I find it very disturbing that today was the first day of the massive expansion of TTC bus service throughout the entire Toronto area, yet there was nothing picked on by any of the daily newspapers, nor did the TTC even put brochures on the subways. Instead the city is splattered with Transit-City ads that are meaning less. It's not like those lines are under-construction. They are just planned. While this expansion is happening now.

Another example of gross TTC mis-management of their brand. This would be a golden opportunity to show the public that after years of cuts and raised fares service is FINALLY getting better. But no, nothing is said. So we'll see empty buses running every 30 minutes at night since no one will actually know for a while that service has been improved.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the TTC let this opportunity slip away?

My Lexus has heated seats. Who cares about TTC buses except poor people?

Sure some blame can be directed toward the TTC but the majority of it should be toward our media outlets ... it's completely unfair to place all the blame on the TTC it self.

They have in fact, on their website released a press release regarding the service increase and have had the information on their site for several weeks now.

Having said that I suspect we'll see some articles in the paper tomorrow.

Which btw is actually better then having an article today as Sunday headlines go unoticed for the most part. We'll see tomorrow.

I have love/hate relationship with the TTC, some routes are awesome but some others are terrible, I hate it when at night I have to wait the 501 at long branch for more than 30 minutes when the frequency says it should be like 12, and you can see the driver just sitting there all comfy and warm while I'm freezing outside!... :bash:

The National Post (of all papers) did have a small story in Friday's paper (http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto/story.html?id=979684):


TTC marks ridership record as it improves bus-subway links
21 November 2008
National Post

The Toronto Transit Commission has set a ridership record, topping a 20-year high, at the same time that it announces improved bus service in a bid to handle even more riders. The transit commission announced yesterday its 12-month ridership hit 465 million rides in mid-November, surpassing 1988's 463.5 million. ''The service improvements that go into effect this Sunday will reduce crowding and improve the quality of service,'' the TTC said in a release. Starting on Sunday, the TTC is aligning all bus routes with subway operating hours, and riders can take almost any bus route between 6 a. m. and 1 a. m. all week long. ''Routes that used to only operate during peak periods, or midday, will now run during the same hours that the subway operates, with a maximum of 30-minute waiting times,'' the TTC said. ''An increase in the number of buses during peak periods will mean an increase in service for customers across Toronto.''

Meanwhile, the Sun covered the service increase on Sunday (http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2008/11/23/7504996-sun.html):


TTC boosts service
Old fleet getting a makeover to put 93 extra buses on road
By DON PEAT, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 23rd November 2008, 6:19am

The surge in service set to launch today will strain vehicle resources, the TTC admits but vows to manage the boost in service even with yards of buses waiting to be upgraded and repaired.

An anonymous TTC employee told the Sun as many as 50 inoperable buses are sitting outside the Queens-way garage and the commission is in "panic mode" trying to get as many as possible on the road by tomorrow.

A fleet of hybrid buses is also waiting to be repaired at the TTC's Arrow Rd. yard, the source said.

"We have some challenges with buses as everybody knows but we'll be able to meet service, absolutely," TTC spokesman Brad Ross told the Sun yesterday. "It's going to be very tight, everyone is working very hard but we wouldn't have introduced these service improvements if we didn't have the buses."

As part of the improvement plan, all bus routes will align with subway hours. Routes will get extra buses during peak hours and riders won't have to wait more than 30 minutes for a bus.

To help meet the service demand the commission is rebuilding 52 old GMC buses. Those 24-year-old buses are already past their 18-year typical life-span.

"We rebuild them, we'll get another three years out of them," Ross said.

Hybrid buses are also getting new batteries to help get them back on the road and the TTC is buying 130 new hybrids buses next year. The new buses will already have the lithium ion batteries instead of the lead acid batteries that only last 18 months.

In two years, the commission hopes to buy 120 "clean diesel" buses.

"We'll have enough operators, there will be some overtime involved," Ross said. "There may be the odd time where we may have to cancel one bus on a route during rush hour."

TTC chairman Adam Giambrone said riders will see a "dramatic change" when the full surge takes effect.

The commission will have an extra 93 buses on the routes during peak hours tomorrow.

"We may be short at times, five to 10 buses, but what that of course means is you're up 93 but if you've got a bad day, you're down 10," Giambrone said. "We'll do our best to manage that."

Finally, the Star (http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/542276) weighs in on the subject AFTER it's been introduced on Monday.


TTC rolls out 93 more buses
Nov 24, 2008 04:30 AM
Tess Kalinowski
Transportation Reporter

TTC riders can expect a little more elbow room on the bus today as the single biggest service boost in recent history takes effect.

The improvements come at a time of record ridership, and will affect virtually all of the city's 168 bus routes.

Their operation will now roughly coincide with subway hours, from about 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week.

Ninety-three buses will be added to rush-hour service and those routes that have only run during peak hours or at midday will now run all day, with a few exceptions.

Riders should never wait more than half an hour for the next bus.

"It will have a huge impact for people across the city," said TTC chair Adam Giambrone.

This is the second major service expansion the TTC has implemented this year. In February, it added service to 77 bus and streetcar routes across the city, 43 of which had been designated as under-serviced.

Today's increase, which brings Toronto transit back to the levels of the 1980s, is the largest single boost to service since 1974.

The overall improvements will cost $21 million this year and $56 million in future years.

They coincide with the opening of the new Mount Dennis bus garage, a $92 million facility that had been standing vacant for nearly a year.

Its opening was delayed as a result of financial pressures on the city, which forced the TTC to postpone service improvements, and a delay in the delivery of new buses.

There's been no sense from city council that the TTC's ambitious ridership growth strategy is under any pressure, Giambrone said.

In New York, by comparison, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency is looking at an operating deficit that could mean job cuts.

The TTC has delivered 465 million rides this year.

The Globe has yet to comment on the story.

Good to see the local media picking up the news.

^^ Dude, you jumped the gun in thinking that this wouldn't be picked up on by the media. It was all over the CBC News at 6. :cheers:

I have love/hate relationship with the TTC, some routes are awesome but some others are terrible, I hate it when at night I have to wait the 501 at long branch for more than 30 minutes when the frequency says it should be like 12, and you can see the driver just sitting there all comfy and warm while I'm freezing outside!... :bash:

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. my poor sweetheart

I read about the service improvements in the free paper, Metro, last week. Although most would probably miss it since that paper is filled to the brim with ads.

Did anyone notice service improvements the last time the TTC started running more hybrid buses? I didn't notice any improvements whatsoever. In fact, it seemed as if the service worsened. People who have faced years of declining service in various areas of the city have been forced into cars and will likely not return to taking public transit.

Please explain to me how service has declined the last 4/5 years?

And no the average person wouldn't notice almost any service improvement.

Other then the case where brand new weekend service / late night service is added.

Yes there may be 5 people less on the bus during rush hour but you're not likely to tell.

I read about the service improvements in the free paper, Metro, last week. Although most would probably miss it since that paper is filled to the brim with ads.

Did anyone notice service improvements the last time the TTC started running more hybrid buses? I didn't notice any improvements whatsoever. In fact, it seemed as if the service worsened. People who have faced years of declining service in various areas of the city have been forced into cars and will likely not return to taking public transit.

I remember when I moved to Scarborough the bus service on the 116 Morningside was about every 15 minutes PEAK. Now it runs like every 4-5 minutes peak and it truly is a significant improvement.

My Lexus has heated seats. Who cares about TTC buses except poor people?

I know you're trolling, but I'll bite...

Besides the cliched reasons about the environment and saving money (seeing as you are too spoiled and stupid to care about those), if you are going downtown it means you'll be able to get to the subway faster and easier. You don't need to pay for parking at stations, and you don't have to worry about theft or vandalism to your Lexus if it is parked downtown. The subway is one of the best ways to get downtown during rush hour, and transit (subway, bus, and streetcar) are the best ways to get around the core at anytime.

Believe me, I've done courier deliveries by car in and around downtown...

And of course, it gives those who choose not to purchase a vehicle an improved quality of life as well. Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right.

My Lexus has heated seats. Who cares about TTC buses except poor people?

Well, you do. As a driver I'm pretty sure you must appreciate the fact that 50% of commuters are not sitting in your way on the street in their own vehicle, allowing you to get to your destination twice as fast as you would if they were all driving.

You should also appreciate that CN and CP Rail move a huge portion of the freight by something other than the highway. Imagine the 401 with 2 to 3 times as many trucks on it.

haha nicely put ...

Apologies if it seems a silly question :), but I'm not from Toronto, let alone Ontario, let alone Canada, or North America, or even the Northern Hemisphere :nuts:

What are the general frequencies of TTC buses like, and what are the service levels like on the routes that service the outer areas that are supplemented by GO? Yes, I know the latter aren't TTC.

I'm somewhat confused as to what it is like around the cut-off point between TTC and other services still within Greater Toronto.

What are the general frequencies of TTC buses like, and what are the service levels like on the routes that service the outer areas that are supplemented by GO? Yes, I know the latter aren't TTC.

On the busiest routes like Eglinton or Finch, they run at an <5 minute frequency, for slightly less busy routes like Wilson or Lawrence, its typically 5-10 minutes, and for less traveled routes like Avenue Rd. or Rosedale its >10 minute frequency. Depends of course on time of day (the above being general "day time"). I'm not too familiar with suburban bus service, but from what I hear, service in York Region (to the north) and Durham Region (to the east) are pretty bad, while its decent in Peel Region (west).


I'm somewhat confused as to what it is like around the cut-off point between TTC and other services still within Greater Toronto.

TTC routes are in red.
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7225/66661639pk7.jpg

Full resolution: http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/pdf/rideguide.pdf

Won't speak for other regions, but York Region (north) have frequencies of every 15-30 minutes average DURING rush hour, and every 30-60 minutes outside rush hour.

The exception is Yonge St, which between local and rapid bus services sees frequencies under 5 minutes at points during the rush hour, about every 10-15 minutes outside of rush hour (depending where on Yonge, that number could be more or less).

That just about covers it. Weekend service is pretty good compared to other North American systems but it's not good enough for Toronto. On some routes prepare for rush hour like crowding during early Sunday service (and the like).

Regarding the suburbs. I'd say Mississauga has decent bus service compared to typical suburbs but suffers (like the TTC) from severe overcrowding and as a result bunching (contributing to the overcrowding, starting to see a circle here :D) on some routes.

In York region - everything North of Toronto. There's good service on Hi-way 7 and Yonge (Around 10 service all day roughly). Other then that the service given the demand (although the lack of the demand might be due to the infrequent service, another circle developing) is adequate but that's typically 15+ min (worse on other routes). Another issues in both Peele and York region is late service, it hardly exists. By late I mean 12/1am +. One good/bad thing about York region is other then Yonge (and only at a few times of day) you will ALWAYS find a seat. I can count on my hand the number of times I've had to stand on a York region bus (one hand only too!). Like I mentioned above, don't expect this in Mississauga and you'll shoot yourself if you expecting it on many Toronto routes.

I'd have to say compared to most North American suburbs (outside of Canada) it's very good.

Won't speak for other regions, but York Region (north) have frequencies of every 15-30 minutes average DURING rush hour, and every 30-60 minutes outside rush hour.

The exception is Yonge St, which between local and rapid bus services sees frequencies under 5 minutes at points during the rush hour, about every 10-15 minutes outside of rush hour (depending where on Yonge, that number could be more or less).

The section of Yonge that has sub 5min frequencies is very very small :)
Most of it being within Toronto where it wouldn't make much sense to get on a York region bus lol.

So I'd call it 7-10min - what are the Viva blue's supose to be operating at now during rush our south of RHC anyway? 10min or is it now 7-8?

^^ Many thanks everybody for the helpful responses :)

What's the general modal share of public transit for motorised trips?

The section of Yonge that has sub 5min frequencies is very very small :)
Most of it being within Toronto where it wouldn't make much sense to get on a York region bus lol.

So I'd call it 7-10min - what are the Viva blue's supose to be operating at now during rush our south of RHC anyway? 10min or is it now 7-8?

I'm thinking south Thornhill, where you have Viva Blue - Richmond Hill, Viva Blue - Newmarket, Viva Pink - Markham, 99 Yonge South, 77 Highway 7 West, 5 Clark, GO - Newmarket... :nuts: