ssiguy2
Senior Member
Zones are a good idea but only work well when there are very few transit agencies. Toronto has a ridiculous amount of transit agencies. The reason it works well in Vancouver is because we only have one transit agency greatly helped by the fact that most of the boundaries are clearly defined by physical barriers such as water. It's easy to know you are crossing a boundary when you cross a bridge. Transit agencies in the GTAH act like fiefdoms and zones are not optional with such parochial systems.
The very worst idea, by a long shot, is paying by the type of service except commuter rail {not RER} which is easily distinguishable by both types of trains and service provided. If you want to bring rapid transit expansion to a screeching halt then that's the best way to do it. Ridership on the subways/RT would plunge while ridership on streetcars/buses would soar beyond their abiity to provide service. If you think bunching is a problem with buses/streetcars now just wait if they were to bring in extra fares for subway/RT. People would actually fight to STOP expansion of the subway system as they know it would increase their fares and yet reduce their bus service. People will ALWAYS gravitate to the cheaper service as shown by the lousy ridership levels of GO within Toronto itself even though GO for suburbanites getting down/crosstown is much faster. Most transit users, especially those further from downtown are very price sensitive..............they can't afford to live downtown where the service is best and yet still can't afford a car.
The very worst idea, by a long shot, is paying by the type of service except commuter rail {not RER} which is easily distinguishable by both types of trains and service provided. If you want to bring rapid transit expansion to a screeching halt then that's the best way to do it. Ridership on the subways/RT would plunge while ridership on streetcars/buses would soar beyond their abiity to provide service. If you think bunching is a problem with buses/streetcars now just wait if they were to bring in extra fares for subway/RT. People would actually fight to STOP expansion of the subway system as they know it would increase their fares and yet reduce their bus service. People will ALWAYS gravitate to the cheaper service as shown by the lousy ridership levels of GO within Toronto itself even though GO for suburbanites getting down/crosstown is much faster. Most transit users, especially those further from downtown are very price sensitive..............they can't afford to live downtown where the service is best and yet still can't afford a car.
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