Thinking about using York Region Transit, I am trying to put my finger on what it does right that the TTC does not. I mean, beyond the Yonge corridor service is deplorable. Frequencies on major arterials can be over 60 minutes even during the rush hour. Still, there is something that it does right that I cannot put my finger on...
I think one thing it does is that it doesn't feel as "cheap" as the TTC. standard YRT buses have much nicer seats than the TTC, and they are arranged to allow for more forward facing seating as well. Of course there is also the Viva which provides a limited stop service on top of busier routes with larger buses, off board payment, and some signal priority measures. They also go a long way to decongest the standard bus routes as well.
I think to start the TTC should follow YRT's lead and implement a Viva like service on some of their busier routes. The best candidates could be the 19X Rocket lines, use articulated buses exclusively along with off-board payment could go a long way to make the TTC more attractive along high use corridors.