Day: May 17, 2014

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TTC Service Changes Effective May 11, 2014 (Update 4)

The May 2014 schedules will bring major changes across the system mainly in response to construction projects.  Extra running time will be provided on many routes in response to construction delays.  At some times, the current headway will be maintained, while at others the headway will be stretched.  In two cases (46 Martin Grove and 94 Wellesley), no buses are available to improve PM peak service to compensate for extra running time.

The budget for construction-related service is considerably less than what will actually be required.  Although the total hours operated will be greater than the budget for May, “regular” service will be below budget while “construction” more than compensates.  Some changes in the fleet and in service levels have been deferred until later in 2014.

2014.05.11_Service_Changes

This table is broken into four sections listing miscellaneous minor changes, construction-related changes, one route restructuring and seasonal changes.

Updated May 17, 2014:

Effective Tuesday, May 20, the diversions for the Queen & Victoria track project will be changed.

  • All westbound 501 Queen cars will divert via Church-King-York.
  • 501/502/503 shuttle bus services will terminate at Church Street.

The details are on the TTC service advisory page (scroll down to see the portion effective May 20).

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TTC & Unions Ratify Four-Year Contract

The TTC and its various union groups have ratified a four-year contract that will carry through to March 31, 2018. This mediated settlement avoids the need for arbitration which would occur given that the TTC has “essential service” designation, along with the danger for each party that an imposed settlement might not be to their favour.

Coming during both a municipal and provincial election campaigns, this is sure to spark comment, if not outright hostility, in some quarters given that the bulk of the employees in ATU Local 113 will receive 8.25% over the four-year span of the contract. The new agreement provides improved job security and limitations to contracting out, but the details were not included in the TTC’s announcement. According to the ATU’s website, the ban on contracting out is 100%.

The TTC projects that the cost of this agreement will be about $196-million over the four-year term.

The big challenge now for the TTC is to improve the quality of service it provides on the street. This will touch on policy issues at the top of the TTC and at City Council, as well as on planning and management, including a much more open and honest discussion about how service actually runs today and what can be done to improve it.

Note: I am leaving this post open to comments, but will delete any abusive material or polemics.