Metrolinx (the former Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) is currently undertaking an ambitious project to create a comprehensive transportation plan for the entire Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including transit, cars, and active transportation (walking and cycling). Unlike previous GTA transportation bodies, it looks like this one may have the power and money to actually implement its policies — for example, it’s conceivable (though unlikely) that it could implement a region-wide congestion charge.
They have embarked on an extensive public consultation program, with a series of green papers on these various issues — including ones on transit, active transportation, mobility hubs, and other issues of great interest to our readers. The original deadline for providing feedback was in May, but they’ve extended the deadline to July 10. They’ve also released a couple of more detailed “white papers” on big picture issues, which you can also comment on.
This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard on these issues. The consultation system is pretty good once you figure it out — you have to register, but once you do, you can comment on the individual sections of each paper, meaning you can say as much or as little as you want — make one general comment in the introduction, or detailed comments in each section if you’re really interested. All comments are displayed as anonymous.
photo by David Michael Lamb
4 comments
The Regional transportation plan is just a piece of paper without public input. This plan will guide the development of the transit system for the next 30 years, and all of the public comment is being taken into account.
Keep the ideas coming!
Andrae Griffith
Metrolinx advisory committee member
A quick comment on the idea of a “region-wide congestion charge” – this will not be politically feasible in the GTA for a decade or two, at least. If New York wasn’t able to make a congestion charge happen in Manhattan, we won’t be able to do it here.
Much more realistic options to discourage auto use are highway express lane tolling and zoning reform to increase the cost of parking. Both have the potential to happen very soon and be just as effective as a congestion charge.
It’s not a matter of trying to “discourage auto use”. That is done every day through 35% fuel taxes, profiteering parking rates, the civilized world’s highest tolls on our only bypass route (the 407), escalating licensing and registration fees, largely arbitrary ticketing etc. etc.
And what do you expect all those “discouraged” commuters will do instead? Pile onto a transit that’s already seriously over capacity? Then expect TTC fares to double or triple over the next couple of years.
A “much more realistic option” would be to expand the capacity of public transit to provide a practical alternative to driving. Then watch drivers abandon their money-pit vehicles in an instant.
I keep hearing about “We need to discourage people from using their cars and get them switch to public transit.”
This is a great idea except public transit in Toronto is a joke. There really is no altenative. It may take people 45 min, 1 hour, or 1.5 hours to drive to work, and they have to pay for parking when they arrive. The so called altenative is 3 times the travel time to go the same distance using public transit. With all the transfers from different regions to TTC then two or more transfers on the TTC is discusting.
A trip from Ajax using public transit to anywhere in North York can take 2 to 3 hours or more. Durham bus to Go Bus to Scarborough Town Center or York Mills subway then transfer to TTC Bus or Subway then transfer to another bus, and all the waiting at each transfer is really no option.
Everything I read and hear about making it harder to drive in Toronto by reducing lanes for street cars or bus lanes is just the quick fix and a waste of public money. The only way to reduce the traffic is to extend the existing subway lines and adding more.
I can’t believe that Toronto doen’t have subway lines to the Airport, York University and even the Toronto Zoo. What about subway links into the outer regions Mississauga, Markham Vaughan, Durham, Brampton and others.
Take a look at the subway system in New York, Moscow, London and others. The only way public transit is going to be The Better Way is to reduce the total travel time. Give the people a real alternative and they will use the public transit.
Jim