Transit is a cornerstone to a healthy City - economically, socially and environmentally.

TEA campaigns for better transit service on existing routes and a major expansion of the system North of Eglinton. While there is some good news for the TTC after a decade of decline, we are concerned about delays in service improvements, continued fare increases and question our priorities in building expensive new subways for a few, instead of a new suburban light rail/busway network for many.

Toronto Public Health recommends improved transit as the best way to cut smog, an out of control problem that leads to 1700 pre-mature deaths in the our city each year. Reduced congestion and competition for parking will save local businesses billions. Transit can also make our streets safer. Over 40 pedestrians and cyclists are killed in accidents with cars, every year.

During the 90s, all levels of government underfunded the TTC - the province pulled all contributions to TTC operations, diverting their money to build the Sheppard Subway ($960 million). Today, this subway is by far the most expensive route to operate, carrying comparatively few riders.

So what happened? Service declined dramatically, while fares rose steeply. Ridership fell by 15%.

It's Time to Build a Transit City

We need real funding from the government of Ontario.
We must make transit affordable.
We need frequent, reliable service.
We need a new Light Rail network across the whole City.
We need frequent all day two way GO Transit service.

TEA requested that the Transit Commission develop a ridership recovery program. Now called the TTC's Ridership Growth Strategy, the five-point plan aims to reduce fares and improve service. The plan is financially sustainable since implementation is based on dollars spent per new rider and new trips (existing riders, taking the TTC more). This ensures that the plan is sustainable and as new riders take the TTC their fares will cover the improvements.

There have already been small improvements to over 40 routes and the TTC has introduced a discounted weekly transit pass. But the plan is not being fully implemented because of a lack of funding.

TEA also campaigns to expand Toronto transit. The TTC has developed a plan called Building a Transit City. The plan calls for either new busways or light rail largely along major East-West routes between Finch and Eglinton. The TTC is currently undertaking planning and feasibility studies.

There is more good news: the TTC has received new money directly from the federal government and the province has resumed some of the funding the former government cut.

What Stands in the Way of Better Transit?
The Right Priorities

When provincial funding was cut and provincial and city cash diverted to building the Sheppard Subway, the TTC lacked the funds to buy new buses and subway trains to improve service on existing routes or replace aging infrastructure. Streetcar repairs became backlogged. Now that new money is flowing back into the TTC's budget, we are concerned it will be diverted to more, expensive new subway routes that would service a fraction of the riders that could benefit if the TTC implemented its Ridership Growth Strategy and Building a Transit City plan.

There may come a time for the York University Subway proposal, but at the present time, after a decade of decline, governments must direct their money to putting more buses and trains on existing routes, replacing aged streetcars and building a 200 kilometer network of new routes (light rail, busways) along suburban streets like Don Mills, Eglinton, Finch, Sheppard, Kingston Road, Jane and others.

Transportation Links