Can you say for sure all the service increases as of late are off the table as of next year or are you just postulating i.e. given the fee increase and the TTC's predicted reduction in ridership (which will probably not materialize) that they will ?
If TTC has a budget to maintain what we have today at $1.5B, what do you expect TTC do if they get a budget of $1.3B for 2012?
Based on the questions I asked today, TTC will look at the core service first and then start looking at and where service can be put before funds dry up.
If TTC moves back to the zone system, where do they take place? All subway lines will be in zone 1. Depending on where you get off the subway and onto a bus, you could be in zone 1 or 2. If in zone 2, you will have to pay an extra fare. The same can happen when changing from bus to bus. Given the size of Toronto today, you could have 3-5 zones.
Can various departments be contracted out will be looked at.
It was stated by the vice chair that a fare increase is going to happen in 2012. Its a given considering everyone in the 905 is either doing it now or early next year. Watch GO to raise fares in 2012.
When it was stated by the Commision at the cutting of the service this year that the saving was going to go to improve existing service on routes that need it now in the fall, I said its not going to happen with TTC having to take a 10% cut to their budget.
How can you add something when you cannot fund it in the first place?
I hope I am wrong, but don't think so.
There are people looking under every stone to see if they can find any saving with staff been asked today to stop sole sourcing and find some bidders to make sure TTC is doing the right thing.