dowlingm
Senior Member
Now we know who’s getting in the after parties and who isn’t
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GO Transit: Service thread (including extensions)
- Thread starter drum118
- Start date
Northern Light
Superstar
This move was telegraphed; but is now official:
No offense to our fine servicemen and women; this is not a wise move to me. I really dislike making taxes and fare structures more complex with boutique exceptions and credits.
If you wish to help low income people as a group, ie. means-tested, then so be it, but here current and retired Generals are treated the same as new recruits.
If you simply want transit to be more affordable for everyone, just lower the fare.
No offense to our fine servicemen and women; this is not a wise move to me. I really dislike making taxes and fare structures more complex with boutique exceptions and credits.
If you wish to help low income people as a group, ie. means-tested, then so be it, but here current and retired Generals are treated the same as new recruits.
If you simply want transit to be more affordable for everyone, just lower the fare.
crs1026
Superstar
Agree. It's a very slippery slope - who will be added next - first responders? ER nurses? We respect lots of fine people who put themselves out for society's benefit.
The reality is that there are not many takers for this benefit - maybe a few reservists using transit to get to the armouries - it's largely value signalling. (Now, if it included OC Transpo, with so many DND staffers riding transit to work.....) But all these little puts and takes complicate the whole question of what transit costs and what a "reasonable" fare should be.
- Paul
Currently wearing a poppy, but transit policy is a different arena.
lenaitch
Senior Member
It will be interesting to see if they use the VAC definition of 'veteran', which is anybody who complete basic training and honourably discharged. When most people think 'veteran' they naturally think 'old'. Using the VAC definition, the passenger could be 20 years old and a Bay St. stockbroker, or any of the professions you list.
According to the press release cited, reservists won't be eligible. I agree that the numbers will be very small given the small CAF presence in the GTA.
sixrings
Senior Member
Isn’t this the actual idea. It’s a PR stunt. They know there wont actually be many users. But look at us helping the vets. If you lowered the price of all fares that would actually cost the system. Great pr. But super expensive. So go vets.
Fritter
Active Member
Metrolinx doing something to make them look good without actually doing much of anything at all? That never happens.
reaperexpress
Senior Member
What! Next thing you'll be telling us that running a single trip at 5AM from London to Kitchener on dilapidated tracks for two years around a Provincial election was for political purposes too!
sixrings
Senior Member
Limited off peak train service was added in 2019 and that is a win pr wise dilapidated tracks or not.
If you doubt how important off peak trips are please consult the Milton go riders.
turbanplanner
Senior Member
In all the years I've taken GO I've seen 2 police officers riding to get around. My understanding is they can ride free because they can "step in" if an emergency happens. TBH even if they let nurses ride for free all the ones I know drive because of the lack of early AM trips.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
I mean haven't the PCs frozen GO fares for years now? when was the last time GO fares actually increased?
They also lowered the cost of short-distance trips on GO pretty significantly a few years ago too.
Even a fare-freeze over the last few years represents a major reduction in the "real" cost of GO considering cost of living increases.
reaperexpress
Senior Member
I don't understand what this comment has to do with my comment
turbanplanner
Senior Member
TBF the cost decrease was coupled with a small increase for those taking longer trips.
Northern Light
Superstar
They increased long distance fares above the rate of inflation as the same time as they reduced the base fare and short-distance fares.
* of course, that decrease came after not adopting the Liberals 2018 budget commitment to reduce GO fares in Toronto to $3, so it was an increase over what had been proposed.
****
There has, however, been no fare increase since, at least in the base fare, which was in 2019.
So yes, that is de facto cut.
innsertnamehere
Superstar
I will also of course note their subsidy of GO / TTC fare integration.
Overall the fares which are in the control of the province have experienced some pretty significant decline in cost in real terms. Someone commuting from Burlington to an office at Bloor-Yonge will be paying significantly less today than 5 years ago - that fare today is $10.35. Without fare integration and had GO fares increased with inflation from 2019, that would have cost $15.54 today ($12.24 GO fare, inflation adjusted, plus $3.30 TTC fare).
Not adjusting GO fares to inflation has resulted in an 18% decline in fares in real dollars, plus any savings from people making trips with both GO and TTC.
Additionally - my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I seem to recall GO fares generally increasing quite a bit faster than inflation under the Liberal government. It seemed like there was a decent sized fare hike every year back then.
Overall the fares which are in the control of the province have experienced some pretty significant decline in cost in real terms. Someone commuting from Burlington to an office at Bloor-Yonge will be paying significantly less today than 5 years ago - that fare today is $10.35. Without fare integration and had GO fares increased with inflation from 2019, that would have cost $15.54 today ($12.24 GO fare, inflation adjusted, plus $3.30 TTC fare).
Not adjusting GO fares to inflation has resulted in an 18% decline in fares in real dollars, plus any savings from people making trips with both GO and TTC.
Additionally - my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I seem to recall GO fares generally increasing quite a bit faster than inflation under the Liberal government. It seemed like there was a decent sized fare hike every year back then.
Northern Light
Superstar
True.
Though I would like to see, on fares:
1) Simplification. Way too many zones.
2) If your travel by GO is entirely within a zone (likely one Regional Municipality) it should be the same as the local agency fare.
3) Local Agency fares should be harmonized, likely close to the current TTC level but with a 40-ride cap per month.
4) GO should charge for parking but use that money to lower its longer distance fares as well.