Wednesday’s headlines

12 comments

1. Re: Pass popularity costs TTC

   In what other city does one need to carry I.D. to use a transit pass? The TTC is far behind other systems.

   Also, the TTC pays for their employees uniforms, costing millions. Other “public” employees like nurses have to buy their own uniforms, why shouldn’t TTC employees? They also make the same as nurses, without similar qualifications.

   From Steve Munro’s website:

   “All in all, the TTC will be about $17-million off on a budget of $1.3-billion, about 1.3%. No agency, certainly not the City, is able to exactly match budget numbers, and the City report shows large variations in many agencies.”

2. So they closed part of Yonge St to cars during a weekday, and the sky didn’t fall in?

   I hope someone takes note of this.

3. Shaun said: In what other city does one need to carry I.D. to use a transit pass? The TTC is far behind other systems.

   I’m confused. Who needs ID to use a metropass? You referring to students?

   Ted C. said: So they closed part of Yonge St to cars during a weekday, and the sky didn’t fall in?

   You know, that little section of Yonge around the Eaton Centre gets closed all the time, often in one direction of traffic only. Not quite the good old days in the 70s tho.

4. Since I’m being quoted to support a bogus argument (by Shaun), let’s get this straight. Any agency with a billion dollar operating budget that is only off by $17-million isn’t doing badly in my books. Many city departments do far worse on a percentage basis. The TTC numbers are big because it is the single largest agency, not because they are less competent.

   However, the TTC financial people like to spin every problem as being caused by Metropass usage. In fact, they had larger cost overruns from things like a flood at head office, the heavier than usual snow last winter, greater than expected problems caused by city road construction, greater overtime caused by being short-staffed.

   The bean counters never liked the Metropass even though it encourages transit use, a fundamental part of City policy.

   As for uniforms, maybe we should have the military and the police buy their own. It would make for interesting times on battlefields and in cop shops.

   Finally, the wages paid to TTC staff are largely the result of arbitrated settlements.

5. On the uniforms, the TTC folks wear far nicer stuff than many other transit workers elsewhere. Here in Waterloo Region, when the region took over two transit systems and amalgamated them 10 years ago they went with a far more spartan uniform that still looks professional. From what I understand, there’s a basic catalog of approved and branded items and drivers are free to choose what they like from among that. They do pay out of pocket, but I think there’s also an annual stipend to cover at least part of that.

6. Agree with Steve’s comment that given the size of the TTC budget, being off by $17m is not a lot. I do wish the TTC and its advocates would stop saying ridership is up because “it’s a great system”. In many ways, it’s a crappy system (particularly if you live in the inner suburbs) — but many people have no choice.

   Regarding the TTC’s transferable pass, one of the reasons it was implemented (according to some TTC folks I know) was to cut down on operator-passenger confrontations/arguments/assaults over fares. Incidents of abuse have gone up substantially in the last 15 years, and as a result many operators have become much less stringent about people not putting in full fare (or using someone else’s pass, or sneaking on … or just walking into subway stations, etc.).

   Regarding the compensation for TTC operators, knowing what I know about the working conditions, I don’t think it’s too much at all. There may be several jobs at the TTC where people are not earning their keep — but I don’t see the operator positions as being among these.

7. The problem is the size of the operating budget, not how far off they are from it.

   in 1998 the TTC averaged an operating cost of $1.15 per ride. Indexed to inflation that would be equivalent to $1.84 today. In 2009 the cost per ride average is $2.75, 49% above inflation.

   The TTC should privatize functions like station management, maintenance, and perhaps bus routes.

   From Posted Toronto;

   The Toronto Transit Commission will transport roughly the same number of people this year as it did 20 years ago. But with 25% more staff.

   In 1988, 9,963 TTC staff transported 464 million people. In 2009, 12,411 TTC staff will transport 473 million people. That’s 2,448 more staff to move 2% more people.

   The TTC, once the poster child of an efficient transit service, is becoming the thing that its former lean-and-mean leader, David Gunn, hated the most: a bloated bureaucracy. The TTC this year is continuing a spending and hiring bonanza: spending is up 10.4% and the TTC is hiring 508 new staff.

   TTC brass will protest: We’re adding service! True, except that just 222 of the 508 new staff are drivers.

8. Don’t agree with TTC privatizing since it will likely worsen things. Privatizing routes as happened in London generally translates into substantially increased costs for people who need to transfer…I also know some people who work at the private firm Viva in York Region who basically say profit is maximized by cutting corners and by the lowering standards that impact safety. …

   But I do agree with Glen’s comment that the TTC needs to become leaner and meaner. From what I’ve heard, too many people are not doing anything there. I don’t include the drivers in this since ALL their time should be accounted for.) All the bloat that Gunn got rid of is back — and then some. ( As for one of the reasons, why 25% more staff are are needed to handle a 2% increase of staff from 1988, part of the reason has to do with the size of the buses being used. In case anybody didn’t notice, the newer buses have a passenger capacity that is FAR LESS than the old vehicles.

9. You know, most transit systems a monthly pass pays for itself (give or take) after 40 rides – or 2 trips per day 5 days per week. Even major cities where there are a large number of people relying on transit instead of a car a transit pass can easily become cheaper than bulk fare. I’m also willing to bet that most trips people take beyond 40 with the pass are fairly short distance and are not using the full value that the TTC estimates.

   Before I owned a car, I would sometimes buy 40-45 tickets per month, as I enjoyed some of the convenience of a pass without spending the premium.

   By the TTC’s math, if they are losing money on monthly passes, then they are losing far more on tokens and cash fare. Personally, I think they should raise fares across the board so that 40 tokens cost about the same as a monthly pass and offer 90-120 minute transfers. Either that, or get higher levels of government to pick up the tab (like that is gonna happen).

   Also Glen, back in 1988 the TTC operated buses with higher capacity than what services most of our routes (high floor and articulated buses) which may explain why the system has more employees to move about the same amount of people (while still incurring lots of crowding).

10. Ben,

    Have a look here…….

    http://www.stevemunro.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/BobBrent1988To2005.pdf

    The TTC had 157 more buses in 1988 than it did in 2005. The TTC has bloated out of control.

11. Glen,

    The TTC also has 264 more buses now in 2009 than it did in 2005.

    http://www.transitstop.net/Stats/2005%2003%2027.pdf

    http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Service_Summary_2009_09_06.pdf

12. 192 of those buses were added between 2007 and 2008. Any way you slice it (have a look at Bob Brent’s PDF linked) the TTC cost per ride is increasing much faster than the rate of inflation. This is not sustainable.