Can commute be improved for Toronto drivers?

[Electrify]

About 50% of the daily users of the TTC have a Metropass. The reason: more use the TTC during the non-rush hour than most other North American transit agencies, except for New York City. However, the high farebox recovery ratio has to be used because of no operating subsidy from the province nor from the federal government, which NYC gets from their higher up governments.

50% ain't too bad, but in some cities it is much higher. Look at Montreal, a weekly pass is 50 cents cheaper than 10 bulk rides. Yes, I know that Montreal's transit gets funding from the province, but as I said even when Toronto did get funding from the province, our passes were never that good a value. If anything, our passes have been a better value in the last 15 years since the province dropped support than in the prior 15 years when the province gave full support.

 

[nfitz]

Quebec is far more socialist than we are. In Quebec, they call the right-wing party Liberal. Or at least they did until a couple of further right-wing parties appeared recently ... and the PQ has shifted somewhat from it's socialist roots.

 

[Simple Man]

In Quebec, it is more about the community than the individual.

French society is like that as well.

 

[archanfel]

Would it be feasible/beneficial to build a highway from the 404 to Finch station? I wonder how many drivers will choose to park their cars at Finch station and then take the subway to the downtown core then.

 

[nfitz]

Would it be feasible/beneficial to build a highway from the 404 to Finch station? I wonder how many drivers will choose to park their cars at Finch station and then take the subway to the downtown core then.

Wouldn't they be faster just to come to Oriole station that's at the 401/Leslie ramp, and go downtown?

 

[Electrify]

I also think that is what some of the reasoning behind the Sheppard line was for. People coming from the 404 could park and ride from Don Mills, rather than drive to York Mills, Oriole, or straight downtown.

 

[nfitz]

I also think that is what some of the reasoning behind the Sheppard line was for. People coming from the 404 could park and ride from Don Mills, rather than drive to York Mills, Oriole, or straight downtown.

Surely Oriole is as easy, if not easier to drive to from the 404 than Don Mills Station. Down the 404, never really get on the 401, stay on the Leslie ramp, through one light directly into the GO parking lot.

 

[archanfel]

Surely Oriole is as easy, if not easier to drive to from the 404 than Don Mills Station. Down the 404, never really get on the 401, stay on the Leslie ramp, through one light directly into the GO parking lot.

There are several problems with Oriole station IMHO:

1. The 404 is jammed south of Steeles. Once you reach the 401, the worst is almost over, what's the point of getting off the highway now? I would think the Richmond Hill station is a better choice.
2. Go trains are very expensive and are not very reliable.
3. Probably more importantly, you still need to use the TTC to get around in the city unless you work at union station.

Go pass is $177, TTC pass is $121. You are looking at $300 a month and you will have to pay for a car anyway. (I might be wrong here since I don't know what kind of discount you get with Go and TTC).

The best thing to do is probably to extend TTC to Richmond Hill and include parking in the monthly pass. Same goes for the Sheppard line.

I think people drive for a reason. I don't know anybody who commute out of spike for public transit. I think it's important that we understand the reason and plan the transit system (both public transit and road) accordingly to make people's life easier.

 

[The Mad Navigator]

In Quebec, it is more about the community than the individual.

French society is like that as well.

Hence why we should put more pressure on individuals driving private individual cars.

 

[drone]

it's a money thing..think of how many "benefit" when a car is purchased. The car dealership,insurance companies,the ontario government (registration,taxes, fuel companies etc..),tire producers,mechanics, etc...eventhough the government makes it look like they want people to use public transit,their actions speak volumes to the fact that they don't. It's political rhetoric when a politician says they want to support public transit. They know the automobile industry is worth billions.They are not going to piss off people who make the province money.

 

[The Mad Navigator]

it's a money thing..think of how many "benefit" when a car is purchased. The car dealership,insurance companies,the ontario government (registration,taxes, fuel companies etc..),tire producers,mechanics, etc...eventhough the government makes it look like they want people to use public transit,their actions speak volumes to the fact that they don't. It's political rhetoric when a politician says they want to support public transit. They know the automobile industry is worth billions.They are not going to piss off people who make the province money.

Yeah, it's political suicide now. But later on it will be transportation suicide if nothing changes.

Politicians need to grow some balls and do what's right not what gets them votes.

 

[archanfel]

Yeah, it's political suicide now. But later on it will be transportation suicide if nothing changes.

Politicians need to grow some balls and do what's right not what gets them votes.

I'd rather they don't. "What's right" changes all the time and the most important thing about democracy is that it stops a dictator from doing what they think is "right".

Of course, I am not sure how valid is that conspiracy theory.

 

[GraphicMatt]

Direct democracy is no great shakes either. Some of the greatest victories in social justice would have been voted down by majority rule at the time.

 

[The Mad Navigator]

I'd rather they don't. "What's right" changes all the time and the most important thing about democracy is that it stops a dictator from doing what they think is "right".

Of course, I am not sure how valid is that conspiracy theory.

Business as usual eh?

If it's not broken, why fix it!

 

[The Mad Navigator]

Direct democracy is no great shakes either. Some of the greatest victories in social justice would have been voted down by majority rule at the time.

All because of hidden agendas that heavily favoured corporations.