City
TTC May Raise Fares in Early 2010
Facing another operating deficit, the TTC has predicted a $100 million shortfall for 2010. Nine city councillors are set to discuss the matter in a meeting now scheduled for Nov. 17. The remaining six-week period would give the commission just enough time to implement a fare hike for the New Year.For every $0.25 increase in fare, the TTC raises roughly $45 million. TTC Chairman, Councillor Adam Giambrone, says that the current fare of $2.75 won't be increased to four or five dollars because that would "not [be] good for riders". But, I won't be surprised if I find myself throwing a Toonie, Loonie, and maybe even a quarter in the fare box in the near future.
City
The 501 Queen Streetcar Splits in Two
Starting this morning, the TTC has split the 501 streetcar route, one of its longest routes and the one featured in a National Geographic "Top 10" of the most scenic streetcars rides in the world. The existing 501 ride which currently moves about 43,500 people a day will be split in half as part of a test run in order to try to address long-standing concerns regarding the quality and timeliness of service along Queen.
City
New TTC Downtown / Humber Bay Express Bus
This Monday, residents of the west end will have another option to make their way downtown. The TTC is launching another downtown-express bus that will pick passengers up along Lakeshore, and drop them off downtown on both Adelaide Street and Richmond Street. City
The TTC Metropass Mess
If you commute downtown to work on a daily basis, picking up a Metropass is a no brainer. It allows Torontonians to access the transit system whenever they please, even if the destination is only a few stops away. Since its introduction in the 1980s, the pass has been the preferred fare payment of TTC 'regulars.' It has, however, recently come under public scrutiny.When the pass was made transferable, it definitely patched up a small hole in my pocket. Before I moved out, my roommate and I would split a pass every month. I worked during the day, and she worked during the night. Our household was able to use one Metropass - for the cost of two. With many similar living arrangements in the city (especially among students), I am not surprised that the TTC is projecting a $17.4m deficit.
City
TTC to Pull an All-Nighter for Nuit Blanche 2009
The TTC is getting it right for this year's Nuit Blanche. With so much going on in just one night, finding cheap transportation options in previous years has been a challenge, but this year they've really stepped it up.In previous years, people would buy a day pass to try to cover as much ground as possible. The problem? It expires at 5:30am, so if you plan to travel all night (which many do) one would have to buy two passes. This is why the TTC has made improvements this year in two big ways: by unveiling the 'Nuit Blanche Special Event TTC Day Pass', and by running (much of) the subway system - right through the night!
City
CP24 Launches the Most Intuitive Online Traffic Report in Toronto
Just in time for the last long weekend of the summer, CP24 has launched a new online traffic report. Users can now view traffic congestion on all of Toronto's main arteries to find the quickest route in, out, or even through the city using a convenient chart that highlights deviations from normal transit times. Although other media outlets provide similar information, to me this seems to be the most accurate and is at your fingertips through the use of a mobile phone.I can't say how many times I've gone to my phone (yes, before I begin driving) for a traffic report. But unfortunately the data is almost always incorrect as road conditions can change within minutes. My early experience with CP24's system, however, suggests that it doesn't suffer from this problem.
