TTC '09 Operating Budget

[Whoaccio]

So the TTC has released it's 2009 Budget. I guess it goes without saying, but financially it could be in better shape. These costs increases don't even include the sure-to-be expensive conclusion of the labor contracts that are in arbitration now. Thoughts?

 

[fiendishlibrarian]

From page 13:

11. System Cleanliness/Appearance: $2 million. A continuation of the program introduced in 2008 to improve maintenance and cleanliness of the subway stations will include, for 2009, various wall tile, terrazzo floor, and ceiling work. In addition, a scratchitti abatement program on all rail vehicles will commence. Specifically, all internal glass on these vehicles will be covered with a scratch-resistant film which can be replaced more quickly and at a cheaper cost compared to glass.

This is *very* good news. Looks like they've taken a page from the new R-160s in New York that seem to be the only cars I've seen there whose windows weren't scratched out.

 

[ShonTron]

The streetcars (behind the rear doors it seems) and a lot of the subway windows have this now (mostly the door windows). However, this plastic seems to attract more scratches than the glass itself (it is quite soft), and can distort the view outside.

 

[doady]

So the TTC has released it's 2009 Budget. I guess it goes without saying, but financially it could be in better shape.

Other than GO, which systems in North America have better than 71% operating cost recovery?

 

[Whoaccio]

Other than GO, which systems in North America have better than 71% operating cost recovery?

That is sort of like saying the best food you've ever had at a strip club. How much does it really mean?

 

[doady]

So you can't answer the question then?

 

[Whoaccio]

The MTA has a better cost recovery ratio. Many US transit agencies hold their own debt, and are responsible for their own interest payments. The TTC's operating statistics tend to look better than they really are because all of it's debt is held in provincial/municipal accounts.

In any event, I was referring more to the projected increases in cost over the next five years. The pro-formas suggest that the needed subsidy will more than double to 600m by 2013. That comes to a reduction in fare-box recovery to 63%, which puts us firmly below New York and in line with Philadelphia. That doesn't even include the pending labor arbitration. Given that labor is the TTC's biggest operating cost, it is impossible to imagine guaranteed 3% pay rises improving these figures. The City wont be able to double the TTC's subsidy at the same time as carrying out Transit City. The City can barely fund it as it is.

 

[doady]

The MTA has a better cost recovery ratio.

MTA New York has a cost recovery of around 60% - far less than the TTC.

Even among European systems there are few that are more efficient than the TTC.

 

[lordmandeep]

it could be more efficient if it got better staff...

I say a lady ask for directions...

"I don't get paid enough to give directions"

For over $25 an hour you should be giving explicit directions you overpaid fat bastard...


Unions...

 

[doady]

That is what unions do: protect the lazy and incompetent, and make it unnecessary for people to work hard.

 

[Chuck]

I'm not a huge fan of transit "efficiency", if you even want to call it that, and I think that the healthiest rate of cost recovery is 55-65% tops. In that range, clearly enough people are hopping on board to justify the current level of service, but government subsidies are high enough that the transit authority can still divert money into system expansion.

Some of the toughest years for the TTC occurred during the late 90s and early 2000s - ridership was plummeting, service was being cut back, and the system was in decline. During those years however, "efficiency" was at a modern day high, comfortably above 80%. The last thing I would want is to ever go back to those days of high cost recovery.