Oh, maybe this was the TTC Board.. But the TTC Board is made up of City Councillors. The TTC can't dissolve these routes without permission from politicians, whether they be on the TTC Board or at Council, is what I was alluding to.
Half the board is also filled with clueless councilors asking questions like why are these routes picked, so it's like the Dufferin express bus where some buses skip stops, can we run an express bus from Kipling to Union, why can't we copy Vancouver's zone system for subways and make it cheaper on local routes, why do we have to go to Davisville to get a presto card, it's so difficult and other stupid questions.
None of these people actually know anything about how transit operates in Toronto.
Perhaps the extra fare has something to do with that?
The TTC's Downtown Express lines might be the most pathetic thing the TTC operates, and that is saying something! First, their "express" moniker is dubious at best. Most routes still stop every 400-500m, which is arguably what most bus lines should be targeting. Even then, the bus is as fast as a regular route which manages to skip a stop cause no one gets on or off, big whoop! The routes operate in mixed traffic with signals, eating up much of the potential time savings. I'll overlook the lack of frequency, but they are standard buses yet still charge an extra fare. Considering all this, it is a miracle that anyone takes them at all!
The TTC should consider removing the extra fare and operating them more frequently. Such a setup could provide some minor relief for the subway.
What you're describing is BRT, not an express bus route. The 14x's routes are express buses. The TTC doesn't distinguish between limited stop and express buses either.
BRT - express stops with further distance between them, signal priority, dedicated lanes and possibility grade separation. Usually with all door boarding (VIVA rapidways) or not (Mississauga Transitway, TTC 196)
BRT-lite - same as BRT but operates in mix traffic (VIVA without rapidway)
Express - most stops at both ends of the route with a large express portion (TTC 14x's, 191, 192, GO Buses)
Limited-stop buses - stops at major intersections, does not take the highway/no express portions along the route (most TTC express/rocket routes like 41E,53E,60F,95E,195,198,199, etc.)
TTC also have some weird combinations like the 45E which is an express-local route. There's an express portion skipping 15 local stops, a limited stop portion and a large local portion. 54E is really not an express route. The 139E should really be drop the E, it stops at every local stop on Finch unlike the 199. TTC's express/rocket routes are really confusing.
