Pitfield's Transportation Policy

[Suicidal Gingerbread Man]

Just a disclaimer. I really don't like Jane Pitfield. Just a few glances on her website shows how few ideas she has other than vague discussions of how she would do things better than Miller. Miller has a "vision" section of his website that lays out what he plans to do, while Pitfield has nothing. The transportation policy news release is below, which includes policy highlights, but the actual policy is nowhere to be found on her website. Her entire campaign lacks vision and clear policy outlines.

Anyhow. Release is below.

---
TIME TO GET TORONTO MOVING AGAIN
PITFIELD ANNOUNCES TRANSPORTATION POLICY

TORONTO (October 18, 2006) – Mayoralty candidate Jane Pitfield today unveiled a comprehensive transportation policy to deal with gridlock in Toronto and across the GTA.

“All-day rush hour, transit disruptions, crowded buses and subway cars – that’s ‘Miller time’ in Toronto,†said Pitfield. “My transportation policy is about moving people and goods throughout the GTA – efficiently, quickly, and cost-effectively.â€

Her policy calls for the establishment of a Regional Transportation Council in collaboration with GTA Mayors, and an integrated, balanced transportation strategy that is supported by all levels of government and meets the needs of all residents.

“David Miller avoids participating in the GTA Mayor’s Committee and GO Transit meetings which he is supposed to attend, and he pulled Toronto out of the Association of Municipalities in Ontario. So much for co-operation,†Pitfield said at a news conference today.

“Furthermore, he was given funds from the Province so that a fare increase wouldn’t be necessary and then pocketed the money and raised the fares anyway.†She added that the backlog of road repairs has increased to $300 million over the past three years.

It has been estimated that costs Toronto’s economy $1.8 billion each year. Toronto’s top CEOs recently identified transportation as their number one concern in doing business in our city.

An illegal TTC strike last May left 700,000 people stranded with no way to get to work or school. The city was held hostage, and David Miller did nothing and accepted no responsibility. As well, the TTC’s General Manager resigned because of political meddling – which was the third, consecutive GM to step down during the current TTC Chairman’s reign.

“Also, this summer we learned of the non-competitive procurement of $700 million in subway cars. Taxpayers do not now, nor will they ever, know if they got the best value for their money,†Pitfield noted.

The key elements of Pitfield’s transportation policy are:


-Establishment of a GTA Mayor’s Regional Transportation Committee which will make joint representation of the transportation needs of the GTA to the Provincial and Federal governments.

-Establishment of a Transit Committee of The Whole to direct the development of an Integrated Transportation Plan with full stakeholder involvement.

-Respect for the needs for all residents, be they pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, or vehicle users.

The Transit Committee of the Whole will be asked to examine the costs and benefits of a goal to build two kilometres of subway a year for the next twenty five years.

-Changing the makeup of the TTC Board to include, along with elected councillors, citizen representatives with expertise in business management and transportation. “The Commission has become far too politicized with only councillor representation,†said Pitfield.

-Holding a ballot-box referendum on the future of the Gardiner Expressway – something Miller has refused to do.

-Eliminating the $300 million backlog of road repairs over the next 10 years. And better managing road repairs so that more work is done at low traffic periods and at night, especially on expressways and arterial roads.
-Immediately suspending any further expansion, at Bathurst, of the St. Clair streetcar right of way until full public consultations are held, and looking at options to correct the barrier that the completed portion presents to motorists.

-As part of the Waterfront development, integrating a Legacy Park to host all fundraising cycling, walking and running events on dedicated trails to avoid shutting down main thoroughfares in the city.

-Investigating reduced transit cards in partnership with city businesses to encourage transit use, and reductions for students and seniors during off-peak times.

-Aggressively promoting car pooling.

-Making the TCC more user-friendly by promoting “customer service over administrative protocols such as schedule adherence,†said Pitfield.

“’Miller time’ has been time squandered in building a great transportation system fororonto,†Pitfield said. “’Miller time’ is over. It’s time to get this city moving again.â€

 

[spmarshall]

Wow. Did Royson James write it for her?

 

[Suicidal Gingerbread Man]

Alright. Just while posting this I've become even more irritated by a few of the points.

-Making the TCC more user-friendly by promoting “customer service over administrative protocols such as schedule adherence,†said Pitfield.

So suddenly customers don't care about schedule adherence? I don't know about you, but the most important issue of customer service for me is that, when the schedule says a bus will arrive, the bus actually arrives. Actually ensuring that customers can get where they are going on schedule is not a mere "administrative protocol," Ms. Pitfield.

-Respect for the needs for all residents, be they pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, or vehicle users.

As opposed to a policy of disrespecting all residents?

The Transit Committee of the Whole will be asked to examine the costs and benefits of a goal to build two kilometres of subway a year for the next twenty five years.

In other words, a committee that will allow her to weasel out of any commitment to subway improvement.

The next two need to be taken together, because they are just too hilarious.

-Changing the makeup of the TTC Board to include, along with elected councillors, citizen representatives with expertise in business management and transportation. “The Commission has become far too politicized with only councillor representation,†said Pitfield.

-Holding a ballot-box referendum on the future of the Gardiner Expressway – something Miller has refused to do.

So de-politicize the TTC and politicize the Gardiner through a referendum.




Pitfield is running an idea-free campaign.

 

[thenay]

"The Transit Committee of the Whole will be asked to examine the costs and benefits of a goal to build two kilometres of subway a year for the next twenty five years."

Sounds like more red tape in the end. Also, how will we fund this 2km of subway a year? It's hard enough getting money from the prov/feds for the York Uni expansion. I guess she'll want to use those new taxing powers and put it towards that, good idead and bad idea. More taxes for Toronto residents :/

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"So suddenly customers don't care about schedule adherence?"

My local bus routes have extremely padded schedules so the buses frequently sit at green lights. They do this in case the 1 in 1000 chance there's someone waiting for the eastbound Steeles bus at McCowan at 1am comes true...the other 999 times, everyone who's been sitting on the bus since Finch station gets to sit for another two light cycles while the driver searches for coffee (and sometimes burgers). If all she means is that drivers get a bit of situational leeway, especially on suburban routes at night, then it may not be much of a policy but it would make a noticeable difference to my TTC travellings. I'd vote for Pol Pot if he'd set up real Rocket bus routes in the suburbs...

 

[doady]

Unlike David Miller, Jane Pitfield really has no idea what the real issues are and how fix them...

“David Miller avoids participating in the GTA Mayor’s Committee and GO Transit meetings which he is supposed to attend, and he pulled Toronto out of the Association of Municipalities in Ontario. So much for co-operation,†Pitfield said at a news conference today.

This is because the AMO screwed Toronto over when it came to Federal Gas Tax funding. Toronto was about the get hundreds of millions of dollars of funding but the AMO forced the province to hand it out based on population instead, and so Toronto ended up getting $24 million only, a huge loss for the TTC.

“Furthermore, he was given funds from the Province so that a fare increase wouldn’t be necessary and then pocketed the money and raised the fares anyway.†She added that the backlog of road repairs has increased to $300 million over the past three years.

No other municipality can use the gas tax money to avoid transit fare increase so how can Toronto? The gas tax funding can only be used for capital costs or to increase transit service.

 

[boiler2000]

Immediately suspending any further expansion, at Bathurst, of the St. Clair streetcar right of way until full public consultations are held, and looking at options to correct the barrier that the completed portion presents to motorists.

Huh? Didn't we already have tons of public consultations and impact assessments?

 

[wyliepoon]

National Post

Link to article

Miller pledges surface routes to ease gridlock
Says subway cost prohibitive

James Cowan
National Post

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Mayor David Miller yesterday promised to criss-cross Toronto with exclusive bus and streetcar lanes if he is re-elected, saying the city is expanding too fast to make commuters wait for new subway lines.

"Subways are great," Mr. Miller told reporters at the unveiling of his public transit platform. "They're fast and they're efficient. But we all know that new subway stations are only one piece of the puzzle. The fact is that subways are expensive."

Mr. Miller noted it cost close to $1-billion to build the Sheppard subway line and the proposed expansion of the Spadina line to York University will cost $2-billion. In comparison, the streetcar right-of-way on St. Clair Avenue currently under construction will cost just over $100-million when it is completed.

Building additional surface routes in other parts of the city is a cost-efficient way to expand public transit, Mr. Miller said.

"These dedicated lanes will create a new network for transit riders of fast, efficient ways of getting around the city," he said.

Despite his emphasis on surface routes, Mr. Miller said he still supported extending the subway to York University.

The Mayor said TTC staff will need to review exactly where the new surface lines would be located. Among his proposals are a dedicated bus lane along Yonge Street between Finch and Steeles avenues, as well as a bus lane on Kingston Road between Victoria Park and Eglinton Avenue. Other ideas include building a streetcar right-of-way along Don Mills Road and new streetcar lines to serve the new residential development planned for the waterfront.

Mr. Miller estimated it will cost $50-million annually to pursue his transit strategy. In comparison, it costs between $100-million and $200-million to build a kilometre of subway track.

Additional lines could be built if the federal government implements a national transit strategy, Mr. Miller said. With federal funds, Toronto could extend the Scarborough RT line, connect the Sheppard subway to the Scarborough Town Centre and build a transit corridor along Finch Avenue, Mr. Miller said.

"The secret to public transit is having reliable service," Mr. Miller said. "If people know a bus is coming every five minutes and they don't have to wait 15 minutes and then see three buses show up at a stop, they're much more likely to take the bus."

City councillor Jane Pitfield, who is challenging Mr. Miller, has vowed to use a combination of public and private funds to lay two kilometres of subway track and build one new station each year.

Ms. Pitfield said the mayor's plan will not reduce the amount of traffic congestion in Toronto.

"Surface transit will not get rid of gridlock but subways will," Ms. Pitfield said.

Ms. Pitfield also noted the city's current efforts to expand surface transit has caused strife in surrounding neighbourhoods. A group called Save Our St. Clair (SOS) launched a unsuccessful lawsuit against the right-of-way in their community. "One St. Clair is more than enough," Ms. Pitfield said. Mr. Miller said the city has learned a number of lessons from the St. Clair controversy. He said the city would conduct its public consultation differently in the future. "There were over 70 public meetings but they were all structured according to the Environmental Assessment Act," he said. "It wasn't really conducive to sitting down with people and making it work for them."

Mr. Miller also promised to create a new discount transit pass for university students and develop a program to encourage businesses to offer discounts to Metropass users.

jcowan@nationalpost.com

MILLER'S ROUTES

Mayor David Miller yesterday promised dedicated transit lanes if re-elected. Among areas to be considered for them:

- Yonge Street from Finch to Steeles

- Kingston Road from Victoria Park to Eglinton

- York University Bus

- Rapid transit through portlands

- Rapid transit along Don Mills from Steeles to the downtown core.

Ran with fact box "Miller's Routes" which has been appendedto the story.

 

[ganjavih]

I agree that subways are cost prohibitive. My question is, why?

 

[MetroMan1000]

Miller is feeling more and more like a seasoned Mayor. He's realistic and is offering short term solutions for a short term problem.

He's the obvious choice for November 13.

I look forward to seeing him implement more ROWs and fighting for a fed funded national transportation plan.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"Mayor David Miller yesterday promised dedicated transit lanes if re-elected. Among areas to be considered for them:
- Yonge Street from Finch to Steeles"

I don't know what they've done to Yonge north of Finch station but the buses flow fine now. Years ago it would quite often take 15 minutes to get to Steeles but now it usually takes about 6 minutes. Things will only get better if the Pemberton exit ever opens.

 

[Darkstar416]

Pemberton exit

?

 

[Ed007Toronto]

^ New exit from Finch bus station onto Yonge Street. Pemberton Street runs east west one block north of Finch. Was cut off from Yonge when Finch station was built. This exit will reduce traffic on Bishop as buses leave Finch Station trying to head north.

And yes this is the street Pemberton Group got their name from. A bunch of their buildings are here.

 

[wyliepoon]

The Star

Link to article

Miller reveals transit plan
Favours streetcars over underground
No time to wait for subways, he says
Oct. 26, 2006. 01:00 AM
DONOVAN VINCENT
CITY HALL BUREAU

Toronto Mayor David Miller says the city's transit future rests with buses and streetcars, not subways.

"Subways are great. They're fast and efficient, but we all know that new stations are only one piece of the puzzle. The fact is subways are expensive," he said Tuesday as he unveiled the transit strategy that is part of his election campaigning.

He proposed a plan with little new and nothing grandiose, but rather an approach that continues the city's trend toward dedicated routes for buses and streetcars. His challenger Jane Pitfield, on the other hand, promises to kill the St. Clair Ave. W. streetcar right-of-way and build two kilometres of new subway line a year for 25 years.

Miller also promised a discounted "U-pass'' for university and college students that would automatically be part of their school fees.

"I'm going to make it happen,'' Miller told reporters on hand at Downsview Station. Miller said the city doesn't have time to wait for subways.

"My vision for the future of Toronto is a city that moves by public transit. Our city is big and growing fast. We can't wait for subways to be constructed. We need to make our surface transportation — streetcars and buses — as reliable, as comfortable, as fast as the subway," Miller said, adding that's why he favours the $68-million St. Clair right-of-way.

He estimated that it costs more than $200 million a kilometre to build a subway line. Pitfield has pegged the figure at $100 million.

Miller's transit plan also includes:

#
A dedicated bus line on Yonge St. from Finch Ave. to Steeles Ave.;

#
A dedicated bus line on Kingston Rd. from Victoria Park Ave. to Eglinton Ave.;

#
Light rapid transit through the east Bayfront and Portlands;

#
Light rapid transit along Don Mills Rd. from Steeles Ave. to downtown.

He steered clear of putting a price tag on his transit plan, saying some of the projects are still being reviewed or undergoing environmental assessments. Some of them have already been alluded to in the city's $50 million a year Transit City proposal, and the Waterfront Revitalization plan.

His strategy also included "vision" projects, such as extending and upgrading the Scarborough RT into Malvern and beyond, and a rapid transit connection that links the Sheppard subway line to the Scarborough Town Centre. He vowed to continue to fight for the extension of the Spadina subway line to York University, a $2-billion project that has the backing of Toronto, York Region and the province, but still awaits financial approval from Ottawa.

He also promised to speed up the implementation of Toronto's bike plan and support the construction of a rail link to the airport as long as it doesn't physically cut Weston off from its business community.

He pledged to buy quiet, accessible and faster light rail cars to replace aging streetcars, and fight for funding through a National Transit Strategy.

 

[scarberiankhatru]

"A dedicated bus line on Yonge St. from Finch Ave. to Steeles Ave.;"

I hope they don't put a bus ROW here...if buses are unable to pass each other in this lane, travel time will increase.

"His strategy also included "vision" projects, such as extending and upgrading the Scarborough RT into Malvern and beyond"

To the Zoo? To raccoons in the Rouge valley? There is no one beyond Malvern. Maybe he means Cornell or the still-farmland Seaton lands. On second thought, a non-existent airport in Pickering definitely needs rapid transit before Eglinton or Don Mills. Yes...definitely.

"a rapid transit connection that links the Sheppard subway line to the Scarborough Town Centre"

aka streetcars...WOW!!! I'm sure they'll only be 50% slower than the 190.

If this plus the Spadina extension constitutes his vision, he should really check out this website: www.lasikmd.ca/

- edited for spelling.