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| Sunday, May 17, 06:21:16pm | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, [8], 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: Fare integration to hop from one transit authority to another remains a goal. GO and some smaller transit authorities are experimenting with so-called SmartCard technology that would allow commuters to swipe cards to pay for rides. But the TTC — which carries 90 per cent of all public transit riders in Greater Toronto — stands opposed because of the prohibitive cost of switching from its MetroPass/tokens/transfer system. | |
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Author: Apr. 19, 2003. 08:24 AM "We say the 10-year GO Transit budget, the bus rapid transit busway are priorities." |
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Date Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 04:33:31am In reply to: 's message, "8/6/02 MTEstudy expected to conclude Dec.02 (Canada)" on Wednesday, December 25, 07:37:53pm http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035781031403&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154 ----------------------------------------------------------- Apr. 19, 2003. 08:24 AM ----------------------------------------------------------- DICK LOEK/ TORONTO STAR ----------------------------------------------------------- Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion takes questions during a news conference after the Smart Growth panel she chaired delivered its final report to the province, which was represented by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister David Young. The 90-page report urged dramatic changes over the next 30 years. ----------------------------------------------------------- McCallion's 'billions' dollar dream Smart Growth panel pushes for changes in area transit ----------------------------------------------------------- KEVIN MCGRAN TRANSPORTATION REPORTER ----------------------------------------------------------- Calling garbage a "crisis" and transit a "priority," Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion unveiled her Smart Growth panel's blueprint on how to make central Ontario a better place to live over the next 30 years. ----------------------------------------------------------- GO Transit expansion, a fully funded transportation authority with legislative teeth, user fees on garbage bags and no more exporting garbage to the United States, are among the key recommendations — which would cost "billions" — of the 90-page report handed over to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister David Young. ----------------------------------------------------------- "We've given them the priorities," McCallion said in an interview. ----------------------------------------------------------- "We say the 10-year GO Transit budget, the bus rapid transit busway are priorities." ----------------------------------------------------------- As for garbage, she pointed out that federal and provincial laws governing incineration and the environment are often at odds with each other, creating nightmares for the municipalities. ----------------------------------------------------------- "Right now, every municipality is running around trying to find an answer to garbage and a lot of money is being wasted doing it. The federal and provincial governments should get together and decide the way to deal with garbage in Canada," McCallion said. ----------------------------------------------------------- "We're shipping our garbage to Michigan. It's a crisis. If they ever close the border, we're in trouble." ----------------------------------------------------------- The recommendations don't mention a price tag, but McCallion warned: "It's in the billions. Really that's what we need to do the job. But it will cost billions more probably if we don't do it." ----------------------------------------------------------- Young promised the governing Tories — who commissioned the panel 14 months ago — would act on its findings. ----------------------------------------------------------- "The ball's in our court," said Young. "We have an obligation to take action. ... In the coming weeks and months you will see the Ernie Eves government make Smart Growth a reality." ----------------------------------------------------------- GO Transit would be the big winner, with its 10-year plan to build bus rapid transit from Halton to Durham getting the full support of the panel. ----------------------------------------------------------- Other projects, notably York Region's rival plan to build mass transit along Highway 7 and Yonge St., were not mentioned. Neither was any expansion plan for the TTC, which wants to build subways along the Sheppard line to the Scarborough Town Centre, and north from the Spadina line to York University. ----------------------------------------------------------- "It's a 905 agenda and they'll go where they want to go," said TTC commissioner Rick Ducharme. ----------------------------------------------------------- Indeed, the view from 2035 includes rapid transit links to Toronto from Peterborough, Barrie, Waterloo, Brantford and Fort Erie. ----------------------------------------------------------- Fare integration to hop from one transit authority to another remains a goal. GO and some smaller transit authorities are experimenting with so-called SmartCard technology that would allow commuters to swipe cards to pay for rides. But the TTC — which carries 90 per cent of all public transit riders in Greater Toronto — stands opposed because of the prohibitive cost of switching from its MetroPass/tokens/transfer system. ----------------------------------------------------------- A central Ontario transportation authority, appointed by the province, would decide which projects would go first, working in concert with official plans developed by the various municipalities. ----------------------------------------------------------- That would make sure transit growth mirrored development, McCallion said. ----------------------------------------------------------- The panel suggests a dedicated gas tax could fund transit and transportation improvements, although McCallion said any funding, as long as it was sustainable, would do. ----------------------------------------------------------- Young said the province wouldn't go it alone on any of the initiatives. ----------------------------------------------------------- "The cost of doing nothing is prohibitive," Young said. "But all three levels of government are going to have to spend money, possibly billions." ----------------------------------------------------------- [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
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| Revenue service on this demonstration commenced in June of 2002. Phase 2 will involve rollout of this system to the remainder of the GO Transit rail and bus operations, in 2004. | Toronto phase 2 will be 2004 | Tuesday, May 06, 12:58:55pm |