Here are more of your Transit Resolutions for 2004. Some of the following
suggestions will definitely take more than a year to tackle, not to
mention a lot of cash that doesn’t seem to be lurking around anywhere. And
first, we have to weather the twin threats of fare hikes and service cuts
at the TTC. Still, that doesn’t mean that now is not a time to think, and
dream, big.
Jennifer Bourque of
Toronto writes: “I have had the pleasure of being a passenger on public
transportation around the world and I can genuinely say that Toronto's
transit system is one of the WORST in the world. London, Paris, Tokyo,
Osaka, Sydney, Hong Kong... the list goes on and Toronto falls far behind
all of them.
“The cost of tickets
is ridiculous – more expensive than the subways in Japan, one of the most
expensive countries in the world in which to live and travel. The price we
pay in tickets is not reciprocated in service.
“What needs to be
done? A major overhaul of the entire system. If Toronto wants to be a
world-class city, then it better have a transit system worthy of a
world-class city. Until it does, I won't be encouraging any of my overseas
friends to visit Toronto, I'll be telling them to stay away.”
Ben Kobayashi of
Unionville writes: “I’m completely perplexed and disappointed to hear talk
of another TTC fare hike due to misdirected gas tax spending. Car
insurance costs increase seemingly without limit and it is obvious that
there will be more and more commuters turning to transit in search of a
‘better way.’
“I’m not sure they
will, (after proposed TTC service cuts were recently) made public. Why
aren’t we investigating other sources of funding first?
“Properly
implemented, a pay toll into the city could be the best option. The toll
should only burden those travelling into the city during weekday rush hour
periods, and not patrons of the city’s restaurants and night life
attractions. It seems more logical to ask for money from those who add to
the city’s pollution and gridlock problems – rather than to penalize those
who help ease it.
“Another option is
new transit fare zones. It is absolutely unacceptable that I would be
expected to pay $2.50 to ride the subway from Union Station to the Eaton
Centre, while the person next to me pays the same amount for a trip to the
suburbs. Local transit travellers are once again penalized for having no
other options.”
Richard Frederick of
Toronto would like to see more subway routes all over the city, including:
“Restart construction
of the Eglinton subway, west from Allen Road to Pearson Airport.
“Then build a subway
along Eglinton Avenue East to Kingston Road.
“Extend the Sheppard
subway west from Yonge Street to Weston Road, and east from Don Mills
station to the Toronto Zoo or Morningside Avenue, or even to Pickering
Town Centre.”
Lastly, Roberta
Tetefsky of Toronto sent this message to In Transit late in 2003: “This
e-mail is coming from a person who has no desire to learn, or to ever
drive a car. My life depends on the TTC. We moved here from Montreal ten
years ago and I use the subway or bus every day. Glitches occur, which is
understandable.”
To the TTC, Ms.
Tetefsky says: “Please keep doing a great job - never mind the
complainers. Just one thing - please make more announcements regarding
backpacks. Just this morning, I was sitting down and was hit on the head
with one.”
Thanks to all of you
who sent your ideas in the hopes that someone will listen. I have many
other letters from readers, and hopefully some of them can be addressed in
coming months.
What are my own
resolutions for our transportation system this year? To shed light on the
needs of commuters, and to urge, cajole - and if required - pester public
officials to take smart, imaginative steps that will improve our daily
travels.
Oh - and I resolve to
remove my knapsack when boarding TTC vehicles.
Send e-mail to
transit@eddrass.com. Include address and
phone number.