[nfitz]

IIRC, property taxes in Chicago are 2-3x our rates.

Only 2-3 times? Given how low land values are there, I'd have thought more. They must pay a lot less property tax than we do!

 

[trtcttc]

They've done several experiments deploying additional management/oversight to a line, and service (particularly bunching, on-time departures, etc.) noticeably improves every time. It's not a cheap solution but it's one of the few experiments that's been reliably successful.

You might argue automated electronic oversight can do the same thing but when you look closer you find they already have that; every driver already regularly gets information telling them whether they ahead or behind schedule.

I think you’ve kind of answered where the problem is. If additional oversight seems to be so helpful, and the electronic means are there, it seems like the issue is the drivers are not following that digital information the TTC has paid for. Somehow after all this digitization, the TTC that is so sorely underfunded it has to pay someone to stand at a street corner manually recording the streetcar times on a notebook.
Similarly, we’ve paid for (in $ and in closures) for this ATC systems, and the TTC union is fighting tooth and nail to try to argue single operator on the subway is “unsafe” when it is safely operated in systems that’d be many times the size of the TTC. Can we fund the TTC better? Sure, but I think the people these funds are paying for may also be part of the problem. This is not even mentioning the unvaccinated drivers causing safety issues for transit riders, the multi-year insurance fraud, and on and on the list goes.

 

[Jonny5]

The problem is the City alone as it currently is can barely afford to pay for the TTC. Sure its not getting worse (usually) but it hasn't exactly got better either. Unless the City were to increase taxes which is a poison pill to any political campaign nothing will get better. Farebox revenue as well isn't a stable source of income either, yet the TTC is expected to make up a disproportionately large portion of its operating budget using it. Sure the current system more "stable" but the status quo is not helping either, it's more or less just causing us to kick many cans down the road.

You've captured what I think will happen. The province says it will fund 30% of the TTC operating subsidy and the City will cut their funding of the subsidy by 30% because "we can barely afford it" and "taxes are too high already". It's a net zero gain in funds and invites a whole host of problems, unless the province makes the City to agree to some kind of "guaranteed minimum funding," but we've already seen those guarantees can be torn up on a whim any time some Ontario government politicians feel like it because "we can barely afford it" and "taxes are too high already."

I also think this province won't touch it without 100% control and that could mean stuffing it into Metrolinx or something, which is a horrible outcome!

 

[felix123]

The important thing is that it isn't supposed to work like this.
A functioning city (that levies property tax) sets the budget first, and then calculates the mill rate * property tax rate needed to collect enough revenue to cover their services.

If the TTC requires x dollars, the city is supposed to calculate the correct mill rate * property tax rate in order to pay for that line item. They don't say, "we're raising property taxes arbitrarily and then we'll see what we can do with the money."

So if you're a property owner in Toronto, accept whatever increase comes to your already low rate - with a smile and a nod - and feel good that you're helping fund the TTC, and hope that the Crosstown succeeds.

 

[evandyk]

As long as people keep electing politicians whose main campaign plank is no property tax increases higher than the rate of inflation, that's how it's going to be done.

Of course, they did add an "additional levy" (which is not to be referred to as a property tax increase!) a few years ago, which was a good step.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

As long as people keep electing politicians whose main campaign plank is no property tax increases higher than the rate of inflation, that's how it's going to be done.

Of course, they did add an "additional levy" (which is not to be referred to as a property tax increase!) a few years ago, which was a good step.

The bad news is that the users from the 905 only pay the TTC fare, which is 68.0% (2018) of the cost. The remaining 32% of covered by the people and businesses of Toronto. From link.

 

[vic]

Primary residences should be taxed at their realistic value but those investment residences should face more heavy property tax.

Wouldn't this end up shifting higher taxes to renters? I thought this was an issue that people already complain about (though I don't really know the details myself).

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

One of the many reasons for closing Line 1 on weekends was because of the construction of the new station under the Eglinton Station for Line 5. However, there was also construction on the Line 1's Eglinton Station box itself. Unless changed from the original plans, they were planning to extend the station box on Line 1 northward.

See link, dated November 17, 2013.

I haven't heard of any plans to shift the station boxes for any interchange stations for the Ontario Line.

 

[robmausser]

One of the many reasons for closing Line 1 on weekends was because of the construction of the new station under the Eglinton Station for Line 5. However, there was also construction on the Line 1's Eglinton Station box itself. Unless changed from the original plans, they were planning to extend the station box on Line 1 northward.

See link, dated November 17, 2013.

I haven't heard of any plans to shift the station boxes for any interchange stations for the Ontario Line.

I think this was canned, I dont think they are going this anymore. From what I recall, the platform is simply being extended a little bit, and thats it.

Someone correct me if im wrong.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

I think this was canned, I dont think they are going this anymore. From what I recall, the platform is simply being extended a little bit, and thats it.

Someone correct me if im wrong.

The only reference I could find was in Wikipedia, from this link.

In November 2013, the TTC originally proposed to shift the current Line 1 platform approximately 70 m northward of its current location. Such a change would have allowed smoother flows of passenger traffic between the platforms for Lines 1 and 5, and avoided a situation where all transferring passengers are bottlenecked by only one transfer path, similar to the busy Bloor–Yonge station. The pocket track at the north end of the station would have had to be abandoned. However, this proposal was modified by March 2018 to shift the Line 1 platform north by only 24 m, allowing the pocket track to be retained. In the new area there will be an elevator and escalators down to the Line 5 concourse. At the south end of the platform, the elevator and stairs to the south station entrance will be retained but the platform edge will be walled off in this area.

While only 24m shift northward, that still means why we had Line 1 closures on the weekends.

 

[robmausser]

The only reference I could find was in Wikipedia, from this link.



While only 24m shift northward, that still means why we had Line 1 closures on the weekends.

I cant believe I remembered that but dont know what I had for breakfast yesterday....

Line 1 closures are also for ATC upgrades and for other work not involving the shift in platform length but the work under and around for the Crosstown station that would have been dangerous to do with trains running above. Typically you don't remove temporary support columns while trains with hundreds of people in them are whizzing above.

 

[drum118]

Dec 7
Finally caught an LRV on Eglinton. 6260 + 6262 LRV were sitting at Birchmount Station MU while waiting for clearance to test Kennedy Station. Also got to see the areas where grass has been added west of Victoria to DVP.

The stations I saw have finally have their ramp pour with grey concrete.

Still a lot of work to be done. Either they removed grass next to the rails and replace it or the LRV are putting a grove in it. Looks like grass still has to be place at Victoria.

 

[drum118]

The only reference I could find was in Wikipedia, from this link.



While only 24m shift northward, that still means why we had Line 1 closures on the weekends.

Shifting the platform north would have some impact on the crossover/pocket track from what I was seeing years ago as well the tunnels.

There is a new stair being put in at the north end of Line 1 platform to the Line 5.

If Line 1 platform was being extended, it would started a few years ago. To late to do it now without major shut down not only on weekend but a week at times or more.

 

[turini2]

The grass track damage looks like it's from a road/rail vehicle like this being used as part of construction - the tracks are in the right place. If the LRT was doing that, it would dragging against concrete in other places.

 

[smallspy]

Shifting the platform north would have some impact on the crossover/pocket track from what I was seeing years ago as well the tunnels.

There is a new stair being put in at the north end of Line 1 platform to the Line 5.

If Line 1 platform was being extended, it would started a few years ago. To late to do it now without major shut down not only on weekend but a week at times or more.

They are shifting the platform northward.

In fact, the platform extension to the north is complete. They're now working on all of the various accesses down to the LRT.

Dan