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Everything Old Is New Again

My friend Ed Drass just sent me a puff piece from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) about the impending opening of their new inter-terminal shuttle.  Read all about it here.  [This link is no longer active.]

What amuses me immensely is the propulsion technology.  The cars are pulled along by a “rope” to which they are attached.  There is only one unit on each of two tracks and so collisions are impossible.

We technically savvy railfan types will recognize this as a blend of elevator and cablecar technology.  Just think of the tourism potential if they hadn’t built an automated system!  In my mind’s eye, I see GTAA staff, in a period conductor’s uniform with the title “gripman” (or maybe “gripperson” to be more 21st century about it).  The cars could have lovely wooden trim, bench seats, and running-boards for the adventurous riders.

Might be a bit chilly for those interterminal transfers in February, but maybe we could have a summer and a winter fleet.

Hmmm … this sounds like the sort of high-tech transit the Urban Transportation Development Corporation would lap up.  A new world-beating technology!  Just in time to replace the Scarborough RT!

[We will return to our regular, curmudgeonly programming later this week with a look at next Wednesday’s TTC meeting.]

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Rick Ducharme Resigns From TTC (Updated)

[Updated June 8, 7:30 am]

The TTC has accepted Rick Ducharme’s resignation effective immediately.  Gary Webster, the General Manager of Operations, has been named interim Chief General Manager pending a formal search for Ducharme’s replacement.  I’m not sure that “congratulations” are appropriate under the circumstances, but I wish Gary Webster well. 

He is the best choice of potential internal candidates for the position, and I hope that the Commission will let him do his job.  We cannot afford to lose another seasoned member of TTC management who actually understands how the system works.

I am not going to duplicate the many comments from other sites and leave it to readers to track down media coverage.  However, I have started on a long post with questions for everyone:  the union, the Commission, Council and the Mayor on what their positions really are and what the future holds for the TTC.  Stay tuned. Continue reading →

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To Scoff or Not To Scoff? (Updated)

Three comments originally posted here were on the subject of the TTC strike on May 29th.  I have moved them to the post specifically dealing with that issue.  If you want to comment on the strike, please do so there as it makes my editing job simpler.  If you want to talk about fare collection issues, please comment here.  Thanks. 

Sometimes, events unfold in unexpected ways.  What seemed like a bit of late afternoon trivia has turned into front page news. Continue reading →

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Old Wine in Old Bottles

Today the Feds were on hand to announce funding of the Union Station expansion.  Shhh.  It’s a secret.  This contract was awarded at the TTC meeting in April and tendered much earlier.  You were not supposed to notice.  Ottawa is trying to convince Toronto that they love us.

Earlier today, I was on CBC’s Ontario Today show talking about this announcement and its implications for transit in Toronto and surrounding communities.  Here is a precis of my position. Continue reading →

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Streetcar Fleet Planning

May’s TTC meeting included a comprehensive presentation on the streetcar fleet situation in response to the Commission’s clear desire to proceed with plans for new cars as soon as possible.  The intent is to take this presentation (along with the Bus Fleet Plan described in a separate post) to Budget Advisory Committee on June 9, to Policy & Finance on June 20, and to Council on June 27.  Continue reading →