This from CP24 gives a bit more detail.
The TTC board has approved, in principle, a report containing nine recommendations aimed at improving transit service.
The report, titled "Opportunities to Improve Transit Service in Toronto," put forth initiatives such as the introduction of express bus service on 20 key routes, increased bus and streetcar frequency every 10 minutes during peak-hours and the expansion of overnight service where needed.
"I'm obviously very pleased that the board has supported in principle the recommendations that we put forward in this staff report," said Andy Byford, the TTC's chief executive officer.
At a press conference at his campaign headquarters Tuesday morning, Mayoral candidate Rob Ford vowed to implement many of the proposals contained in the report, adding that he would set aside $30 million annually towards some of the recommendations.
The money would come from a pool of $100 million in annual savings Ford hopes to achieve through streamlining management within the civil service, implementing a common procurement and purchasing strategy and developing a joint labour relations and collective bargaining strategy.
“We need to build a better subway system but these major projects take time and people say ‘Rob, what are you going to do now?’ Well this is what I am going to do now,” Ford said. “Today I am committing to fund these service improvements in my next term of office.”
The TTC report also called for the for the introduction of a two-hour window in which riders could use transfers and all-door boarding on streetcar routes to help reduce delays, but Ford told reporters that he cannot support either of those ideas.
The total package of improvements is expected to cost about $288 million over the next five years if approved.
“I don’t buy this two hours stuff,” Ford said of the time-based transfer, which would allow riders to hop on and off any TTC vehicle. “For $3 you can go from Kipling out to Scarborough. You will not find a cheaper way of getting around the city.”
Ford says Tory doesn’t understand how city hall works
The report, which was released Friday, has been positively received by most mayoral candidates so far, though John Tory did tell CP24 that it would be “less than responsible” for members of council to vote on it as soon as its meeting next week, given the lack of information on how it would be funded.
“John is claiming that he has not had enough time to evaluate a short 17-opage report and if John had any experience at city hall he would know that these reports drop five days before it is dealt with,” Ford said on Tuesday. “Clearly he lacks the conviction to make the tough choices.”
Read more:
http://www.cp24.com/news/ttc-board-approves-report-on-service-improvements-1.1965708#ixzz3AsALwy3q
