Torontonians are upset, Mayor Rob Ford is upset, and even TTC Chair Karen Stintz is upset, and everyone is looking for someone to blame for this proposed 10-cent TTC fare increase that is slated to begin on Feb. 1st, 2011.
Well, before you TTC riders pull out your pitch forks and torches and march down to Mayor Ford's Office in City Hall, you should first look to the TTC Drivers, TTC Ticket Collectors and countless other over-paid (and mostly useless) TTC workers who are given salaries and benefits that compete with those of Doctors and Lawyers, and far surpass the salaries of far more important roles in our society like Teachers and Nurses.
You should also look to your Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and his Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne, who decided not to provide Toronto its desperately needed Provincial operational funding for the TTC (SOURCE: CBC.ca: No money for TTC this year: McGuinty).
You definitely have every right to be angry about the fare hike, but make sure that you direct your anger at the right people.
Mayor Rob Ford put a mandate out there to reduce City Department Budgets by 5% across the board, and instead of making the necessary sacrifices (just as Mayor Ford did with his expense budget, and City Council did with their Expense Budgets), TTC Staff decided instead to increase TTC fares by 10-cents. I'm not surprised... After 7 years of the former Mayor David Miller regime babying, spoon-feeding and hand-holding the TTC Staff and their Workers Union, how can they even begin to understand what words/phrases like budget, reduce, sacrifice and respect for taxpayers even mean?
Remember, Mayor Ford asked for them to cut their budgets -not increase TTC fares. That was proposed by the TTC Staff.
Here's the story from the Toronto Sun:
Ford warns of TTC fare hike
Mayor Rob Ford warned a TTC fare hike is on the way with the 2011 budget.
In a speech Monday launching the 2011 budget, Ford said it is balanced and includes a zero percent property tax increase but the TTC staff are recommending a 10¢ fare hike in their budget and reducing hours on 48 bus routes.
TTC staff recommended raising fares starting Feb. 1. Commissioners will meet Wednesday to discuss the hike and the route changes.
"I did not want to agree to this," Ford told reporters. "I am not happy about this. In fact, my staff has been working night and day, through the weekend to find another option."
The mayor also vowed he wants to see measurable improvement in the TTC's customer service by Sept. 1.
"No matter what happens folks I've made it quite clear, the TTC must improve station cleanliness and customer service," Ford said.
Here are some additional details about the TTC Fare Increases and other TTC 2011 Budget-related items from the TTC.ca website for your reference:
Record ridership projected for 2011 budget - TTC staff recommend 10-cent fare increase, service reallocation
Operating Budget (excluding Wheel-Trans)
The TTC’s proposed operating budget for 2011 is $1.4 billion (up $66 million from 2010) and forecasts an all-time record high of 483 million rides. Ridership continues to grow each year. At the end of 2010 there were 477 million rides, up from a projected 462 million rides. For 2011, the TTC’s conventional system operating subsidy from the City of Toronto will not increase over 2010’s level. A long-term funding strategy for annual TTC operating expenses, however, is required to allow the TTC to plan for service changes and fare policy decisions.
Effective January 30, 2011, TTC staff recommends a 10-cent fare increase to meet the service levels required for the projected increase in ridership. To operate the system, each ride costs $3, on average. The TTC receives, on average, just under $2 in fare revenue per trip. The attached fare chart shows the proposed increase in fares for tokens, tickets and passes. Cash fares for adults and seniors remain unchanged; children’s fares are also frozen at 2010 levels.
With increased ridership, TTC staff propose, effective March 27, the reallocation of some weekend and/or late night weekday bus service on routes where ridership is extremely low. It is proposed that this service be reallocated to ensure service levels at rush hour and midday, for example, meet the forecast increase in ridership. Improved service to account for record levels of riders began on January 2 of this year. A list of routes proposed for reallocation is attached. This change will save approximately $7 million in 2011. These improvements will be implemented in September after an analysis is completed to determine where that additional service is needed most.
Other TTC expenses for 2011, which will be detailed on Jan. 12, include customer service initiatives (Chief Customer Service Officer, additional station managers, station cleanliness, route supervisors), training, energy costs, vehicle and facility maintenance, and inflationary costs.
Fare Schedule
Proposed 10-cent fare increase
Current Fare --> Proposed Fare
Adult
Cash
$3.00 --> $3.00 (unchanged)
Token
$2.50 --> $2.60
Weekly Pass
$36.00 --> $37.25
Regular Metropass
$121.00 --> $126.00
VIP
$107.00 --> $111.25
MDP
$111.00 --> $115.50
Senior/Student
Cash
$2.00 --> $2.00 (unchanged)
Ticket
$1.65 --> $1.75
Weekly Pass
$28.00 --> $29.75
Regular Metropass
$99.00 --> $104.00
MDP
$89.00 --> $94.00
Child
Cash
$0.75 --> $0.75 (unchanged)
Ticket
$0.55 --> $0.55 (unchanged)
Day Pass
$10.00 --> $10.50
GTA Pass (TTC Portion)
$28.00 --> $29.00
Post-Secondary Student Metropass
$99.00 --> $104.00
Proposed route changes
The following route changes are recommended for implementation on March 27, 2011. These changes are required to allow the TTC to increase service on routes where it is needed most due to record-level ridership. These improvements will be implemented in September 2011.
5 AVENUE RD – No service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
61 AVENUE RD NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
6 BAY – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.
9 BELLAMY – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
8 BROADVIEW – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
120 CALVINGTON – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. No service on Sundays and holidays.
20 CLIFFSIDE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
42 CUMMER – No service east of Kennedy Road after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service east of Kennedy Road on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
127 DAVENPORT – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
105 DUFFERIN NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
26 DUPONT – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.
32 EGLINTON WEST – No 32D (Eglinton West Stn-Jane & Emmett) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No 32D (Eglinton West Stn-Jane & Emmett) service after 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. No 32A (Eglinton Stn-Renforth & Skymark) service west of Renforth on Saturdays.
15 EVANS – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
33 FOREST HILL – No service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
135 GERRARD – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
14 GLENCAIRN – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.
122 GRAYDON HALL – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.
169 HUNTINGWOOD – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays. No service on Sundays and holidays.
110 ISLINGTON SOUTH – No service on Horner Avenue or Browns Line to Long Branch Loop after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
43 KENNEDY – No 43B (Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn via Progress) service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No 43B (Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn via Progress) service on Sundays and holidays.
30 LAMBTON – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
162 LAWRENCE-DONWAY – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
56 LEASIDE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. No service west of Laird Drive to Eglinton Station Sunday/holiday daytime.
51 LESLIE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
59 MAPLE LEAF – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
130 MIDDLEFIELD – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.
132 MILNER – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
116 MORNINGSIDE – No 116A/E (Kennedy Stn-UofT Scarborough Express/Conlins) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No 116A/E (Kennedy Stn-UofT Scarborough Express/Conlins)service on Saturday, Sundays, and holidays.
62 MORTIMER – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
74 MT PLEASANT – No service after 7:00 p.m., every day.
103 MT PLEASANT NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
72 PAPE – No 72A service south of Eastern Avenue to Commissioners and Union Station after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday, September-May. No 72A service south of Eastern Avenue to Commissioners and Union Station after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays, September-May.
101 PARC DOWNSVIEW PARK – No service, September-May.
167 PHARMACY NORTH – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
80 QUEENSWAY – No off peak service east of Humber Loop, every day. No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
48 RATHBURN – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
73 ROYAL YORK – No 73B (Royal York Stn-Eglinton & La Rose) service after 7:00 p.m., every day.
76 ROYAL YORK SOUTH – No 76B (Royal York Stn-Queensway & Grand Ave) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No 76B (Royal York Stn-Queensway & Grand Ave) service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
78 ST ANDREWS – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
86 SCARBOROUGH – No off peak 86D (Kennedy Stn-Beechgrove via Lawrence) service. Service on 86D (Kennedy Stn-Beechgrove via Lawrence) to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
115 SILVER HILLS – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
60 STEELES WEST – No off peak service west of Martin Grove to Highway 27. Service west of Martin Grove to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
124 SUNNYBROOK – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
55 WARREN PARK – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
94 WELLESLEY – No service west of Wellesley Station after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
112 WEST MALL – No 112C (Kipling Stn-Disco Rd) service north of Eglinton Avenue after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays. No 112C (Kipling Stn-Disco Rd) service north of Eglinton Avenue after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.
98 WILLOWDALE-SENLAC – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays. No service east of Sheppard-Yonge Station, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
96 WILSON – No 96C/F off peak service to Tandridge Crescent or Thistle Down Boulevard. Service on 96C (York Mills Stn-Tandridge & Thistle Down via Albion) to Tandridge Crescent or Thistle Down Boulevard to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.
--jackandcokewithalime
(Image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/veggiefrog/2276594781/sizes/l/in/photostream/ by veggiefrog on flickr
)
Blame the drivers?what do the drivers or the union have to do with it?your such a morron with nothing else to write about,poor poor you stupid.
ReplyDeleteObviously you're the moron, if not mentally retarted anonymous!
ReplyDeleteDid you even read jack's post? Why do ttc drivers and ticket collectors make more than doctors, lawyers, teachers and nurses?
The ttc union is 100% to blame for this and anyone who doesn't understand that is a MORON.
Its time to break the unions, fire all of the TTC employees, and then rehire them under no Union. Then TTC fares will be dropped down to what they should be, around 50-cents or so.
Stupid TTC employees making big-time salaries for doing something that a 16-year old could do. This is why things are so screwed up in Toronto.
And by the way, learn english, idiot.
I'm old enough to remember some of the pre-union days. It was really tough working for greedy task masters that could fire you at the drop of a hat, just for having a cold on the job. We do need unions, but NOT todays types of unions.
ReplyDeleteThe unions of today are really out of line, and the funny thing is that they are tax payers too. They really should look at how far out of line everything has gotten and work with the only Mayor that we have had in a very long time, that actually wants to help keep more of our monies in our pockets.
In other words, if everyone can pitch together to go green (which is such a bogus scam) why can't everyone just pitch in and help lower our taxes?
Rob Ford' actions reminds me of that movie "Dave".
I am so very grateful that he decided to run for Mayor. I know that he will do well for all concerned. He is not a gouger. He is business savvy and that's what our gov't leaders need to be.....business savvy, yet humane. I hope one day he will run for Premier of Ontario. That sure would be a pip eh? lolololol