[RedRocket191]

If they can manage those effectively, and we see the money is going to the right places, I think we can place a lot of confidence in them.

Let's take great care in defining "manage effectively". For some, nothing anyone can do is ever good enough.

 

[TJ O'Pootertoot]

It's worth noting that Metrolinx does own the Big Move projects which could indeed be the start of them asserting some real power, regionwide.

From Metrolinx website, re: Viva:
A Master Agreement between Metrolinx, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation and The Regional Municipality of York governs the funding, implementation, and ownership of the Bus Rapid Transit program in York Region. York Region will oversee all day-to-day operations and routine maintenance decision-making and delivery for all elements of the bus rapidway. They will also operate the Viva service and administer all service contracts. Metrolinx will be responsible for asset preservation and replacement decision making and funding.

It's reasonable to assume we'll see something similar on the Eglinton LRT. Once they start funding something that crosses borders (the Yonge subway seems a very obvious example) they'll have to really start dealing with the fare issue. It's rather disappointing that it doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar, except the people who have to deal with it day in, day out.

 

[RedRocket191]

It's rather disappointing that it doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar, except the people who have to deal with it day in, day out.

I think it's on their radar - But if I were them then I would keep it close to the vest, given that they will need the province to back them up when they do push for strong changes. We live in a one-chance world for policy implementation. If the timing isn't right for the reveal then the policy gets the ending-scene-of-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark treatment.

 

[gweed123]

I think it's on their radar - But if I were them then I would keep it close to the vest, given that they will need the province to back them up when they do push for strong changes. We live in a one-chance world for policy implementation. If the timing isn't right for the reveal then the policy gets the ending-scene-of-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark treatment.

Very true. GO Transit has very much adopted a policy of "fly under the radar", quite the opposite of the TTC. GO in the past few years has been quite good at 'a track purchase here', 'station improvements there', 'a service increase here', etc. Get all the pieces in place behind the scenes, so that it doesn't attract too much attention. Not very many citizens would balk at $5 million for station improvements, but a heck of a lot would at a $5B line.

If Metrolinx wants to make unification a success, they need to set up a lot of the groundwork behind the scenes. Make a few public changes (Presto for example), but get it ready so that the switch over is fast and seamless.

This may not be a perfect analogy, but a lot like Apple did in 2005 when they switched from Power PC to Intel. The majority of people didn't even know that the OS had been written in universal binary for at least 2 years prior to the switch, and they made sure that all the apps that worked before still worked under the new chipset. A whole crapload of under the hood changes, but the user experience was seamless.

If Metrolinx wants to be successful, it's that kind of a switch that they need to have.

 

[ShonTron]

Oh, YRT really has its head up where "Ontario's Rising Star" doesn't shine. Brampton's ridership for 2011 should be released shortly, and it will likely somewhere around a 15% increase or 2,000,000 more riders (up to over 16 million), simply by steadily improving the whole network along with adding the Zum routes. They also settled amicably with the Brampton ATU local around the same time as YRT went on strike.

Mandating the Presto card finally makes fare integration simpler if fare integration was to be a priority.

Already, I see what's coming. My sense is that Presto card will be required to avoid the TTC fare when the York-Vaughan extension opens and passengers are forced to transfer at "Highway 407" or Vaughan Centre Stations from GO, YRT or BT.

 

[gweed123]

Already, I see what's coming. My sense is that Presto card will be required to avoid the TTC fare when the York-Vaughan extension opens and passengers are forced to transfer at "Highway 407" or Vaughan Centre Stations from GO, YRT or BT.

Baby steps. I like it. Give the discount to people using Presto, but force the full cash fares on those not. I think this is the way it should be. It encourages Presto use because it'll actually save people a lot of money.