MetroMan
Senior Member
TTC suspects province is plotting a takeover
Rising speculation sparks city backlash
Oct 24, 2007 04:30 AM
TESS KALINOWSKI
AND JIM BYERS
STAFF REPORTERS
It's been quietly talked about in backrooms for months. But as the city's budget travails continue, the idea of a provincial takeover of Toronto's best brand – the TTC – is being discussed openly at city hall.
Rising speculation about a provincial takeover of at least part of the Toronto Transit Commission has sparked a backlash from councillors, and TTC officials are quietly assembling a public relations campaign to defeat a move they think could destroy one of Toronto's iconic services.
TTC chair and Councillor Adam Giambrone, who is adamantly opposed, says he's received no direct overtures from the province but is aware of the speculation.
With transit high on the public agenda, "the province might have an interest in managing that file directly and being able to take credit for it," he said.
The Greater Toronto Transportation Authority already has the province's mandate to plan the entire transportation network for the Golden Horseshoe. Its report is expected in spring.
It's also poised to take over GO Transit, fuelling suggestions that it could be the vehicle the province needs to co-opt all or part of the TTC as part of a harmonized GTA transit system that would garner provincial resources, parcel out service fairly across what is now nine transit systems, and make it simpler for commuters to travel across city borders.
The authority also gets to say how Premier Dalton McGuinty's $17.5 billion MoveOntario transit plan, which includes funds to extend the subway and build Toronto's ambitious light rail Transit City network, moves forward.
GTTA chair Rob MacIsaac has suggested everything is on the table. "I think there are opportunities for new things that haven't been thought of before, but I think 90 per cent of what we need has already been thought of and it's out there and we just need to ... assemble it," he said back in January.
A source inside the provincial government said there hasn't been any recent, serious discussion of a TTC move. But the commission is taking no chances.
In the next six months Torontonians can expect to see a public relations campaign on the TTC telling them why the city's transit deserves more funding from senior levels of government.
"The TTC does a lot of things very well and over the next six months we're going to have to start telling Torontonians a little about what is good about the TTC, about its efficiencies," said Giambrone. "We have to define what we want from a public transit system."
Toronto Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said he doesn't think the idea will come to fruition and that the TTC is a key part of the city.
"The City of Toronto is very protective of the TTC. It's essential to everything we believe in, from quality of life to economic development to the environment and so forth."
The GTTA, Pantalone said, is an unproven entity.
"The thought of them absorbing the TTC is asking for trouble."
But Toronto councillor and former GTTA member Brian Ashton said the issue has been discussed by transit officials.
"There are a lot of trial balloons being floated out there. I just don't know who's putting the air in them," he said, adding there are many options.
"The province might want to separate the bus from the subway system. One thing I know is that when the GTTA came along it was a natural platform that accelerates those discussions. GO eventually will be part of the GTTA. You could argue the TTC also should be part of it if the GTTA is be truly regional."
Ashton said taking the TTC away from Toronto would "lift a large part of the city's financial burden. The province would be able to manage and control costs. But the city has a long tradition and this would be like cutting the umbilical cord."
Mayor David Miller has denounced a provincial takeover as "incredibly short-sighted." He said it would probably mean higher fares and worse service.
But Councillor Karen Stintz yesterday said it would make sense for the province to run at least part of the TTC. The city also could make money by selling Union Station to Queen's Park, she said.
Pre-election comments from former Liberal finance minister Greg Sorbara, published in July, "suggests this is something that's being thought about, whether it's being considered seriously or not," Giambrone said.
Back then, Sorbara told reporters there might be a different way to approach Toronto transit – such as combining it with GO's rail operations – but went on to say that the discussion was premature.
It doesn't help, Giambrone said yesterday, that other Toronto councillors are raising the issue in public. For him, the really frightening possibility is that the province might hand the job to a private operator – an idea that gains traction when you consider that expanding the Yonge and Spadina subway lines will take the system into York Region.
But third-party transit operations will almost certainly lead to reduced service outside downtown, Giambrone said. "All over Europe you see privatization, and what you see is lower levels of service to other parts of the city."
Giambrone said the GTTA is on record as saying it doesn't want to be an operator. But he is among those GTTA board members surveyed recently on a catchier name for the regional transit authority – and logo ideas, including where that logo might appear on regional transit.
Although it's possible the GTTA's name could replace that of the province of Ontario inside TTC vehicles, it won't go on the outside, Giambrone insists.
--------------------------------------
Why province should run TTC - and why not
If the TTC were to be taken over by the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, here are some of the possible advantages and disadvantages:
PROS
One step closer to rationalizing a system that involves nine transit authorities.
Easier for commuters to cross city and regional borders.
Improve fairness of service across the GTA.
A stronger voice for funding at Queen's Park.
Standardized fare system.
Cost savings with bulk buys of equipment.
Would help Toronto to cut costs.
CONS
TTC service in low-demand areas may suffer as priorities shift to 905 region.
Loss of autonomy by the GTA's largest transit system.
Possible loss of iconic symbolism for TTC.
Opens door to zoned fare system, which punishes people in outlying areas.
Rising speculation sparks city backlash
Oct 24, 2007 04:30 AM
TESS KALINOWSKI
AND JIM BYERS
STAFF REPORTERS
It's been quietly talked about in backrooms for months. But as the city's budget travails continue, the idea of a provincial takeover of Toronto's best brand – the TTC – is being discussed openly at city hall.
Rising speculation about a provincial takeover of at least part of the Toronto Transit Commission has sparked a backlash from councillors, and TTC officials are quietly assembling a public relations campaign to defeat a move they think could destroy one of Toronto's iconic services.
TTC chair and Councillor Adam Giambrone, who is adamantly opposed, says he's received no direct overtures from the province but is aware of the speculation.
With transit high on the public agenda, "the province might have an interest in managing that file directly and being able to take credit for it," he said.
The Greater Toronto Transportation Authority already has the province's mandate to plan the entire transportation network for the Golden Horseshoe. Its report is expected in spring.
It's also poised to take over GO Transit, fuelling suggestions that it could be the vehicle the province needs to co-opt all or part of the TTC as part of a harmonized GTA transit system that would garner provincial resources, parcel out service fairly across what is now nine transit systems, and make it simpler for commuters to travel across city borders.
The authority also gets to say how Premier Dalton McGuinty's $17.5 billion MoveOntario transit plan, which includes funds to extend the subway and build Toronto's ambitious light rail Transit City network, moves forward.
GTTA chair Rob MacIsaac has suggested everything is on the table. "I think there are opportunities for new things that haven't been thought of before, but I think 90 per cent of what we need has already been thought of and it's out there and we just need to ... assemble it," he said back in January.
A source inside the provincial government said there hasn't been any recent, serious discussion of a TTC move. But the commission is taking no chances.
In the next six months Torontonians can expect to see a public relations campaign on the TTC telling them why the city's transit deserves more funding from senior levels of government.
"The TTC does a lot of things very well and over the next six months we're going to have to start telling Torontonians a little about what is good about the TTC, about its efficiencies," said Giambrone. "We have to define what we want from a public transit system."
Toronto Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said he doesn't think the idea will come to fruition and that the TTC is a key part of the city.
"The City of Toronto is very protective of the TTC. It's essential to everything we believe in, from quality of life to economic development to the environment and so forth."
The GTTA, Pantalone said, is an unproven entity.
"The thought of them absorbing the TTC is asking for trouble."
But Toronto councillor and former GTTA member Brian Ashton said the issue has been discussed by transit officials.
"There are a lot of trial balloons being floated out there. I just don't know who's putting the air in them," he said, adding there are many options.
"The province might want to separate the bus from the subway system. One thing I know is that when the GTTA came along it was a natural platform that accelerates those discussions. GO eventually will be part of the GTTA. You could argue the TTC also should be part of it if the GTTA is be truly regional."
Ashton said taking the TTC away from Toronto would "lift a large part of the city's financial burden. The province would be able to manage and control costs. But the city has a long tradition and this would be like cutting the umbilical cord."
Mayor David Miller has denounced a provincial takeover as "incredibly short-sighted." He said it would probably mean higher fares and worse service.
But Councillor Karen Stintz yesterday said it would make sense for the province to run at least part of the TTC. The city also could make money by selling Union Station to Queen's Park, she said.
Pre-election comments from former Liberal finance minister Greg Sorbara, published in July, "suggests this is something that's being thought about, whether it's being considered seriously or not," Giambrone said.
Back then, Sorbara told reporters there might be a different way to approach Toronto transit – such as combining it with GO's rail operations – but went on to say that the discussion was premature.
It doesn't help, Giambrone said yesterday, that other Toronto councillors are raising the issue in public. For him, the really frightening possibility is that the province might hand the job to a private operator – an idea that gains traction when you consider that expanding the Yonge and Spadina subway lines will take the system into York Region.
But third-party transit operations will almost certainly lead to reduced service outside downtown, Giambrone said. "All over Europe you see privatization, and what you see is lower levels of service to other parts of the city."
Giambrone said the GTTA is on record as saying it doesn't want to be an operator. But he is among those GTTA board members surveyed recently on a catchier name for the regional transit authority – and logo ideas, including where that logo might appear on regional transit.
Although it's possible the GTTA's name could replace that of the province of Ontario inside TTC vehicles, it won't go on the outside, Giambrone insists.
--------------------------------------
Why province should run TTC - and why not
If the TTC were to be taken over by the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, here are some of the possible advantages and disadvantages:
PROS
One step closer to rationalizing a system that involves nine transit authorities.
Easier for commuters to cross city and regional borders.
Improve fairness of service across the GTA.
A stronger voice for funding at Queen's Park.
Standardized fare system.
Cost savings with bulk buys of equipment.
Would help Toronto to cut costs.
CONS
TTC service in low-demand areas may suffer as priorities shift to 905 region.
Loss of autonomy by the GTA's largest transit system.
Possible loss of iconic symbolism for TTC.
Opens door to zoned fare system, which punishes people in outlying areas.