Relief from crowding is finally getting close. TTC patrons have not
only become used to riding overloaded buses in peak hours but
sometimes have to endure it during the day, in the evening and on
weekends. Packed conditions have contributed to delays and a few
shortened tempers.
While we won’t suddenly be able to dance along empty aisles or sit
where we please, this time next month some of Toronto’s busiest bus
lines should be noticeably better. More vehicles will be put into
service along many routes -- although the streetcar network won’t
see much increased service. Buses will run more often and night bus
frequency is set to double at certain times. It’s all over due.
TTC
chair Adam Giambrone says the agency will announce specific changes
in coming weeks, calling them “dramatic.” Riders are going to want
to see if schedules for their “favourite” routes will change.
As part of the 2008 budget process, the city of Toronto has also
proposed adding 100 more buses during peak periods by November, and
all bus routes would run continuously from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on
weekdays. If city council approves, this would reverse deep cuts
made to lesser-used routes 12 years ago when the provincial
government slashed transit funding.
The February boost is merely to reduce crowding for existing
riders, but the planned November changes could actually attract new
customers. The TTC has been constrained by tight budgets and
conservative thinking for so long that the idea of actually going
after new business has been off radar.
The pent-up demand is there -- despite marginal additions to
service in recent years the agency is poised to achieve record
ridership in 2008. Although Giambrone cautions the economy strongly
affects patronage, this year the TTC should surpass the previous
highest-ever total of 463 million rides, set in 1988.
It appears the commission would have broken the all-time record
last year, but revised its counts after overestimating the number of
rides being taken by new Metropass holders.
Now that the TTC has finally regained a level of popularity last
seen 20 years ago, how can we ensure it continues to grow? Economic
trouble in the city kicked off that two-decade decline, followed by
a series of fare hikes and the painful service cuts.
We need to protect the transit system from repeating this cycle and
unless a deep recession arrives, the number of potential GTA transit
customers justifies adding even more buses in 2009. And that’s not
to mention streetcars. Even without taking into account the new
light rail lines that are being planned, we need extra trams as soon
as possible. However, patience is still required -- along with
additional subway trains, these are still a few years off.