The Ontario government under Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty presented a
formal budget “update” to the legislature on Wednesday, detailing a huge
provincial cash shortage. Did you happen to notice the Number One impact
of this money crunch, as defined by the powerful Toronto media? TTC fare
hikes. An increase of a quarter per ride became the big news story,
pushing transit temporarily past education, health care and electricity as
Ontario’s highest profile issue. The premier indirectly confirmed the
arrival of transit riders as no-longer-fringe voters by publicly asking
TTC commissioners to exhaust all other options before raising fares.
Of course it helped that on Wednesday, plenty of reporters
were on hand at the monthly meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission,
ready to hear what outspoken chair Howard Moscoe thought about the
announcement from Queen’s Park that no money from the gas tax was coming
this Christmas, or any time soon. “Mr. McGuinty will have to wear this
like Scrooge, because what it means for the people of Toronto is a 25 cent
fare hike,” said Moscoe, adding that a quarter per ride translates to an
extra $150 per year for transit riders. The TTC chair is not shy about
negotiating with fellow politicians through the media, and by clearly
linking the premier with fare hikes, he signalled that a very public
haggling process has begun.
It’s not clear which options Mr. McGuinty had in mind when
he urged the commission to avoid raising prices -- does that include
service cuts? Reducing the number of buses or streetcars out there, even
on the least-used of routes, has a strong effect on ridership -- even
worse than the impact of fare hikes. Unlike other large transit providers
on this continent, the TTC
gets a lot of business from people who have access to a car
during rush hour -- so-called choice riders. You start cutting service and
they begin to edge toward the car sitting in their driveway.
Even if the city and the province can cut the fare increase
down from a quarter -- or if the equally tight-fisted Martin government in
Ottawa is roped into the negotiations -- ridership will suffer.
Every nickel the fare rises, more choice riders start nosing
their cars onto already congested streets. Nobody wins.
We may start to hear more about options that are currently
considered radical, like higher taxes to pay for transit, or tolls, other
user fees on cars, or selling parts of the TTC to the private sector. Up
until recently, such choices have been more frightening to politicians
than letting gridlock gradually get worse. So unless the public forces
government to reconsider its options, we’re faced with both fare hikes and
service cuts, a potent cocktail with a potentially vicious hangover for
all commuters. Money is tight all over -- and it looks like the roads, as
well as transit patrons, are going to get squeezed even more.
In that light, what New Year’s Transit Resolutions would you
propose for our elected officials? Send your suggestions to transit@eddrass.com
or by fax to 416-322-7016. Include your name, address and phone number.
With the potential for substantial TTC fare hikes in 2004,
the deals available this holiday season suddenly look a whole lot more
festive. The TTC is heavily promoting weekly and daily passes for what is
normally a slow season for transit use. Two week-long transferable passes
(you don’t need identification) are available now - the first one is valid
starting Monday. Many people have told me they want the TTC to start
offering 7-day passes -- well here's your chance.
Another great deal is the TTC Day Pass, normally good for
only one person after 9:30 a.m. except on Sundays, when a mixture of six
adults and children can use it all day. From Dec. 21 right through Jan. 4,
the Day Pass will work under the more permissive “family” rules every day.
If you are planning a joint Christmas shopping trip this Sunday, consider
using the pass to avoid the parking hell at local malls. Parking at most
TTC lots is free on weekends, so you can drive to a subway station and
then continue to your favourite mall by train. Yorkdale shoppers, here’s a
hint: Wilson station.
Send e-mail to transit@eddrass.com. Include address and phone
number.