A new TTC report that discusses implementing a series of changes including all-door boarding on streetcars to improve service for commuters has sparked questions from some of Toronto's mayoral candidates about how the multimillion dollar plan will be funded.
The service plan report, which will be discussed on Tuesday at the TTC board meeting, proposes a number of changes aimed at improving service across the city. The list includes creating a time-based fare system and expanding the overnight bus and streetcar network.
In order to pay for the proposed changes, the TTC would need an additional $19 million in its 2015 operating budget and an increase each year up to $69 million annually by 2018. The report expects the capital cost of the proposed change to be $288 million spread out over five years.
That price tag has some mayoral candidates questioning where the funding for the proposed plan will come from.
"Where are we going to get the money from? That's the bottom line," Rob Ford told reporters on Monday.
His rival, John Tory, went a step further, calling the report "not responsible" given that there needs to a thorough discussion on how it will be funded.
"I think it is not responsible to have a report that suggests this level of expenditures -- half a billion dollars -- without spelling out how it would be paid for," he told reporters at news conference outside Union Station Monday morning. "I think it’s less than responsible for people to vote on it without asking that question and demanding an answer."
TTC spokesperson Brad Ross responded to Tory's comments, saying that the commission recognizes that there are funding questions that still need to be answered and that those will be answered during the end-of-year budget deliberations.
"It's well within staff’s purview to make recommendation for transit improvements to its board recognizing that there are funding constraints," Ross said.
Meanwhile, fellow mayoral hopeful Olivia Chow was less critical of the TTC report, saying that the proposed changes are an investment the city needs to make "in order to move people faster."
"It's up to the TTC experts to decide….It will probably mean hiring a few more bus drivers, creating some jobs," she said.
Below are some of the recommendation the TTC is proposing:
- All-door boarding and proof-of-payment on all streetcar routes
- Reducing wait times and crowding by adding more buses and street cars on busy routes
- Providing bus and streetcar service every 10 minutes on key routes
- New express bus service on 20 routes
- A time-based transfer system
6. Expanding overnight bus and streetcar service
With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson
