Yesterday, I must have been extremely bored at the North York library…because I went downstairs to check out the TTC Meeting on proposed route changes. “Route changes” could be more accurately described as “route reductions”. Basically, they are just stopping service at 10pm instead of 1am on about 40 of the bus routes.
I’ve seen the ads in the Metro Newspaper saying that there are public TTC meetings going on all week. I have never been to one, but I kind of imagined it to be a couple of TTC speakers at a table and a room full of reporters (and dedicated citizens) asking questions. In fact, I even thought that there would be refreshments!
To my disappointment, the meeting was pretty much just a room with about 40 posters showing what the route changes are. The info on the posters were pretty much identical to the info on their website.
Sample:
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.
(times 37 other routes)
There were also some TTC workers standing in front of the posters answering questions and giving out comment forms. I wouldn’t call the event a meeting. It was just an info session for people that don’t have the internet or just want a human to relay the info to them.
I don’t think it’s worth it to attend these meetings. You tell the TTC surveyor that service ends at 10pm, but your shift ends at 11pm. Some will write stuff down on their notepad, while others will just “remember” to bring it up with the people in charge. As the TTC surveyor has no power, once the meeting is over, they can pretty much throw away their notepad and your comment cards. It’s a way to console the public after giving bad news.
I think the TTC is run in a really bad way, but as normal Toronto citizens, there’s not much we can do about it.
Entrance. Get a comment card from the nice lady:

Posters of the route changes aka reductions:

More posters, and a poser!?!:
