Mad As Hell, And I'm Not Going To Take This Anymore
Damn, I'm mad as hell! GO Transit is at it again - screwing the rider!
A quick analysis:
1. Single ride from Oakville to Union Station, $6.00 to $6.25 = 4.16% hike
2. Monthly pass from Oakville to Union Station, $195.00 to $205.00 = 5.13% hike
3. Single ride from Milton to Union Station, $7.75 to $8.00+ = 3.23% hike
4. Monthly pass from Milton to Union Station, $250.00 to $260.00+ = 4.00% hike
5. These hikes in fares are not "in line with inflation". Inflation is 2.4% for 2008 and 1.10% for 2009.
6. Why does GO Transit need to charge more when fuel prices have plummeted? To drive my car to Toronto from Milton, it now cost $100 per month for gas versus $160 back in the fall. A 40% reduction just within a few months.
7. Why does GO Transit need to charge more when we're in a depression? People are losing their jobs! People are taking pay cuts! I only received a 2.4% wage increase from my employer this year.
8. According to Trading Economics (
www.tradingeconomics.com), Canada's inflation rate for January is at 1.10%. The average inflation rate in 2008 was 2.38%.
9. The GO Transit Annual Report should be made public prior to raising fares to prove to the public why rate increases are neccessary and to measure up the government to past fare hike reasons. According to the GO Transit Act, 2001, "On or before July 31 in each year, or another date specified by the Minister, GO Transit shall submit to the Minister and to the Minister of Finance an annual report on its affairs and the affairs of its subsidiary corporations for the previous fiscal year, signed by the chair of the board of directors. 2001, c. 23, Sched. A, s. 24 (1)."
10. GO Transit has a very high fare recovery rate and should be reduced to be in line with other Canadian transit systems. 82 per cent for GO Transit, 73% TTC, 23% YRT. Something should be done about this.
11. GO Transit on-time arrivals to Union Station from Milton is below 90% for 4 out of 6 trains. This is too low to be acceptable.
12. GO Transit Milton train capacity is over-capacity for 1 train in the morning, and 3 out of 6 trains in the afternoon. Paying more for overcrowded trains. Typical.
13. GO Transit Lakeshore West train capacity is over-capacity for 5 trains in the morning.
14. GO Transit has an overall on-time performance rating of 86.79% (78/183 trains less than 87%) with 33 trains over-capacity, 2 trains less than 60% on-time, 3 trains between 60% to 69% on-time, 17 trains between 70% to 79% on-time, 92 trains between 80% and 89% on-time, 69 trains between 90% to 98% on-time, no trains 99% or 100% on-time.
It seems GO Transit has "lost touch with reality" by not considering the average rider's finances and the global economic downturn. While prices are going down, more Canadians are unemployed, and those who are are feeling a big pinch if their spouse just got laid off and has to pay a double to triple inflationary hike for government services. It appears the Ontario Government's agencies are all out of touch with reality until the provincial government gets involved. Examples being the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) wanting a 3% raise for the next 4 years during recession and Ontario offering by ultimatum 2%; and the Ontario Lottery Corporation with offering foreign built Mercedes Benz' instead of supporting locally manufactured vehicles at a time when our auto companies are at the brink of bankruptcy.