Record ridership projected for 2011 budget - TTC staff recommend 10-cent fare increase, service reallocation

January 10, 2011

TTC staff will recommend a balanced 2011 operating budget to its Commission at a special meeting on Wednesday, January 12. Staff will also present its 2011 Wheel-Trans budget, and 2011-2015 capital budget and 10-year forecast.

Highlights of the staff recommended budgets are as follows:

Operating Budget (excluding Wheel-Trans)

The TTC’s proposed operating budget for 2011 is $1.4 billion (up $66 million from 2010) and forecasts an all-time record high of 483 million rides. Ridership continues to grow each year. At the end of 2010 there were 477 million rides, up from a projected 462 million rides. For 2011, the TTC’s conventional system operating subsidy from the City of Toronto will not increase over 2010’s level. A long-term funding strategy for annual TTC operating expenses, however, is required to allow the TTC to plan for service changes and fare policy decisions.

Effective January 30, 2011, TTC staff recommends a 10-cent fare increase to meet the service levels required for the projected increase in ridership. To operate the system, each ride costs $3, on average. The TTC receives, on average, just under $2 in fare revenue per trip. The attached fare chart shows the proposed increase in fares for tokens, tickets and passes. Cash fares for adults and seniors remain unchanged; children’s fares are also frozen at 2010 levels.
With increased ridership, TTC staff propose, effective March 27, the reallocation of some weekend and/or late night weekday bus service on routes where ridership is extremely low. It is proposed that this service be reallocated to ensure service levels at rush hour and midday, for example, meet the forecast increase in ridership. Improved service to account for record levels of riders began on January 2 of this year. A list of routes proposed for reallocation is attached. This change will save approximately $7 million in 2011. These improvements will be implemented in September after an analysis is completed to determine where that additional service is needed most.
Other TTC expenses for 2011, which will be detailed on Jan. 12, include customer service initiatives (Chief Customer Service Officer, additional station managers, station cleanliness, route supervisors), training, energy costs, vehicle and facility maintenance, and inflationary costs.

Wheel-Trans

The TTC’s paratransit service made 2.7 million trips in 2010 with a budget of approximately $88 million, with a subsidy of $82.7 million from the City of Toronto. As demand for this service grows, Wheel-Trans’ 2011 budget is forecast at $97.3 million, with a subsidy request from the City of $91 million.

Wheel-Trans forecasts almost 3 million trips for 2011 with a workforce of 531 and a fleet of 198 new buses. Wheel-Trans trips are provided through a combination of direct TTC low-floor bus service and contracted taxicab services, either accessible vans or sedan taxis. While customers pay a regular TTC fare when using Wheel-Trans services, actual costs are, on average, $33 per trip.

Capital Budget

The TTC’s 10-year capital budget requirement is almost $8 billion. Details will be presented Jan. 12.

Funding approved in recent years will see the TTC spend $900 million in 2011 on ongoing state-of-good-repair programs, bus fleet replacement and renewal, accessibility, and much-needed station modernization at Pape and Dufferin subway stations.

Without additional, committed, long-term funding, there is a $2.3 billion capital budget shortfall over the next 10 years starting in 2012. The TTC will work with the City to secure additional provincial and federal government commitments to meet its capital budget needs. With system expansion and increased ridership, stable, long-term capital funding is essential for North America’s third largest transit system to not only meet expansion demands, but address its state of good repair needs.

Fare Schedule

Proposed 10-cent fare increase

Adult	Current Fare	Proposed Fare
Cash	$3.00	$3.00 (unchanged)
Token	$2.50	$2.60
Weekly Pass	$36.00	$37.25
Regular Metropass	$121.00	$126.00
VIP	$107.00	$111.25
MDP	$111.00	$115.50

Senior/Student
Cash	$2.00	$2.00 (unchanged)
Ticket	$1.65	$1.75
Weekly Pass	$28.00	$29.75
Regular Metropass	$99.00	$104.00
MDP	$89.00	$94.00

Child
Cash	$0.75	$0.75 (unchanged)
Ticket	$0.55	$0.55 (unchanged)

Day Pass	$10.00	$10.50

GTA Pass (TTC Portion)	$28.00	$29.00

Post-Secondary Student Metropass	$99.00	$104.00

Proposed route changes

The following route changes are recommended for implementation on March 27, 2011. These changes are required to allow the TTC to increase service on routes where it is needed most due to record-level ridership. These improvements will be implemented in September 2011.

5 AVENUE RD – No service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

61 AVENUE RD NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

6 BAY – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.

9 BELLAMY – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

8 BROADVIEW – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

120 CALVINGTON – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. No service on Sundays and holidays.

20 CLIFFSIDE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

42 CUMMER – No service east of Kennedy Road after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service east of Kennedy Road on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

127 DAVENPORT – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

105 DUFFERIN NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

26 DUPONT – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.

32 EGLINTON WEST – No 32D (Eglinton West Stn-Jane & Emmett) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No 32D (Eglinton West Stn-Jane & Emmett) service after 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. No 32A (Eglinton Stn-Renforth & Skymark) service west of Renforth on Saturdays.

15 EVANS – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

33 FOREST HILL – No service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

135 GERRARD – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

14 GLENCAIRN – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.

122 GRAYDON HALL – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.

169 HUNTINGWOOD – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays. No service on Sundays and holidays.

110 ISLINGTON SOUTH – No service on Horner Avenue or Browns Line to Long Branch Loop after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

43 KENNEDY – No 43B (Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn via Progress) service after 7:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No 43B (Kennedy Stn-Scarborough Centre Stn via Progress) service on Sundays and holidays.

30 LAMBTON – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

162 LAWRENCE-DONWAY – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.

56 LEASIDE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. No service west of Laird Drive to Eglinton Station Sunday/holiday daytime.

51 LESLIE – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

59 MAPLE LEAF – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

130 MIDDLEFIELD – No service after 10:00 p.m., every day.

132 MILNER – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

116 MORNINGSIDE – No 116A/E (Kennedy Stn-UofT Scarborough Express/Conlins) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No 116A/E (Kennedy Stn-UofT Scarborough Express/Conlins)service on Saturday, Sundays, and holidays.

62 MORTIMER – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

74 MT PLEASANT – No service after 7:00 p.m., every day.

103 MT PLEASANT NORTH – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

72 PAPE – No 72A service south of Eastern Avenue to Commissioners and Union Station after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday, September-May. No 72A service south of Eastern Avenue to Commissioners and Union Station after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays, September-May.

101 PARC DOWNSVIEW PARK – No service, September-May.

167 PHARMACY NORTH – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.

80 QUEENSWAY – No off peak service east of Humber Loop, every day. No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

48 RATHBURN – No service after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

73 ROYAL YORK – No 73B (Royal York Stn-Eglinton & La Rose) service after 7:00 p.m., every day.

76 ROYAL YORK SOUTH – No 76B (Royal York Stn-Queensway & Grand Ave) service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. No 76B (Royal York Stn-Queensway & Grand Ave) service on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

78 ST ANDREWS – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

86 SCARBOROUGH – No off peak 86D (Kennedy Stn-Beechgrove via Lawrence) service. Service on 86D (Kennedy Stn-Beechgrove via Lawrence) to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.

115 SILVER HILLS – No off peak service. Service to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.

60 STEELES WEST – No off peak service west of Martin Grove to Highway 27. Service west of Martin Grove to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.

124 SUNNYBROOK – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

55 WARREN PARK – No service after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

94 WELLESLEY – No service west of Wellesley Station after 10:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

112 WEST MALL – No 112C (Kipling Stn-Disco Rd) service north of Eglinton Avenue after 10:00 p.m., Saturdays. No 112C (Kipling Stn-Disco Rd) service north of Eglinton Avenue after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays.

98 WILLOWDALE-SENLAC – No service after 10:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday. No service after 7:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays. No service east of Sheppard-Yonge Station, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

96 WILSON – No 96C/F off peak service to Tandridge Crescent or Thistle Down Boulevard. Service on 96C (York Mills Stn-Tandridge & Thistle Down via Albion) to Tandridge Crescent or Thistle Down Boulevard to operate Monday-Friday morning and afternoon peak only.