TransitPolicyChanger
Active Member
Billions (maybe) Spent on New Transit ... But What About the Small Priced Changes
I know there are lots of threads on UT about the large transit projects and proposals out there right now for projects across both Toronto and the GTA. The debates are heated with many great arguments on either side (i.e. HRT, LTR, vs BRT, and so on). But all of these projects, while potentially affecting a large number of people, will likely not make the majority of transit user's ride any better. All the attention, and rightfully so, is focused on the over capacity Yonge Line, the Transit City vs Rob Ford debate, the frequencies of GO Train services, ...
Maybe it is worth while to discuss the smaller changes that can happen around the GTA to make small but significant changes. Having a nice fancy new Subway Line or LRT line is great, but what if the bus you need to get to that subway is slow and unreliable? What if the easiest way for me to get downtown is to ride the streetcar and avoid the Bloor-Danforth Line? What if in the summer the option of biking along a safe route was available in more places?
Its great for Mayors, Metrolinx, TTC, GO, etc. to talk about spending the billions in potential capital projects and operating budgets, but that leaves a lot of people without a voice.
Where is the other half of Transit Planning? The people that push for more thought into proper signal priority? What about the idea of banning all left turns on all streetcar routes at all times? Where can we find some money to enforce transit only lanes? Where could we potentially put more transit only lanes? ... Some signs and paint and enforcement may make Transit even marginally better for a large number of people. If you can shave 5 - 10 mins off of a transit ride for both halves of your daily trip would that matter?
I know there are lots of threads on UT about the large transit projects and proposals out there right now for projects across both Toronto and the GTA. The debates are heated with many great arguments on either side (i.e. HRT, LTR, vs BRT, and so on). But all of these projects, while potentially affecting a large number of people, will likely not make the majority of transit user's ride any better. All the attention, and rightfully so, is focused on the over capacity Yonge Line, the Transit City vs Rob Ford debate, the frequencies of GO Train services, ...
Maybe it is worth while to discuss the smaller changes that can happen around the GTA to make small but significant changes. Having a nice fancy new Subway Line or LRT line is great, but what if the bus you need to get to that subway is slow and unreliable? What if the easiest way for me to get downtown is to ride the streetcar and avoid the Bloor-Danforth Line? What if in the summer the option of biking along a safe route was available in more places?
Its great for Mayors, Metrolinx, TTC, GO, etc. to talk about spending the billions in potential capital projects and operating budgets, but that leaves a lot of people without a voice.
Where is the other half of Transit Planning? The people that push for more thought into proper signal priority? What about the idea of banning all left turns on all streetcar routes at all times? Where can we find some money to enforce transit only lanes? Where could we potentially put more transit only lanes? ... Some signs and paint and enforcement may make Transit even marginally better for a large number of people. If you can shave 5 - 10 mins off of a transit ride for both halves of your daily trip would that matter?