Thanks to my bf I was directed to the ‘ultimate’ TTC Map on torontoist.com. Dreamed up by Dieter Janssen, an architecture professor at the University of Toronto this map adds new lines, extends existing ones and tries to capture the GTA audience.

Below vs. Above Ground

Streetcar or Subway? Economically it just doesn’t make sense to build more subways. From what I’ve heard every subway kilometre costs $200million and every streetcar kilometre $70million. But with the harsh climate and rolling ravines in Toronto I don’t know that complete surface transit is the answer.

Fare Hikes to Fund New Transit

Either solution where are the funds going to come from to build on this infrastructure? With budgets stretched thin already and existing infrastructure already failing one suggestion has been to increase fares. Before the fare hikes come in, we need to have a zone system in place and a ‘pay-as-go’ card.

Paul Kashimoto made an interesting remark – why not follow the Hong Kong example and earn revenues from managing properties in the vicinity of the transit stations? From Design-Build to Design-Build-Operate.

Although Jansenn’s dream might seem far-fetched it is necessary to have a healthy, sustainable city. For too long Toronto has let its infrastructure be stagnant and we’re paying the price today.

As reported by Steve Munro here is what we can expect:

• Peak bus loading standards are reduced by about 10% (a route will be considered to be “full” with a lower average load).  This triggers service improvements on many routes, but loading generally has been rising and there is already a backlog of changes waiting to begin.  This affects 62 routes with a total of 89 more am and 65 pm peak buses.
• Off peak bus standards, as well as streetcar and rapid transit standards for all periods, are unchanged at, effectively, a seated load.  Note that this is an average over an hour and local variations will occur.
• Routes with services less frequent than 30 minutes will be improved to the new 30-minute maximum headway.  This affects 26 routes.
• All routes will operate seven days a week during all periods until at least 1:00 am.  This affects about 86 routes.

Routes Affected:

The full list of routes affected can be found here. As you can see it’s a lot of routes!

I’ll test out this new plan tonight. One of my usual routes is the 501 Queen, notorious for not running on schedule and breaking down. I’ll keep you posted on my experience tonight.

A New Interior

This year wasn’t quite as exciting as years passed. This year the excitement and hype around new initiatives was a new interior. Manufactured by Bombardier up in Thunder Bay, ON the new subway is due to make its first appearance in 2010. The new subway will feature a modern look, which includes:

• Digital signs indicating the next stop and which sides the doors will open on
• Announcements for the next station
• Fully open trains offering open access between cars
• Closed circuit cameras

Agreed the fleet of streetcars is aging but I hope the TTC plans on bringing forth new lines, new street cars, and modes of transit that make Toronto more efficient.