Although the TTC
hasn’t announced any fare hikes for 2004, we’ll hear more today’s public
meeting of the commission. Mayor David Miller, returning chair Howard
Moscoe and a collection of city councillors will officially become the
newest set of transit commissioners and immediately have to address the
TTC’s major budget shortfall. Expect a tough go, as the City of Toronto’s
finances are already under great pressure and no Christmas cards with
cheques inside appear to be coming from the province.
We have at least a
short reprieve, considering January 1 can be a popular date for GTA
transit authorities to put up their prices. So far, only York Region
Transit has announced hikes. In the past, smaller agencies waited until
the TTC raised fares before bringing in their own, and not one of the the
transit services in Brampton, Burlington, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa,
Whitby and Ajax-Pickering report any planned increases.
This doesn’t mean
that riders across the region can count on stable transport costs in 2004,
but many suburban politicians want to keep what transit patrons they have.
Still, municipal budgets may be delayed because of the local elections
that took place in November. As for GO Transit, the regional commuter
service usually raises its ticket prices in April. A GO spokesperson says
it’s too soon to say if this spring will be an exception.
Mississauga Transit
(MT) director Bill Cunningham say prices will not change January 1 for the
GTA’s second largest local transit service, but a fare review is under
way, and Mississauga city council may address the issue later in January.
I do have some bad news for the riders of the 32B Eglinton West TTC route
who currently travel from Toronto to Mississauga without paying a second
fare. As of January 4, you will have to pay $2.25 extra to travel past
Renforth, or provide an MT ticket or pass. This will not go down well with
the many readers who have told In Transit about late buses and spotty
service on that route.
York Region Transit
is the one place in greater Toronto where fares are set to rise Jan. 1,
but they have wisely linked the bad news with good news -- service on two
busy routes will increase Monday, January 4. Cash fare is unchanged at
$2.25 a pop, but riders will now pay $20 for 10 tickets, up from $19.00.
The monthly pass goes from $72.00 to $74.00, and the express pass rises to
$22.50 from $20.00.
Back when YRT took
over the Bayview and Yonge ‘C’ from GO Transit in a controversial hand
over, officials hinted at plans to beef up service -- and they’ve
delivered. That’s especially true on the Yonge ‘C’ route where frequency
on the weekend will be improved from 30 minutes to approximately 15 - 20
minutes. That’s pretty good for a “suburban” transit line outside of peak
commuting hours.
And for those 4,000
or so of you that use the GTA Weekly Pass, I have not heard of any changes
to the current $41.25 price.
Thanks to James Bow
for his research assistance.
Now that a new fleet
of politicians have been elected, reelected or appointed to oversee
everything from the TTC to the provincial and federal transport
ministries, how will they address Toronto’s growing congestion, besides
throwing words at it?
We’ll hear from them
in future In Transit columns, but what is it that commuters actually want
them to do? Please tell me your “New Year’s Resolutions” for the transit
powers-that-be by sending a brief message (under 75 words would be great!)
to transit@eddrass.com, or by fax to 416-322-5285. Only your name and
community will be printed in the paper, but please include your address
and phone number. And start resolving now.