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Northern Light said:
The first thing I would say is that I just don't see Andy Byford doing true retirement. At least not unless his mind or body dictate otherwise. David Gunn, the other great former TTC CEO (then General Manager), kept his foot in the door F/T for quite awhile but then still consulted and did 'acting' stints thereafter.

I think for the true 'Go Getter', there is always a need for a challenge and to feel useful. Gunn exited Amtrak at the age of 68, then became a consultant for WMATA in 2010 at the age of 73.

Do I think we could lure Byford back for the TTC alone? Probably not. I think if we could offer Metrolinx and the TTC, a sort of transit czar position, he might raise an eyebrow; personally though, I'd love to bring him in as City Manager, we'd probably have to double the pay and expand the authority of the job, but I'd be down w/that. I think his remaking of the senior civil service would a huge benefit. That's probably not on.........but one can dream.
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This is the dream tbh.

But yeah I think the TTC/Metrolinx split plus how subservient Metrolinx has been forced to be to the Minister of Transportation is really hindering our ability to get top tier talent. Like obviously Metro Vancouver is not perfect, but the mayors council and Translink is a system of governance that just makes infinitely more sense than our current mess, and maybe something like that would work better here (not that it will ever happen).
 
As I was waddling up Victoria Park this afternoon, I came across an Orion V. The number was 9411.

Apparently it was the last Orion V used in service after which time it was sold to a private buyer.

IMG-20240908-WA0002.jpg
IMG-20240908-WA0001.jpg
 
generalcanada said:
www.thestar.com

TTC eyes changes to fare evasion penalties

A proposed package of TTC fare evasion changes includes a different penalty structure and a crack down on child cards.
www.thestar.com www.thestar.com
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The proposed package (the piece omits some details) is good as far as it goes.

But I will once again come back to the idea that I would like to eliminate all fare concessions (12 and under free, should be 3 and under (if a parent can carry you / you're in a stroller, you're free), but otherwise everyone pays the same fare.....)

But the savings from a vastly simpler system, no seniors passes, no youth passes, no student passes, no low income pass, no cash fare (debit permitted) etc. could be reinvested as a lower fare.

$3 per ride for everyone, 40 ride cap per month, so $120 per month max (below the current senior/student/youth and low-income pass rates, and a huge cut for adult riders). All that plus a 3-hour trip window for the simplicity of matching GO.
 
Northern Light said:
The proposed package (the piece omits some details) is good as far as it goes.

But I will once again come back to the idea that I would like to eliminate all fare concessions (12 and under free, should be 3 and under (if a parent can carry you / you're in a stroller, you're free), but otherwise everyone pays the same fare.....)

But the savings from a vastly simpler system, no seniors passes, no youth passes, no student passes, no low income pass, no cash fare (debit permitted) etc. could be reinvested as a lower fare.

$3 per ride for everyone, 40 ride cap per month, so $120 per month max (below the current senior/student/youth and low-income pass rates, and a huge cut for adult riders). All that plus a 3-hour trip window for the simplicity of matching GO.
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Even if that was politically feasible which is really isn't, the ttc needs to drastically increase fares, does anyone else think about that $40 billion hole in the ttc state of good repair and capital upgrades as often as I do?

Also both Seniors and low-income people would be very much loudly opposed to it. it would never happen
 
Northern Light said:
Ran across this tender on Merx that I thought was worth sharing:

P25pn24275-rfsq-automated Streetcar Enforcement System (ases) Pilot - P25PN24275 | MERX

www.merx.com www.merx.com

From the above:

View attachment 594970

Mid-tender comment; remember to watch out for the cowboys when exiting the streetcar:

View attachment 594971
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It's about damn time. It only took 5 years after the Jaye Robinson (RIP) introduced the motion, and 3 years after the PC government made the legislation for this to happen.

Why the hell does it take so long to get any meaningful, obvious, beneficial change implemented? Other countries can build subways in the amount of time it take us to get simple legislation passed and implemented, this is pathetic.

www.thestar.com

Cameras to capture drivers who blow past open streetcar doors could be coming to the TTC

Provincial legislation will allow the transit agency to install automatic enforcement cameras on all its streetcars.
www.thestar.com www.thestar.com
 
generalcanada said:
Even if that was politically feasible which is really isn't, the ttc needs to drastically increase fares, does anyone else think about that $40 billion hole in the ttc state of good repair and capital upgrades as often as I do?
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Capital is not funded from fares and never will be.

generalcanada said:
Also both Seniors and low-income people would be very much loudly opposed to it. it would never happen
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Seniors and low income people would oppose getting cheaper passes than they currently have? Are you sure?

Yes, single rides for those groups would be higher, but if you're not in pass territory, (ie. significantly below 40 rides a month) then the impact isn't that substantial, given my proposal lowers the adult fare.

An occasional rider senior pays $2.25 per ride, so my proposal adds .75c, if they take 4 rides per week, or 16 per month, their increase is $12; but for frequent ride senior (40'ish or more rides) my proposal saves $8 per month, and adds 3-hour ride windows as well.

I don't think the challenge is as daunting as you make it seem.
 
Northern Light said:
Capital is not funded from fares and never will be.



Seniors and low income people would oppose getting cheaper passes than they currently have? Are you sure?

Yes, single rides for those groups would be higher, but if you're not in pass territory, (ie. significantly below 40 rides a month) then the impact isn't that substantial, given my proposal lowers the adult fare.

An occasional rider senior pays $2.25 per ride, so my proposal adds .75c, if they take 4 rides per week, or 16 per month, their increase is $12; but for frequent ride senior (40'ish or more rides) my proposal saves $8 per month, and adds 3-hour ride windows as well.

I don't think the challenge is as daunting as you make it seem.
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You really think people are that smart?
The carbon tax exists and people literally make money from it (me included). But when have you ever heard of someone doing the math?
Remember the homeownership rate of seniors is 70%. They're usually the loudest when it comes to anything tax related

excluding the capital projects, the SOGR is $8 billion. That definitely is funded from fares.
 
Northern Light said:
Seniors and low income people would oppose getting cheaper passes than they currently have? Are you sure?

Yes, single rides for those groups would be higher, but if you're not in pass territory, (ie. significantly below 40 rides a month) then the impact isn't that substantial, given my proposal lowers the adult fare.

An occasional rider senior pays $2.25 per ride, so my proposal adds .75c, if they take 4 rides per week, or 16 per month, their increase is $12; but for frequent ride senior (40'ish or more rides) my proposal saves $8 per month, and adds 3-hour ride windows as well.

I don't think the challenge is as daunting as you make it seem.
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There are way fewer seniors riding 40+ rides a month than you think. This would be a massive fare increase for the vast majority of seniors. You can argue whether or not that they deserve that.

I also massively disagree with the removal of the low income pass program, which in reality should be greatly expanded to justify some degree of clawbacks to youth and senior fare discounts. Adding ridership by lowering the cost barrier for low-income riders reduces fare evasion and brings more funding to the TTC via the Gas Tax. It's possible that these two factors would offset the revenue loss due to the fare reduction.
 
Pre-school children under 5 travel free (without a PRESTO card) when accompanied by a fare-paying customer.

After the child’s 6th birthday, the family should visit a participating Shoppers Drug Mart or a Customer Service Outlet location to set up their children's PRESTO card. Children 12 and under still travel free. Proof of age would be required. Expires on the child's 13th birthday and does not automatically switch to a Youth fare type.

Currently, children do not have to use a PRESTO card. They should above 5 years old and show a PRESTO card. The elementary schools should be able to set up a child's PRESTO card as part of their school registration.

Children should be able to put their PRESTO card on their smartphones and use them. Everyone over 5 years old should have to use their PRESTO card (or token, or ticket, or credit card, or debit card, or coins).

Instead of the current fare box, they should use a coin fare collector like other transit agencies use.


Unfortunately, with the TTC being underfunded for operations, the TTC would be unable to even pilot such fareboxes.
 
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W. K. Lis said:
After the child’s 6th birthday, the family should visit a participating Shoppers Drug Mart or a Customer Service Outlet location to set up their children's PRESTO card. Children 12 and under still travel free. Proof of age would be required. Expires on the child's 13th birthday and does not automatically switch to a Youth fare type.
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Why bother? They've found that the vast majority of those with child's cards (which are still necessary on some system - such as York, where children 6-up pay a fare) are used by adults.

Why put a LOT more into circulation?
 
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