It's getting to be quite the soap opera isn't it? The latest developments involve Premier McGuinty and the firing of the system's General Manager Gary Webster.
Webster as we all know has been fired without cause, and Toronto taxpayers will likely be on the hook for somewhere between 500-750 thousand in severance. There's no getting around it; the firing had blatant political overtones and very likely had political motives behind it. Webster wasn't backing Ford's subway plan, and if speculation is to be believed may have maneuvered Karen Stintz into her motion. Regardless, if Ford had fired Webster a year ago he probably would've gotten away with it- when a regime changes everybody expects some personnel to change. What makes uglier than normal is it's coming now after Stintz got her motion passed.
When you take the politics, and intrigue out of it, was Gary Webster doing his job? Can anyone name one thing he's done besides taking ridership to new heights? Because I can't. I think the T.T.C. is pretty much a system stuck in the '80's, and it shows. Why didn't he try and automate the system? Or introduce new pass options. I'd find a 10-ride pass quite helpful for example; it would be a new way of making money. He could've done so much with the system and didn't. Ford may have been wrong to fire him the way he did, and with his timing but it probably needed to be done.
The ongoing drama at the T.T.C. prompted Premier McGuinty comment on his government's growing frustration with the situation saying in the press yesterday: we're running out of patience, I think the people of Toronto are running out of patience." This is as firm as I've heard McGuinty speak on the subject. It's also got a ring of truth to it; Torontonians are getting a little fed up with the dithering and want something done.
What does McGuinty really mean? Who knows. There is speculation it means Metrolinx will be asked to take over and sort the whole thing out. That would make sense- the provincial body could take over, and create one single broad cohesive system from Toronto to Hamilton. I'm sure the exact meaning will become to clear in the next installment of as the T.T.C. turns.
Showing posts with label Metrolinx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metrolinx. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
More Thoughts on Toronto Transit
My friend and I got talking yesterday about the whole transit mess in the City of Toronto. We'd both been to London, UK and experienced the Oyster Card- think a re-loadable transit fare card that never expires. We both dream of using a similar card everywhere we go in southern Ontario- good on the T.T.C, and good on GO transit. The Presto Card is its equivalent, and transit systems are starting to adapt to that.
We both agreed Toronto fancies itself a world class city with a somewhat less than world class transit system. We would both go ahead with Rob Ford's plan to bury the Light Rapid Transit (L.R.T) lines. It is possible to pay for it with little impact on the taxpayer simply through advertising. In London for example, there are ads all over the place- on the floor, and along the walls going down to the train levels, why can't Toronto do something like that? The one thing that is arguably at a premium is advertising space.
I think Toronto has come to a sort of crossroads with the transit issue. Yes Ford still needs to find efficiencies, and save money. But on some items I think you should spend money- and transit is one of them, if we are ever to take enough cars off the road to make a difference. If he can work with Metrolinx on finding a way to do it for a decent price, why not let him?
It's a balancing act for Metrolinx too. But one thing I do wonder about is while they're busy trying to solve Toronto's transit woes, are we in the suburbs going to be stiffed? Milton for example has needed full-day Go Train service for at least the last 10 years if not longer, and so far as I know, it still hasn't happened yet... and I'm not really holding my breath on that one.
It takes vision, and healthy amount of bravery to scrap the status quo and look at doing something new. Underneath it all I believe Toronto is a world class city. Now I hope City Council is brave enough to build a transit system to make it one.
We both agreed Toronto fancies itself a world class city with a somewhat less than world class transit system. We would both go ahead with Rob Ford's plan to bury the Light Rapid Transit (L.R.T) lines. It is possible to pay for it with little impact on the taxpayer simply through advertising. In London for example, there are ads all over the place- on the floor, and along the walls going down to the train levels, why can't Toronto do something like that? The one thing that is arguably at a premium is advertising space.
I think Toronto has come to a sort of crossroads with the transit issue. Yes Ford still needs to find efficiencies, and save money. But on some items I think you should spend money- and transit is one of them, if we are ever to take enough cars off the road to make a difference. If he can work with Metrolinx on finding a way to do it for a decent price, why not let him?
It's a balancing act for Metrolinx too. But one thing I do wonder about is while they're busy trying to solve Toronto's transit woes, are we in the suburbs going to be stiffed? Milton for example has needed full-day Go Train service for at least the last 10 years if not longer, and so far as I know, it still hasn't happened yet... and I'm not really holding my breath on that one.
It takes vision, and healthy amount of bravery to scrap the status quo and look at doing something new. Underneath it all I believe Toronto is a world class city. Now I hope City Council is brave enough to build a transit system to make it one.
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