How has the distribution of projects met the needs of Vancouver and Victoria compared with the rest of the province ?

12. [mutters to itself in the corner]

13. “make an example of them”this cry didn’t come from anybody at city hall but someone that is admired by those near the top.It was Stalin the great, the leader of the great U.S.S.R. Yes he made sure millions were killed to make such an example to the people.Those who dissented or those who told the truth or even worse those who believed in democracy.

    Tim Ivanyshyn is a good example for those that work at city hall ,and in the municipal government to not let the truth out, to make sure that fellow employees are not punished for doing the wrong thing.And loyalty is always rewarded.I wish that democracy returns to our government.Now pass me the plans for the new toronto “piazza exhibition place” hotel!

14. If george sawision ever manages to utter something coherent, I think he might be guilty of libel.

    I’m for free speech, I just wish he’d wield it with some semblance of intelligence and respect, instead of swinging it around like a dead cat.

15. Isn’t angry muttering the standard now article anyway?

    Shaaazzzing!

    Also, whoever this George person is, he does tax free speech, and would make even the most ardent libertarian think a little stalinistic. Or at least wish he could string together a praragraph. My fault for reading though, will skip ’em now.

16. bored> stop libelling me

17. George, your mom wants you to take your meds.

18. LOLOLOL good one aidan, you would love Cuba!