Transit 'day of action' set for Monday

Written by: Kevin Connor

TORONTO - A group of transit advocates are planning a day of action Monday calling for improvements to TTC service prior to a budget decision coming next month.

TTCriders will have volunteers handing out postcards on what they call overcrowded routes, encouraging riders to contact their city councillors and demand they vote to ramp-up service.

While the group applauds the province’s announcement Friday to dedicate more of the gas tax revenue to the city in coming years, Queen’s Park also denied the city’s plans for road tolls for additional funding.

TTCriders fear that the city will be short in funding for 2017, even after six years of fare increases.

“If we really want to get Toronto moving, we need all levels of government to increase funding to the TTC, (Mayor) John Tory included,” spokesman Jessica Bell said, adding additional gas tax money needs to be strictly dedicated to the TTC.

She accused the city and TTC of failing in their mandate to increase service if a route is overcrowded.

Scarborough resident and TTC rider Vincent Puhakka plans to be one of 35 advocates out talking to transit riders on Monday.

“I commute from Scarborough to downtown for work and I’m very angry that John Tory doesn’t care about transit riders like myself,” Puhakka said. “I want the TTC to be reliable and fast, not overcrowded and plagued by delays.”

Councillor Joe Mihevc said the group has valid concerns that are “shared by the entire commission.”

“We are in a pickle and we want to expand the service — yesterday,” he said. “The city doesn’t get the support on the operating side for the day-to-day service, and that certainly leads to crowding.”

He said the situation will improve in the last part of the year as long-overdue streetcars ordered from Bombardier are to hit the streets.

Mihevc added the budget for 2017 “is not so bad” but 2018 will be a challenge.