TORONTO | Public Transport

[KGB]

Hmmm...this must be Toronto....we bitch about the 905's suburban nature...and we bitch about them wanting to invest in mass transit.

Let's just change the name to Humeville.






KGB

[Homer J. Simpson]

I don't deny that investing in transit in York Region is important to the future developement of that area. But this funding for expantion in the 905 seems a little misplaced when considering 90% of PT trips in the GTA are taken on the TTC.

[KGB]

And unless the 905 starts promoting public transit, it's going to remain 90%...while the 905 continues to grow bigger than the 416.

Serious initial transit infastructure is always expensive...you shoulda heard Torontonians gripe when they wanted to build the first subway line...and that was built entirely with TTC profits!!






KGB

[hkskyline]

November 27, 2004
TTC on board for smart fare card
Kevin McGran, Toronto Star

We may have to start calling it The Better e-Way.

After initial resistance, the Toronto Transit Commission is now fully on board with a $200 million provincial plan that would create a single high-tech fare system from Hamilton to Oshawa. "It's going to happen and we know the province is going to invest in it. We want to get it right," Brian Ashton, a Toronto councillor and TTC commissioner, said in an interview yesterday.

Ashton made his comments at a meeting of the Canadian Urban Institute, which drew leaders from around the Greater Toronto Area to talk about the future of transit. Ashton said in an interview that the about-face came after a closed-door meeting of TTC commissioners last week.

GO Transit chairman Gordon Chong called the decision "terrific," adding: "They had to be dragged kicking and screaming, but I guess they've seen the future."

Electronic smart card systems are already in place in several American, Asian and European cities. A microchip in the card counts off transit rides. Depending on the technology used, the cards, which can be purchased with a set number of rides on them, are topped up at kiosks and wickets, and in some systems via a secure website.

When riders enter a station or step on to a vehicle, a card reader scans the chip, verifying that the fare is paid and deducting it from the number of trips on the card. Some transit smart cards don't even require removing them from a pocket, wallet or purse.

The chips can be adjusted to allow for the price of an adult, senior or child's fare, or sliding-scale fares like GO's zone system. Some can even instruct a door to stay open longer for a disabled passenger or someone who travels with a seeing-eye dog.

It will take about two years to implement a pilot project - likely to include GO Transit, parts of Mississauga Transit and the TTC's Union Station, which
is the primary transfer point for commuters arriving by GO. If successful, the project would roll out across the GTA, between Hamilton and Oshawa.

GO Transit has been the biggest backer of the smart card technology, because its proof of payment machines - in which tickets are inserted so the travel date can be stamped on them - are old, breaking down and too expensive to replace.

GO hired smart card expert Robert Hollis a year ago to run the project. But the Dalton McGuinty Liberals, who campaigned on a promise to integrate fares in the GTA, pushed GO to work faster and ultimately brought Hollis on board to work directly for the government.

The government plans to issue a request for proposals to smart card suppliers in the next few months - with or without the TTC - and the City of Toronto didn't want to be left behind.

The TTC, by far the largest transit system in the GTA carrying 80 per cent of all riders, had resisted the smart card because it had more pressing issues to
spend money on: namely new bus purchases and maintenance of tracks, streetcars and subways.

But without the TTC's participation, the Liberal promise of integrated transit would have been empty.

The TTC's chief general manager, Rick Ducharme, said yesterday the TTC is on board now because financial promises from Queen's Park and Ottawa, through the gas tax and other measures, mean its future is more stable.

"We're in the camp," said Ducharme. "Our commitment is to fully co-operate and take this much more seriously."

Queen's Park is expected to pay for GO's part of the bill, about $60 million, and at least one-third of the remaining $140 million, with the municipalities and
the federal government paying the rest.

Ashton said the city is not so concerned about seamless travel between transit authorities but about the smart card's economic benefits. People could use the card to pay for coffee, lunch or other goods at subway stations and corner stores.

"Think of the things you can do," said Ashton. "You're into advertisers on your smart cards or aeroplan miles if you want. The marketing capabilities are enormous.

"We think there's a potential beyond transit. E-transit will become e-city," Ashton added. "There's a huge opportunity and not only to serve the transit
system but potentially to make Toronto an e-city (and) we're far behind in a whole number of areas."

The TTC has been accused of dragging its feet on the issue, and admits it has problems with passengers buying tokens, tickets and Metropasses. It's considering a huge move toward vending machines to dispense tickets and tokens. A smart card could simplify fares and simplify the counting of cash.

"Our equipment, though it's old-fashioned, it still works," said Ashton. "However, we know we have problems moving cash around. We know we have problems with fare media fraud. People around us are becoming more modern, we don't want to be seen as some city Luddite."

Ducharme said it's too early to tell whether the TTC would entirely eliminate the "gravity box" which collects tickets, tokens and coins, but he said he's
gone from a cynic to a believer, in part because of a trip to Hong Kong where the smart card is a smashing success.

"Can we do it? Once you see it you believe it. I was in Hong Kong and I was very impressed," said Ducharme, adding that smart card suppliers have had a decade to work out the kinks. "Just because I didn't push it doesn't mean I don't believe strongly in it. I believe we can do it."

I guess since I'm 13, I can't make comments on other transit systems, but I like the TTC. The Scarborough RT is REALLY ugly. It looks fake. The subways, however, look real. The idea of putting coloured stripes on the cars is impractical beacuse it would mean that the TTC could not move wagons between the diffrent lines.

[Nick]

Very impressive.

I rode the Toronto system in 2001.I was pretty happy with the serivce

[hkskyline]

Spadina subway study nearing finish
Advocates can select preferred routes online Subway to link York University to Downsview
Hicham Safieddine
Toronto Star
19 May 2005

Time is running out for public transit enthusiasts to select their preferred route for a Spadina subway extension.

The last public workshop to discuss the pros and cons of four possible routes for the proposed extension was held yesterday at an education centre in the city's west end.

But transit advocates who missed the meeting can still have their say with a click of a button, thanks to a new online service launched on the TTC website Tuesday.

The deadline for submissions is June 1.

"The online commentary is great for us," TTC chief engineer Tom Middlebrook said.

"The information is put in and we don't have to interpret what the participants submitted into the computer like we do with handwritten forms."

The workshop is part of Phase II of a $3 million environmental assessment study of the project, which is designed to link Downsview Station with York University and beyond in York region, one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA.

Members of the public will also get a chance to comment on the locations of the proposed stations along their chosen routes, and any additions or modifications they think will enhance the service.

The four currently proposed stops are: Downsview Park, Keele and Finch station, York University station, and Steeles station between Jane St. and Keele St.

Christian Quezada, who took part in yesterday's workshop, said he was looking forward to travelling on the new subway extension if the proposal goes through.

"I bike all around the city all the time, but I can't go too far with my bike," Quezada said.

"With the new extension, I can go wherever I want."

But the 22-year-old airport employee said he will recommend that the last proposed stop, currently planned near the northern edge of York University, is built at the Jane and Finch intersection.

The last and third phase of the study is expected to conclude this fall.

The results will be sent to the TTC board for approval. The Ministry of the Environment will then have seven months to review, and approve or reject the study's findings, Middlebrook said.

York University had lobbied hard for a new subway but was less enthusiastic about a busway currently under construction and expected to open in 2006.

Middlebrook said the university administration supports the choice of York Commons as the campus stop on the line.

"When we did our study we looked at student movement, concentration and convenience," Middlebrook explained.

"The centre of the university was at the commons and so that was pretty much a slam dunk."

Middlebrook said the cancellation of a project to build a football stadium helped more than it harmed.

"For our planning purposes the stadium was inconsequential," he said.

"It actually frees up space for possible high density and commercial growth."

[hkskyline]

TTC welcomes its 25 Billionth Rider

TORONTO, May 26 /CNW/ - The TTC today named its official 25 Billionth Rider at a draw at Eglinton Station bus terminal. Parkdale-High Park MP, the Honourable Sarmite Bulte drew the winning name, Mouris Moussa, and along ith TTC Chair Howard Moscoe, escorted Mr. Moussa to push the button to become the official 25 Billionth rider since the TTC was formed in 1921.

Mr. Moussa, who was accompanied by his wife, Anritte Hanna, received a first-class VIA rail trip for two to any Canadian destination, a free TTC Metropass each month for one year and a TTC leather varsity-style jacket. His name was drawn from the 25 finalists' stories, selected from the 2,000 entries in the TTC's 25 Billionth Rider Contest. His story follows:

"Me and my wife were seniors, new immigrants to CANADA. Our first ride to Union station from Sheppard was by the subway. My wife catched last car but I missed the subway. One of the employees of the TTC watched my very bad situation. Quickly he contacted the subway driver and took me with his car to Eglinton station where my wife was waiting me. I never forget this kind help from them."

The 25 finalists each received a TTC sling pack, a corgi model collector streetcar, an official TTC T-shirt, a spring jacket and a thermal travel mug.

One billion customers ride the TTC every 30 months.

[ssiguy2]

I don't quite understand this smartcard thing.
It seems to be almost like a debit card.........but $100 then the card keeps deducting until there is no money left on it.
That part I get. What I don't understand is that if they eventually get rid of transfers then does that not mean that the card will have to be used everytime they use the bus/streetcar/subway?. If so, you would be paying a lot more.
I'm sure they have thought of this but how will that work?

[hkskyline]

The smart card can automatically charge 0 for a transfer. For example, I swipe once on the subway entering and swipe again when I leave. At the time I leave, the smart card will store an electronic transfer valid for a certain period of time so the next time I swipe as I board the bus it'll know and not deduct anything.

Technically riders will have to swipe at every boarding - bus / streetcar / subway. Current technology allows contactless swiping (ie. put the card in your bag and swipe your bag) or even embed the chip in a watch or cell phone plate to make it as convenient as possible.

[usernames suck]

I'd take the stainless steel, industrial looking subway trains (like the ones found in TO, Phili, Chicago, and NYC) over any other subway train in the world, i just love the look.

[Booyashako]

Stainless steel subways are awesome! The look is very 'big-city-ish'.

[NY1]

The trains in Toronto may not look beautiful, but believe me that they are very clean and spacious.

[samsonyuen]

There are free transfers amongst tube lines here in the London Underground, and you don't have to exit and enter again using your Oyster or Travelcard. However, on buses, there are no transfers, and you have to pay for each journey.

[Homer J. Simpson]

The transfers between surface routes to subway was impemented in TO along time ago. I won't go so far as to say it was done here first but the TTC was certainly one of the firsts systems to do this.

The smart cards are a great idea, I can't wait for them to be implemented.

[Reflex]

Some nice stations, but don't really like any trains, neither the modern ones...

[rise_against]

i like th e Toronto subway cars as well, how old are they now? I was looking at the monorail system in Seattle, thats sweet. Do u think that theres a chance of toronto (or any canadian city) gettin that? Maybe they could use that $200 000 000 influx? Is this a good idea?

[DrJoe]

Well most were built from 1997-present.

[rise_against]

so whats the life of these cars? 30-40 years?

[hkskyline]

Grand piano in the subway???

TORONTO, June 27 /CNW/ - Decked out in white tie and tails, seated at a candelabra-lit baby grand piano ... TTC riders traveling through Finch Station this morning will ask themselves "Could this be Liberace?"

In fact, the pianist who is wiping away TTC customers' Monday morning funk is Gordon Murray playing from his wide repertoire: from Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven to popular tunes made famous by Lionel Ritchie, Diana Ross and the Bee Gees. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 27th, Mr. Murray will entertain in the rotunda below the TTC bus platform at Finch Station. About 90,000 customers travel through Finch Station each weekday.

Over the summer months, the TTC will provide a series of small entertainments for customers at various subway stations, on bus platforms, in TTC parking lots and on streetcars. Mr. Murray's performance is one of these events.

Mr. Murray has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto.