[afransen]

The province and the city are not short of PR consultants, so I don't understand their media strategy. They could get ahead of the story before opening Line 6, and now Line 5, instead of reacting afterwards and pretending to be surprised (which makes them look either dishonest or incompetent).
Why not open Line 5 now (or even back in December) with a message, repeated many times so it's not missed by anybody, that the line will be running slow for several months, after which the accumulated experience with operations will make it possible to run at the target speed.
What we get instead is overpromise and underdeliver, a recipe for PR disaster.

Indeed. I was baffled that all the pols and officials were all smiles and celebrating at opening of line 6, as if there were no known issues. The fact that the leadership of Metrolinx and the TTC had no inkling that expectations needed to be managed is almost unbelievable.

 

[A 6264]

TTC's mistake was opening Finch before operations were consistent, and run times were 38 minutes as promised (or 33 minutes if they had gone with the TSP).

I don't think it would have mattered if they had waited longer. All parties collectively decided to have it run as it did, and would never have understood what public reaction would be until they went ahead and opened it.

 

[A 6264]

Why not open Line 5 now (or even back in December) with a message, repeated many times so it's not missed by anybody, that the line will be running slow for several months

They already said this would be the case, regardless of when it opens, back in summer. I doubt that part of the plan will change. I suspect the current delay is less about making fixes, and more about just being afraid to open it and face the inevitable criticism. In which case, the amount of time they wait, is not relevant. For some time, I've been saying that a lack of courage is what keeps the line from opening, and they seemed to finally almost get over it when the disaster of Finch West brought their fears back. What's the solution? Maybe, send the heads of the various organizations involved to therapy.
This is coming from an uninformed member of the public, and I'm sure others with inside information will give better reasons/excuses for the delay. But I think my assessment may be the real, deeper problem.

 

[GenerationLee]

I took this just a few hours into the new year, after work, in thinking rhetorically and ironically of a "new me, new year" mentality to this view I see outside one of my local stations (Mount Pleasant)

 

[MisterF]

I don't think it would have mattered if they had waited longer. All parties collectively decided to have it run as it did, and would never have understood what public reaction would be until they went ahead and opened it.

I've been predicting this public reaction for years. But it's even worse now because we've sleepwalked into all the insane "safety" constraints that have been imposed since the line was designed.

 

[crs1026]

Indeed. I was baffled that all the pols and officials were all smiles and celebrating at opening of line 6, as if there were no known issues. The fact that the leadership of Metrolinx and the TTC had no inkling that expectations needed to be managed is almost unbelievable.

The pols (regardless of party or affiliation) have no understanding or personal investment in transit beyond getting their picture taken. And they have a horde of handlers and PR people assuring them that the narrative can be spun to their advantage. What is actually delivered, in terms of cost, quality, or usefulness, is at best sold inaccurately and at worst deliberately misrepresented in the pursuit of that happy narrative.

We simply don't have good government, regardless of which par5y is in power - these people can't manage a two bay bus stop. And the governance model in place works to keep their hands off the work and out of any accountability impacts, rather than managing it hands on.

- Paul

 

[6ixGod]

Honestly, the perpetual "it's the worst ever/never going to open/huge mistake" merry-go-round is exhausting. It bumps the thread for no new content, and regurgitates/rehashes previous discussion.

I know my comment won't change anything, but...

Deal with it.

 

[A 6264]

Deal with it.

??

 

[SkyScraaaper]

Deal with it.

is this the kind of petty responses this forum has devolved into? The prior point made is a valid one, and I'm sure shared by many of us who use this forum for real information. Not endless debates of the same topic and personal opinions rehashed over and over.

 

[ARG1]

View attachment 706049View attachment 706050
Winter 2026 physical Ride Guide shows line 5 and adjusted bus routes

I wonder if at some point we should ditch the accessibility icons in favour of "not accessible" icons. Who knows, could save the TTC some money on ink.

 

[6ixGod]

is this the kind of petty responses this forum has devolved into? The prior point made is a valid one, and I'm sure shared by many who use this forum for real information not endless debates of the same topic and personal opinions rehashed over and over.

This is not about being petty. It is simply stating the obvious: repeated planning mistakes with Line 5 and Line LRTs naturally lead to repeated complaints. In fact, complaints after Line 6 prompted the city to implement transit signal priority, showing that pointing out problems can lead to real improvements. Ignoring these patterns or asking people to stay quiet does not make the situation any better.

 

[McGillicuddy]

This is not about being petty. It is simply stating the obvious: repeated planning mistakes with Line 5 and Line LRTs naturally lead to repeated complaints. In fact, complaints after Line 6 prompted the city to implement transit signal priority, showing that pointing out problems can lead to real improvements. Ignoring these patterns or asking people to stay quiet does not make the situation any better.

Olivia Chow is not reading your forum posts. You are not speaking truth to power here.

 

[PL1]

This is not about being petty. It is simply stating the obvious: repeated planning mistakes with Line 5 and Line LRTs naturally lead to repeated complaints. In fact, complaints after Line 6 prompted the city to implement transit signal priority, showing that pointing out problems can lead to real improvements. Ignoring these patterns or asking people to stay quiet does not make the situation any better.

It was 100% uncivil. My comment did not merit your response. Please do better

 

[6ixGod]

Olivia Chow is not reading your forum posts. You are not speaking truth to power here.

Like I said to someone else, deal with it. You can insulate yourselves and have a circle jerk all you want on this forum about how great Line 6 is. In the real world, people are upset and rightfully so….be it Instagram, TikTok, BlogTO etc.

If you don’t like comments being critical of poor decisions, you’re more than welcome to put me on ignore. Problem solved.

 

[McGillicuddy]

Like I said to someone else, deal with it. You can insulate yourselves and have a circle jerk all you want on this forum about how great Line 6 is. In the real world, people are upset and rightfully so….be it Instagram, TikTok, BlogTO etc.

If you don’t like comments being critical of poor decisions, you’re more than welcome to put me on ignore. Problem solved.

Come down off the cross. Easter isn't until April.