For those unfamiliar with the public transportation system in Toronto, let me just say that as far as rapid transit goes, it may be among the worst in all of North America for a city of it’s size. For the most part, our subway system has no grown in the past 3 or 4 decades and has not remotely kept up with the growth of the city. It does not have nearly the coverage it should and has made it near impossible to get to certain important locations throughout the city. If anyone has ever taken public transit from the Toronto International airport to downtown, they know exactly what i’m referring to. However, as 0f 2008, the government of Ontario committed nine billion dollars to greatly improving the Toronto public transit system including eight new light rail lines calling the project Transit City. While these light rail lines will not be as rapid as a subway system, they are far more economic and still far quicker than a bus. These lines greatly increase the coverage of rapid transit throughout the city to such places as the airport.
However, recently, this budget has been cut in half putting the entire project in jeopardy, even after development has already started. So where does this leave us? Apparently, in a very similar state we were before the project began. As a Torontonian who frequently takes public transit, it is a very difficult thing to hear. There has already been numerous events, groups and coalitions built to stop these massive budget cuts. So what can you do? Well, you can go here: TTCriders.ca where they will give you information on how to either phone or email the government of Ontario letting them know how you feel about these budget cuts.
