Comments are now closed for this story

November 04, 2009 at 11:14:25 AM
TTC User
this is the most ridiculous news. poor service, rude employees and now they want more again? another nail in the TTC's coffin.

November 04, 2009 at 11:20:44 AM
aj c
100 million dollar shortfall? Wow, how do you manage to blow that kind of money so easily?
Hmmmm... funding from gov't wasn't cut. No unexpected spending on equipment. Its not beacuse a lack of riders. Oh wait... there it is... a sudden increase on spending found in worker's pay, benefits and compensations.
I hate to blame the Unions... but this is clearly the unions fault.

November 04, 2009 at 11:34:23 AM
bobo
Oh big surprise here we go again!! What a joke this city is becoming honestly. The TTC can't manage the funds properly, so hit those that use the service in the pocket. The service is second rate as it is and you now want to charge us more. GREAT!!! Why do us TO residents put up with this garbage time and time again??? Because its not the 'Canadian' way to complain. Come on people.!!

November 04, 2009 at 11:44:51 AM
Gary
the 2.75 cash fare is high enough !! why during a recession do the TTC , the federal and provincial governments , and the cable companies and TV networks want to stick their hands into your pocket for your last nickle or dime !! during tough times they should have to tighten their belts , just like everyone else !!

November 04, 2009 at 11:54:02 AM
Jesse
The TTC is a joke..... the cost to get on a bus or train has risen so much over the last few years and I see no improvements in the way of service... but then again GO Transit provides terrible service aswell and they also raise their prices so what can you do.... need to find a new city!

November 04, 2009 at 11:55:28 AM
Michelle MacKenzie
Hello.

Although the fare hike is only supposed to be $0.25, this poses a problem, because the TTC service in this city is NOT getting any better! I have travelled around to other cities the size of Toronto, or larger; and their subway and bus services are amazing. I just can't understand why we continuously have to pay more and more for a service that isn't improving. Subway lines... Ie/ the Sheppard subway line, was a complete waste of money, and any subway rider will agree to this. The experimental shortening of the Queen Streetcar line is not working either. There is too much traffic on Queen Street for this to work. The only thing good about this right now is the fact that I have not yet experienced any "short-turns" on my way home to the Beaches. Obviously something like streetcar lanes would not work on Queen St. but there has to be a better way; an alternate solution.

My story is this. I live in the Beaches, go to school at the George Brown Casa Loma Campus, and it can take me over an HOUR to get there by TTC. This is ridiculous!! Just trying to get downtown to the Eaton Centre can take over 45 minutes at times. I have tried different routes... just taking the streetcar, or going up to Main Station and taking the subway; and either route is just as long. If I were to drive this ride would take me 20 minutes, maybe 30 with traffic. If the TTC is supposed to be the "better way", the "greener" way, then something more has to be done. This is something the City needs to figure out soon. I work in a bar, I see a lot of tourists and all the ones I talk to dislike our subway service. It's inefficient in every way. This city could flourish with a better transit system. Ridership would be increased, and the overall amount of complaints the TTC receives from upset/disappointed riders would go down significantly. There has to be huge changes as Toronto is not about to get any smaller, but increasing fares, at this point; where riders will not see a significant change in service does not go over well. With all the delays in service, the over-crowding of vehicles, the slow service, and the constant increase in fares... it won't be long until people really start weighing the cost, and benefits of taking their own vehicle into work, school, or whatever else they need to do.

All I know, is something really needs to be done. The TTC service really needs an overhaul, and our government really needs to look at how this service can be improved. Some money may have to be spent, but in the end it will be a win-win situation for every one. I don't understand why this concept is so hard to grasp.

Thank you for letting me rant.

Michelle

November 04, 2009 at 11:58:56 AM
Jason Swan
Yes the TTC may need to resort to a fare hike, all public and private services need to revaluate their operating cost during this time, but the TTC has increase their services in the wrong areas. As a Toronto Citizen I know rapid mass transit is a god sin. In reality the TTC waste thousands maybe even millions of dollars on empty buses carrying 2 or 5 passengers and on unnecessary stops less than 100 metres away! The TTC needs look into this problem. Just for a example I took the 68 bus today @ 10:00 with one other person south bound and the 102 with 4 people at 10:11 why waste the gas, maintenance fees and wage! Torontonians love of fast pace life style, but don’t want to pay for it!!!

November 04, 2009 at 12:02:52 PM
Sadie
I hate life. I can't afford to to anything and now i can add something else. I know people will say that Torontonians should stop complaining, but i don't care. I am so sick and tired of paying and paying and paying and paying and paying. Is there anytime in my life that i will catch a break? I hate life and i hate paying. I just wish the service and fee would stay the same. I already think it is too much. If it wasn't for my $10/hour job then i wouldn't be able to afford to get on the subway as it is. I hate life. Did i mention that yet?

November 04, 2009 at 12:10:26 PM
mark
How does a company have a $100 million shortfall???

Who the heck is running the Company? Who the heck is auditing this Company? If any of us were to run a business like these creeps, we would all be sacked.

Why are the good people of Toronto just sitting idle and letting these inadequate business losers get away with this? Why are we having to foot the bill? What's wrong with us? Why doesn't anyone else see the problem with this?

It's about time we stand up for ourselves and fight back. Enough is enough

November 04, 2009 at 12:24:49 PM
L Toronto
Wow. Hike after hike with the TTC. It is run so terribly...

November 04, 2009 at 12:26:58 PM
Steve Burley
I can't help wondering what an honest Toronto would be like. Three little actions on the part of passengers would not only see the TTC budget in the black; it would probably REDUCE fares. If not, these three little actions would create an independent funding structure, and add many improverments to the TTC infrastructure across the city.
1-Transfer Fraud. (use them in the manner they were designed).
2-Misuse of Senior/Student tickets (Your thirty five now, with a beard to your knees; pay an adult fare, honestly).
3-Being seventh passenger onto the bus intentionally, so the the sixty eight cents you put in in nickels and dimes can't be counted by the driver. Did it ever occur to you that enforcing fares hepls everyone pay a fair amount equally. Shortfalls do interpret themselves at fiscal year's end, and will always translate to an increase. Dishonesty is ALWAYS responded to. Just as a department store passes the expense of security personnel to the customer, the TTC has no choice but to respond to dishonesty within its system with fare increases to offset the fraud. Have a great day.

November 04, 2009 at 12:32:23 PM
Paul
If they want to decrease expense and increase revenue, you should implement zone payment and get rid of streetcars.
Why should someone who takes the subway from Kennedy station to Union pay the same as someone going from Yonge/Bloor to Union? Works fine in Vancouver and GoTrain. As for the street cars, get rid of them! They cause traffic jams and cost way too much to maintain. And don’t even get me started on the expense and the inconvenience drivers and store owners go through while they are repairing the tracks and ripping up roads. But then again, that’s what city wants, inconvenience drivers in order to increase TTC usage

November 04, 2009 at 12:35:49 PM
tim johnson
When is the TTC going to start becoming financially responsible?

This is becoming alaraming. What are the TTC rates going to be in 2015, 2025, 2030, etc.. ? Basically it's going to screw over the lower & middle class who rely on the TTC for mobility.

A very sad state of affairs for the TTC & the city of Toronto.

November 04, 2009 at 12:39:15 PM
dan
Simple: no competition, one monopolizing company operating the whole transit system of the GTA. They can do whatever they want, introduce a fare hike whenever they want, all without any business pressure to improve or even keep up their service levels.

Toronto needs to get rid of this monopoly of the TTC. But it's the way the city's been run for so long, and it seems the gov't never intends to change this nonsense, among other things.

November 04, 2009 at 12:41:53 PM
David
I can't believe this is happening again!!! I have a better plan for TTC authorities. Why not you ask for more money to all those companies that have publicity all along the TTC system.

Also ask Metro news paper to use their own employees to pick up all the garbage that users are generating by this media, and for sure you'll save more money.

November 04, 2009 at 12:42:41 PM
Evan
A very good reason to use my car more often and contribute to traffic jams/stress/green house gasses/ etc.
Everybody in Europe is moving towards making public transport "the way" of commuting. The clowns in North America are doing the opposite.

November 04, 2009 at 12:59:52 PM
Henry
it is nothing news. Every year, TTC will find some excuses to raise the fare while their service is getting worst and worst; especially their employees.

All public transit should be ran by private companies with wide open for all different companies could join together. This case, customers will have more choice.

November 04, 2009 at 1:30:04 PM
paisleyrae
so happy i ride a bike

November 04, 2009 at 1:36:32 PM
Heather
Maybe all those streetcar tracks are costing money. Wouldn't much of riders complaints be solved by using buses?
They don't get jammed up if one breaks down, they can drive AROUND problems (who knew?)!

The infrastructure involved in keeping a 19th century technology running is crippling our transit.

Ditch the streetcars.

November 04, 2009 at 1:38:17 PM
DON
NO need to raise the price, just lower the wages to level it out.

November 04, 2009 at 1:39:57 PM
melissa
this is ridiculous. if this happens i will only take ttc when the snowfall comes and i will start riding my bike to work and school. ttc has terrible service & extremely rude employees.

November 04, 2009 at 2:06:06 PM
Steve
All you have to live for here is working and paying taxes.

As far as the TTC goes, they need the raise in order to pay the "volunteers" who sell pizza at subway stations. Just so you know...they volunteer for the shift BUT are paid for four hours to sell pizza for half and hour. What a joke! Citizens of this horrible city - wake up!

November 04, 2009 at 2:41:27 PM
Sick of Excuses
As a regular rider of the TTC, I am not surprised to hear of a possible fair hike. Just look at the windows on the buses, street cars, and subway trains. The windows in the stations are effected as well. The scratching of the glass on these vehicles. The graffiti on the station walls and benches. This damage is not caused by the operators of these vehicles or the employees of TTC. Each and everyone of you should starting looking possibly in your own backyard for the students who roam free in the system destroying TTC property. 100 million dollars in the hole is not surprising when i look at this. Rather than criticize the employees the right thing to do might be to report what you see. We all have cameras on our cell phones start snapping some pictures. Perhaps then we will have a reason to complain.

November 04, 2009 at 2:46:17 PM
Phil
Union + Monopoly = Bad, Expensive, Wasteful Service. It's abundantly clear that this city's officals are unwilling to stand up to union mis-management at the tax payers' expense.

November 04, 2009 at 2:56:49 PM
Chris
I have found the TTC service to be above average when you take in to account other system that charge yo based on how far you travel. I trul believe that Torontians are spolied when it comes to your transit system. Try traveling to other 1st world countries and experience other public transit system, where there is only bus and trains and virtually no 24 hr service.

In relaton to the cost, if you were to add the cost of owning and maintaing a car public tranist would still be a signifigantly cheaper

November 04, 2009 at 3:02:24 PM
Joe
(Poor Service, Rude Employees)

HAHAHA..Its public transportation, what do you expect, bellman service to carry your bags, and someone to show you to your seats. I dont even work for the TTC or the City, but alot of people I can see expect "White Glove" service on a silver platter when riding the transit. Do you ACTUALLY sit and talk to the driver, booth attendant, streetcar driver? Like for real. I find it really annoying, and funny on how people say "rude service" about the TTC. I support the hike. Hopefully this will expand the system even more. Its a system, not a hotel. You complain the bus is slow, the train is slow,PAY UP. If you dont like it, then dont take it.

November 04, 2009 at 3:06:52 PM
CRP
A budget shortfall you say?
I think that it is time that Giambrone goes home for good; he has hung on since it was "bring your kids to work" and his "gimme gimme" attitude has run out. How can he demand another $45 million when the city has just announced massive budget handouts to the TTC!!!!

Among the items in the city's capital budget for next year:

* $217.6 million on new subway cars that will hold more passengers, the first in a 10-year program to buy 360 new subway cars.

November 04, 2009 at 3:11:47 PM
Allie
The problem I see whenever I ride the bus is that the driver is clearly the best paid person on it and the surliest. I would love to see stats on the average wage of a rider compared to average wage of a TTC employee...

November 04, 2009 at 3:16:25 PM
aaron
Another fare hike???? i honestly dont believe it, its just a way to get more money without giving anything back
I take transit to get to work from York U to downtown, the service stinks, 30 minutes for a Jane bus at the height of rush hour, then when they do come there are 3 or 4, where is the guaranteed 10 minute service that was promised???
and were all paying 110 a month for this type of service???
If the fare goes up, im boycotting the ttc and buying a car, it will cost me just as much and i wont have to wait on anyone else!!!!!!!

November 04, 2009 at 3:19:07 PM
Alex
Another hike!? What's new.... AHAHA and it's cheaper to drive a car!? With the rate the TTC is going in hike's I think I'll start sticking to my car. The service still sucks and there's constant delay's with the TTC day in and day out, I see no improvement in how it's being run.

November 04, 2009 at 3:20:01 PM
Tap
The TTC is th worst mass tansit sysyem in the world

Very rude employees, don't accept anything else except cash (does this make sense, gateway news stand takes debit, why not TTC), Shppard Line (who though of that one hey, ver clever, should of built it to Square 1, you would have 700,000 people exposure straight away!!)

Thanks

November 04, 2009 at 3:20:56 PM
Kelley
I agree with Michelle! There is so much inconsistency. I live midtown and take St. Clair West station to St. Andrew everyday for work. Some days it takes me 20 minutes door to door and other days it takes an hour. There s no consistency. If I take a cab it's always 20 minutes unless there was a bad accident or construction - then it can take 30 minutes.

Originally I was for the St. Clair Right of Way but look at how many years it's been (over 5 now) and the road is still ripped up and they are using buses for part of the way and streetcars for the other part of the way. St. Clair is still a mess and there's no end in sight!

November 04, 2009 at 3:26:16 PM
Peggy
I am so glad I dont live in Toronto and depend on a service that is not a service but a money gouging system run by a bunch in idiots.

November 04, 2009 at 3:44:19 PM
Alex (Toronto)
The last time the TTC had a fare hike was back in November 2007.

November 04, 2009 at 3:52:43 PM
steve
Yes, there are irresponsible hooligans who defraud the overpriced system on the TTC and also those who vandalize it at a cost which is passed to the commuters. However, the unions have asked for too much for too long. And it doesn't help that Miller and his ilk suck up to the unions while we pay for it. Miller and his cronies have cars and drivers to get them around - we don't.
Privatize the TTC, decertify the union, cut the overpaid bureaucrats from the payroll of TTC and maybe then, we'll see a year of no increases on fares.

but then again, this is typical of Ontario....pay more and more for less and less. This is called fraud to the rest of us pions.

Oh yeah....Millers plan (along with all his other tree hugging pals) is to make driving in the city as miserable and painful as possible to encourage more to ride the TTC.

And we should all remember that TTC really stands for "Take The Car".

November 04, 2009 at 3:53:50 PM
Emma
Having moved here from overseas, I think that Toronto has a much better public transport system than many big cities of the same size. However, $2.75 is already far too expensive. Perhaps they could introduce zones so that if you are going a short distance, you don't pay as much. The longer the trip, the more expensive the fare. I only travel within downtown so if the fare goes up to $3, I will seriously reconsider taking the TTC.

November 04, 2009 at 3:54:25 PM
Winsor Ooi
When I migrated to Canada in 2004. The worst experience I encountered was the rude treatment of TTC to my kids and me. Unfriendlly and No manner to their customers until today. I thought it was a free service that time. hahaha Well, I pay them to act rude and provide poor service. Perhaps free market should apply here, let other competitors to make them HISTORY. At least they no longer shame us (Canadian) and our beloved country - Canada. I am a Canadian now. Still shame to TTC's employees (majority of them). I think the CEO should be terminated and change to someone who understands the important of quality service and protect the reputation of Canada. Shame shame shame !

November 04, 2009 at 4:10:54 PM
Leslie
I am so sick of this crap. They need money we have to pay more but theservice doesn't change it is crap and the employees they are the rudest bunch I have ever incountered I lived in Ottawa for a year and if we followed what they do we would have a much more stable reliable and friendlier TTC more money NO WAY Ride a bike

November 04, 2009 at 4:12:42 PM
unknown
how about improving on some routes, like the 168 bus. It's pathectic!!

November 04, 2009 at 4:24:13 PM
MC
Believe it or not 85% of TTC's annual budget is salaries. I have 4 relatives that work for TTC which I love but even they sometimes will joke about how much money they make. Some TTC bus drivers can earn over $100,000 a year with enough overtime. I have an uncle that makes $1000+ per shift if he works an 8 hour shift on a holiday. I've also been told that it's common for TTC employees to fight over holiday and overtime shifts because of the fact they'll receive 2 and a half times their pay for every hour of overtime as well as holiday shifts. It's these reasons fare prices keep going up.

November 04, 2009 at 4:27:37 PM
David
Wow.. Like others have commented, a fare hike in these times is preposterous. Taxes are going to bite us (HST in July 2010) and talk of the TV tax, to support local stations, and now THIS on top ?? where do they expect the money to come from ? Most people I know are either lucky to be employed, and dealing with frozen wages, or are working multiple part time jobs to make ends meet.
Some of these policy makers just "don't get it", but, like most things "Canadian" we'll just roll over and take it.
IF the fare goes up another 25cents to help offset the shortfall, I wonder if they've calculated the effect of lost riders who will refuse to pay the increase and find alternative modes of getting around ??
IF the fare goes up .. will we be promised any better, more reliable service ??
IF the fare goes up... will the unions use this as a tactic to go back to the table for increased wages, and benefits ?
IF the fare goes up ... will those in charge of running the TTC resign for failure to meet the requirements of proper fiscal management of the system?
I could go on.. but the bottom line is that TORONTO deserves BETTER than this.
I for one am out of this mess called Toronto at my first opportunity. I've had enough.

November 04, 2009 at 4:30:10 PM
Peter
From a National Post article dated July 26, 2007:

"TTC token/cash collector (with 12 months experience or more) - $26.58/hour"

If I got paid $27 to sit on my ass and be a crabby ass 60% of the time [roughly the amount of crabby toll booth workers I deal with], I'd consider it heaven. There's obviously something wrong with a monopolized Union that just keeps taking and taking.

The people of Toronto have sacraficed a lot in this last economic downturn, maybe it's time for the Union to sacrafice a bit too. Learn from the Ford Union.

I mean seriously, it's a fairly brainless job that hundreds of people would happily take for half the pay. I'm a pro-Union person usually, but in cases like this, they are blatantly on the wrong side.

The Market Economics have changed, but the TTC Union hasn't. Get with the times. There's a fresh new crowd of young people who can easily replace the current TTC workforce and provide a much better, more economical and definitely a lot more friendly service.

November 04, 2009 at 4:36:22 PM
TradedIn
I am so sick and tired of TTC raising fare rides. This is a complete extortion. The service sucks, the employees are rude, the buses are not on schedule. In fact, Ive decided (and calculated financially) that having a car is slightly more expensive but much more rewarding then riding the TTC, which is why Ive traded in my metropass for the car keys. I hope more people will do the same.

November 04, 2009 at 4:44:33 PM
JO-ANNE
Insteade of raising the fair why don't the TTC try to be more efficient in the way they run things... for example try not having 3 or 4 buses running together on the same route(eg route116) at the same time, the first packed, the second with standing room and the last 2 empty.. this is a waste of our tax dollars, not to mention commuter's time of having to wait along time for a bus. The govt has provided the resources spend it wisely.

November 04, 2009 at 5:32:25 PM
mark
this really does suck, i live in york region, if you take both TTC and YRT it can get pretty expensive to travel to and from downtown frequently. we pay 3.25 and then 2.75 once you get to finch to take the subway, im not complaining its still cheaper than taking the car (gas, parking) somebody commented "get rid of the streetcars", that makes no sense, a streetcar has better capacity than a bus and they arent slow, if we got rid of streetcars we wouldnt be any better if anything it would worse with replacing them with buses.

November 04, 2009 at 6:36:08 PM
Rob
So what happened to all the money they made by cutting the Metropass's free parking?

So glad I drive to school now instead of taking the subway, hell the parking is the same at George Brown and Finch Station.

November 04, 2009 at 6:43:31 PM
Brian
Stop giving the TTC Unions and all Unions such benefits. Because people making min. wage like me is hard to pay for the passes and everything else. Also enough is enough raise smoking and illegal entry fines to $500-$800 because people are doing this too much and this intern effects everyone because the whole city takes the fault for these idoits. Plus give us better service the level of service is crap and stop allows walking out during strikes stop holding Toronto hostage. Get rid of transfers or crack down on how many times people use them to go back and forth

November 04, 2009 at 6:50:44 PM
Brian
I care about the environment because of the need to be a greener planet but that is hard when each year or every few years the service stays bad or bad to worse but the price goes up. When all the Unions have there next contract they should be squeezed like every other person. Finally, I am tired of only having 3 seasons in this city strike season, pot hole season, and cold or wet season

November 04, 2009 at 7:47:58 PM
yvonne
the sevice is not great,i dont think its fair for them to raise the fair every year i think the mayor needs to look in to the situation because poor people is getting the most effect from the fair hike every year

November 04, 2009 at 7:49:02 PM
Robert
That's it, I'm done.

To pay those kind of fares for the priviledge of riding an over crowded, late bus or subway, at the same time being pushed and coughed on all while trying to figure out if it's the person next to me or the one two over who hasn't bathed this century and is stinking up an already overheated vehicle.

As of tomorrow, I'm driving to work every day. It's simply not worth it any more.

November 04, 2009 at 7:49:54 PM
Mike T
Personall for me, I ride the TTC every single day. Having herd this, I think this is ridiculous. 129.00 For a metro pass? I mean, 109.00 is already expensive as a student. Not to menition the amount of times street cars are out of order, or the delay on the public transit. As well with poor service from ttc drivers/booth collectors. Again TTC asking for something else, what's next ?

November 04, 2009 at 7:54:30 PM
Sam (Korea)
I was born in kitchener, but raised in toronto. i lived in toronto for 23 years.. i didnt really notice how bad the transit system was until i moved to seoul, korea. at first, i was so proud to be a torontonian and defended our transit system, but now when i look at it from another perspective, for lack of a better word, its crap.

the korean transit system is amazing for three main reasons. there are 9 different lines that spread over 3 different regions (over 200 stations). secondly, they have zone fares and if you were to ride from one side to the other it would only cost you 1300 won which when you convert it, it's only $1.20 canadian. if youre just going a couple of stops it'll cost you 0.80 canadian. lastly, they don't use cash to pay for fares or even have toll collectors. they all use their debit card, they scan it and they walk through. when they leave the station they scan it again and it can either add up the fare and pay at the end of the month or take it out immediately. these are just a few things the ttc should consider to save money and improve ridership.

i agree with many of these comments where it says that the fare hike will take out the lower and middle class who rely on the service to get to work and get home.

TTC.. get in the game.. stop being so dang selfish.

November 04, 2009 at 7:56:52 PM
Nat Hardy
I think this hike on any level is absolutely ridiculous.It is clear now, that The TTC does not care about people but only themselves.They are offering a service for what it can put in their pockets and not because they care about Toronto and the people that call here home.Some TTC bus drivers don't even answer when you ask a question,yet we must respect them.My regret is that I ever moved to Toronto!This city fails to be a city that loves its people back.The TTC should think of the small man who is already struggling to make ends meet,working two jobs.A $17 rise for the metropass is just another way for them to spend money foolishly and to eventually create an idiotic reason as to why they should get a pay increase.I, of right now have no respect for the TTC.Sometimes when they get abused it is because they had it coming....Lets see how much people are going to show them respect now.They should really fear for their lives!This is straight out an evil act...nothing else!

November 04, 2009 at 7:57:06 PM
Lisa
Ridiculous. It's never going to stop...
Maybe the TTC should manage the budget better and stop funding workers to stand on top of subway stations pretending to work for seven months. Whatever was done didn't need to be; and if it did it should not have taken so long with so many workers to do so.

I don't like how the public is left in the dark when it comes to the funds...until of course more are needed.

November 04, 2009 at 8:01:43 PM
Kevin
enough is enough... stop taking TTC !! just drive our own car!!!

November 04, 2009 at 8:03:18 PM
mila
I am sick to my stomach with them.What TTC has to offer? Subway system is laughable they will never have enough money to expend it,because they use the money for themselves for salary bonuses ect.Toronto has real problem that is the gang that lead it,Miller, remember his land tranfer tax,vehicle tax(60 $),garbage tax? Insurance too expensive for TO people.I love Toronto,but I think they just want us to move from the city .Why?It is beyond me.

November 04, 2009 at 8:06:43 PM
Wiseman
What in return?
What are we going to get in return? More rude operators and drivers who treat people as junk, more disruptions for ridiculous reasons and when they announce it on the internal subway system you can never understand what they are saying and the only thing you hear clearly is when they smash the phone to shut it down, and more delays between buses and people have to wait in the cold while the driver is smoking inside the bus at the end of the line like Scarborough town centre, and when you ride the bus you cannot breath from the smoke smell, more cocky attitude from all operators on ticket wickets or the platforms, lot of garbage on the ground, less security, more crimes on the system......is that what I should be paying for??????

November 04, 2009 at 8:11:11 PM
Wiseman
This TTC company and all its employees are the community PARASITES......... they are sucking our hard earned dollar with an easy decision of a fare hike....they are the people who are not providing the required service...this means they are not working properly and in a fair environment if you don’t work you get less pay or even get fired, but they are Unionized and nobody can fire them, so they don’t work, they don’t get fired, and they earn more than anyone who spent his life in education trying to achieve a good career job, anyone of these well educated people may lose his job in a matter of hours, but TTC employees with less or no education are immune against that....could you believe that, and YES it is proven to be the most filthy, ridiculous, unreliable, inefficient public transit I’ve ever seen ........ Make everything possible to stop this abuse and this MONOPOLY, other companies must rise and establish companies in private sector to provide public transit, TTC must be under essential services, fares must be fixed, level of service must increase, stop depending on TTC even for one month to cost them more losses, talk to your MPs, STOP the PARASITES from sucking OUR BLOOD.

November 04, 2009 at 8:23:52 PM
Josh T
It's hard to believe that an organization like the TTC can continue to opperate in such a way. If any other business ran in such a way they'd quickly find themselves out of business, but in a city where things are monopolized the way they are the TTC has the ability to run however they choose. Not only is this unfair to the consumers, but it has become overly pathetic. It has become almost a yearly event for riders to fear an increase in fares.

The TTC always speaks of the deficiet but not a day goes by that you don't see someone breaking one of the TTC laws. If only they were to enforce the rules, such as no smoking on the platforms and no spitting they could regulate their costs by not only ensuring the TTC was a cleaner place, but it'd ensure that the riders were treated with a much more enjoyable experience as well.

Paying more for a better TTC isn't an issue, but paying more for the same old problems is something I just don't feel comfortable doing.

November 04, 2009 at 8:26:31 PM
Mya G.
Fare hike?Why not?Other transits companies are doing very well off,and every year their fares keep rising.So the ttc raising its fares shouldn't be a big deal.Also the money receive from ttc users for offences on and around the premises should help with their dept.[Stop crying people[.

November 04, 2009 at 8:36:54 PM
Mike
It's pretty easy, if you don't like the hike don't ride the TTC no one is forcing you to ride the TTC. Everyone complains about the service and as a daily TTC rider I see things no one pays attention to. The reason why the system is slow is because it take for every for people to get on and off. Perfect example. I was standing at a stop with a couple people for 15 miniutes then the streetcar came and no one had there method of payment ready, people digging through jackets and pockets to find thier change or metropass. So if there is anyone to blame for poor service is the person you sit next to are infront that is to Blame for slow system.

November 04, 2009 at 8:43:57 PM
Norma Sanchez
TTC the better way I don,t think so, TTC improved the service I believe for them only no for riders because anytime buses pass by NOT IN SERVICE, when pay a fare I have to beg to have a transfer, very rude employees and the most important drivers doesn't know how to drive buses, seems that drove a truck with cows, they use break, break and break, once I was unsure if the bus would arrive with good tires to the subway station because they always played on the curb, stop anytime for a coffee, when the shift change is never a substitute at the exact time also in subway trains, riders always have to wait for them, but drivers never wait for riders, on top for all bad things riders had to suffer another increase fare?

November 04, 2009 at 8:44:38 PM
John
York regions fare is $3.25 and they provide 10% of the service the TTC provides. Fuel and insurance and hydro keep increasing therefore everything else follows.

November 04, 2009 at 9:01:45 PM
Mich
If they're planning on hiking up the fare there better be improvements on their part. Its almost cheaper to spend the money on gas! Just gets more and more ridiculus!

November 04, 2009 at 9:05:43 PM
peuterschmidt
I think that the TTC should enact a zone system where you only pay for what you use. I live in Seoul right now and this system works great. You have to swipe your card to get in and out of the subway, and buses too. You have a 30 min time period where you can transfer between buses or subways and you don't get charged, so you can continue on your trip. I think this would deter people from using fake tokens, or bus tickets as someone pointed out..do it

November 04, 2009 at 9:06:57 PM
Wendy
Raising rates again is only adding another hit to the already overburdened, overtaxed, people of this City.
l have been a long time user of the TTC system, and have found the service getting disasterly bad over many years. A 20 minute drive to work, varies between 50 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes via the TTC, this is unexceptable
l have friends who work for the TTC and brag about the fact, that the are paid in the service warehouses to clean, and maintain the buses, and subways... however they joke about the fact that they can do 8 hours of work in 1 hour and spend the rest of the time off site or playing cards.. this only leads me to believe that the vehicles aren't being given the attention they require to properly clean or maintain them, and that the TTC needs to do more inhouse checking of the kind of abuses that lead to the 100 million shortfall..
the Union has succeeded in crippling this system with huge wages, huge benefits that very few in the economy these day get...
The TTC also need to get a handle on the blantant abuse of overtime spenditures, a driver getting over $1000 for an 8 hour shift is not only crazy but another huge example of the greed at the trough...this is only a few examples of the misfunctional TTC... and until some of these abuses are seriously addressed, any fare increases will be meet with anger and outrage, by the people who use the very service that they provide

November 04, 2009 at 9:09:41 PM
Sam
no i dont accept this,
ttc services very poor ttc use old train's old buses and stations not improved so why they want to extra?

November 04, 2009 at 9:22:58 PM
hazeleyes
i can not believe is going up again. its not worth $126.00per month for the monthly pass. the service for some of the routes are insanely slow, especially Eglinton and Finch. the TTC chair should reconsider this idea of raising the fares. for most people they dont have a choice but to take the TTC and they are abusing the commuters who rely on this pathetic service...im seriously looking into getting the rest of my license and compare costs, at least i will be warm in the winter and not have frost bite from waiting for the 34 Eglinton bus, and wait for more than half and hour or more, just to see 3 or 4 buses trailing one after another. oh dont forget for all the buses on these routes that are SORRY NOT IN SERVICE, as they all pass you while you wait in the delightful weather we are going to have...got to love it!!!

November 04, 2009 at 9:26:28 PM
Nad
The better way - yeah, right! The only better way is trying to get more money from taxing paying citizens that can barely afford rent or food.
Cost of living is hardly increasing for some and we try to make the best of our daily lives but never the TTC - they are always wanting more.
As a person living on a fix income and having just completed bankruptcy it's going to be hard having to moving money around from my other bills within my budget in order to compensate this new increase if it gets approve.
What are we really paying for? Rude employees, late service, the promise of new buses/trains???
I rely on the TTC as my means of transport in order to get to work and around the city so I will have no choice but to give into the TTC and pay their price even if it means less money in my pockets and more in the theirs.
This is not fair. With all the taxes we pay you would think the TTC would know how budget their own books and stop coming after tax payers to bail them out year after year.

November 04, 2009 at 9:28:33 PM
Jayme
lol at the person that said TTC stands for "take the car", because I think think it's completely true!!

Its wrong to be raising the fare on the TTC when the majority of the people riding the TTC are in the lower half of the middle class or are lower class!! Its hard enough to afford it in the first place - how are they supposed to afford it when you raise almost another $20 dollars a month? For those that are paid hourly (which many of the patron of the TTC are) thats an extra 2 hours a week that they need to work - and we're supposed to have a good standard of living in Canada?

And personally, I'm a university student from a lower class background, supported by OSAP. My transit fees are paid for by OSAP. So, if the TTC raises its bus fare, that's an increase in my student loans as well!!

Someone needs to audit the TTC's budget and spending, and FAST!!

Too bad we TTC riders can't stand in solidarity and boycott the TTC for a day or two, maybe it would show them that we don't want to take this s*** anymore!!

November 04, 2009 at 9:34:13 PM
Maria adford
In most jurisdictions, persons like my disabled daughter and seniors are provided with very substantial discounts because they are unable to travel using other means. These price increases may seem minimal to some and simply another 'tax' to others who are working. However to those who depend on the TTC because they have no other way of getting around and to those who are on social assistance or a government pension, these increases will be a real hardship.

November 04, 2009 at 9:51:51 PM
JSMITH
I think that the fares for the service level in this city are higher than they should be. The service is not comparable than that of other big cities, over crowded, not enough bus routes, streetcars? how about 1 breaks down and the whole line is shut down, this is a disastrous system and i feel ashamed to live in a city with such poor service, for such high prices. And $100 million shortfall, instead of fare increases, we should just buy them some calculators, i want a statement given on how they could be off by $100 million, they spend way to much money, new subways? how about clean the stations, or add bus routes, or subway lines, but we do not need new subway cars, the ones the city uses are perfect for the ride usage, compare it to new york, which doesn't have the newest subway's which toronto for some reason need... someone has to get rid of the financial and decision making team for the ttc and get people to understand and prioritize what is most important in this amazing city, which has the crappiest transit system in north america, except for the system in north bay....... someone has to fix this ever growing transit issue, why should we have to pay more because the ttc which is on an unreasonably large budget didn't have calculators and is over budget, they should figure out how to pay off the $100 million another way. Biggest joke of a system

November 04, 2009 at 9:55:31 PM
Mike
I don't use these unionized crooks services, but every time I see letters TTC in an article, I don't even have to read it, I know what's it about, another raise and another money grab.

November 04, 2009 at 10:08:09 PM
Scott
What a greedy corporation. The TTC has been plagued with mismanagement, misguided spending, poor decision making and having an entirely too self serving mindset for the past two decades. Every single time they find themselves in a budget crunch, often by their own design for above mentioned reasons, its we the riders that must flip the bill. This has got to stop. The TTC needs a complete overhaul, front to back. Basically they need to be held responsible for their poor squandering of funds and stop looking for the proverbial handout from their clientele whenever they get themselves into trouble.

If the TTC were any other corporation in the world, they'd have gone bankrupt and closed shop YEARS AGO!! (and we'd all be better off.)

November 04, 2009 at 10:22:28 PM
Jose
This is just sad this just shows that the TTC doesnt care about the people of toronto.. $100 Million short fall geeeez i wonder why .. lets the i bet the workers take a nice cut which i must say not all but many of them suck.. lets see what else hmmm i am sure upper managment gave themselfs a raise.. TTC is a corrupted business and the city needs to do something.. Because dont be shocked when people decide not to pay there fares and take matters into there own hands.. I bet many many people are just ready to snap prices in everything is going up.. and people cant manage to pay for everything.. so dont be shocked when people start snapping.. Also the TTC workers are spoiled already all of them the TTC needs to be restructed all the way up to the bottom.. I say SHAME ON YOU TTC SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT WORK FOR THE TTC THAT DONT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE.. AND P.S WE DONT WANNA HEAR UR EXCUSES!!!!

November 04, 2009 at 10:27:29 PM
frank
so much for the tax credit you got for taking public transit... we'll just increase fares and you are back to square one. Honestly, I'm just going to drive now given I have to pay for TTC Metropass parking anyway. Now I will not freeze to death on a platform and catch H1N1 from exposure to the hundreds of people that are jammed like sardines inside the car. Thanks for making my decision easier TTC. You take that fare hike and keep paying your rude and lazy employees $80,000 a year.

November 04, 2009 at 10:40:09 PM
Cheryl Stewart
what? Are we in Mississauga?? If that's the case and they do up the price they should make the tranfers expire in two hours like Mississauga transit does. It's the least they can do.