The TTC will make improvements in several routes in January 2014. Many of the changes are small-scale “tweaks” and we have yet to see system-wide benefits from the fare increase that will take effect on January 1.
The Service Budget does show some increase over past years.
January Vehicle Hours of Service Per Week 2010 159,288 2011 160,187 2012 160,830 2013 163,148 2014 167,118 (Budget, unchanged from Nov. 2013)
The values above do not include construction services, that is, additional vehicle hours required to accommodate construction projects which vary from year to year. Although some construction-related costs are charged to the capital budget, construction service takes buses and operators that are not available for regular service. In a year with many construction projects, this can delay the onset of service improvements elsewhere.
Despite budgetary constraints, the TTC was able to increase service in 2013 because its actual costs for 2012 were below budget. The 2013 subsidy was “flat lined” at the 2012 level, but the effect on an “as spent” basis was that the subsidy dollars rose in 2013, and the burden of additional service did not fall entirely on the farebox.
In 2014, there is a real dollar increase in the subsidy coupled with higher fares.
Route Changes Due To Construction Projects
504 King, 503 Kingston Road and 303 Don Mills Night Bus
Construction on the King Street approach to the bridge at the Don River will take longer than originally expected, and diversions will now remain in place until April, according to the TTC’s diversion notice.
72 Pape and 172 Cherry
Construction downtown has made for unreliable operation of the integrated service on Pape and its longer branch via Commissioners Street to downtown. Pending completion of the construction (mainly the work at Union Station), the route will be split.
72 Pape will operate from Pape Station to Cherry & Commissioners looping via Cherry, Villiers and Munition Streets.
172 Cherry will operate from St. Andrew Station to Cherry & Commissioners and will use the same loop as 72 Pape.
On Sunday evenings, matching existing schedules, there will be no service on 172 Cherry, and the 72 Pape route will terminate at Eastern & Carlaw.
97 Yonge
Water main repairs on Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard will disrupt the 97 Yonge bus. The route will be split with overlapping services:
- Steeles to Lawrence Station (all hours)
- Davisville Station to York Mills Station (all hours)
- Queen’s Quay to York Mills Station (peak only)
Midday service between Davisville and St. Clair stations will be discontinued.
Steve Munro 