[Transportfan]

Agreed. I haven't read anything to confirm that. Although with Presto and mandatory tap-outs, I'd suspect it would be pretty easy to manage. Tap on at VMC or Hwy 407 Stations and get the TTC fare deducted. Tap off at York U and get the TTC fare reimbursed, if your YRT/BT/GO transfer window is still active.

But how would that work for riders who pay cash? It would have to be Presto only I'd think as there would be nothing to stop people transferring from YRT from just entering the system and going anywhere.

 

[Leo_Chan]

But how would that work for riders who pay cash? It would have to be Presto only I'd think as there would be nothing to stop people transferring from YRT from just entering the system and going anywhere.

Adding tap on and off for certain things will fix this. Entering a station, exiting a station, entering a bus, entering a streetcar, entering a LRT, exiting a LRT. Of course, this the the inevitable plan for transit, which is probably not going to happen in our lifetimes (in Toronto that is).

 

[11th]

But how would that work for riders who pay cash? It would have to be Presto only I'd think as there would be nothing to stop people transferring from YRT from just entering the system and going anywhere.

TTC will probably assume that as a $3.25 "surcharge" for using cash.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

No, it shouldn't be, because the TTC not only lacks money to spare on ancillary niceties such as that, they're badly lacking money to run service properly. Once we get the existing services in the city running even remotely well, and then once we get all of these added services running well, and once we have extra money to spare, then maybe we can focus on well-dressed attendants.

I beg to differ on this - professionalism matters. Customer-facing staff not bothering to present themselves properly are not likely going to be inclined to take the rest of their job before the public seriously either. It is a must, not a should. It probably won't fly (just look at the drug test kerfuffle) - but I would love to see appearance check prior to start of workday at the TTC.

I think it will become a sort of break room for them or they might have a supervisor on duty at them or something like that.

Presumably they still need space to monitor the rest of the station (via CCTV), address customer inquiries/complaints (which translates into some kind of booth) and deal with minor technical issues.

AoD

 

[Transportfan]

TTC will probably assume that as a $3.25 "surcharge" for using cash.

Then cash-payers going elsewhere would still get a free ride because they didn't pay the fare itself.

 

[Zach6668]

The Crosstown "Station Attendant Booths" are not for fare collection, but they are designed in such a way that the Station Attendant can have a good line of sight of the fare lines, and possibly (probably) even CCTV screens of other areas. Notice in the rendering above, there's no access right in front of the attendant like there would be today. Also, some stations have multiple entrances, but have a booth positioned in a way that both are visible, where possible.

 

[kEiThZ]

No, it shouldn't be, because the TTC not only lacks money to spare on ancillary niceties such as that, they're badly lacking money to run service properly. Once we get the existing services in the city running even remotely well, and then once we get all of these added services running well, and once we have extra money to spare, then maybe we can focus on well-dressed attendants.

Ummm. I'm not sure why you think this some huge undertaking.

Attendants are coming. As soon as fare collection shifts. What I'd like to see are collectors trained for service, not just a secondary job when they are injured and can't operate a vehicle.

This would include things like local area awareness, tourism promotion, etc. Those staff elsewhere can tell me how to get to the tourist trap I want to attend, what's the best way to get there, what else is happening in the city and what are my transit options. Quite often, in major cities, some attendants speak a second language. All of the above should not take more than a few weeks of training. And simply enforced grooming standards.

What will have to change is the mentality that these are transit workers meant to collect fares and not customer service meant to help residents and visitors find their way in the city. Heck, I'd support relocating the booths away from the immediate vicinity of the gates. And perhaps even getting rid of the safety glass. After all, they're not handling money any more. Just brochures.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

What will have to change is the mentality that these are transit workers meant to collect fares and not customer service meant to help residents and visitors find their way in the city. Heck, I'd support relocating the booths away from the immediate vicinity of the gates. And perhaps even getting rid of the safety glass. After all, they're not handling money any more. Just brochures.

On another note - TTC apparently has station managers - have anyone ever seen one hanging about the station doing visual checks ever? Or rush hour monitoring? If not, why not? I mean, what else are station managers supposed to do otherwise?

AoD

 

[rbt]

I mean, what else are station managers supposed to do otherwise?

Restart escalators without needing to call someone from central office or wait for a fare collector to become available (whenever relief staff shows up), relieve fare collectors during short breaks (like bathroom breaks), pull down old notices, put up new notices, inspect and report on things in need of repair, do a general walk-through for cleanliness, etc.

Their main job is to get notice stuff that needs to be fixed and follow up with other staff (like janitors, contractors, escalator/elevator repair crews) until it is actually fixed.

I haven't seen an out of service escalator in a while (except when being worked on of course) so they must be doing something because those were all over the place a few years ago.

 

[11th]

Then cash-payers going elsewhere would still get a free ride because they didn't pay the fare itself.

By surcharge I meant they will make cash payment ineligible for free transfer onto subway..

 

[Transportfan]

I knew that. I was just having a brain fart when I posted that joke reply.

 

[Richard White]

On another note - TTC apparently has station managers - have anyone ever seen one hanging about the station doing visual checks ever? Or rush hour monitoring? If not, why not? I mean, what else are station managers supposed to do otherwise?

AoD

They have a bit of a reputation. I have heard stories from operators working out of Warden Station that they pretty much hide until something major like a Priority One, Plan E, F or G occur etc. At Warden they have a room next to the loading stairwell of Bay 9 where they huddle down for most of the day. My understanding from a family member who works as an operator is that they tend to be more reactionary.

One operator from my understanding nearly got written up for "correcting" a station manager when it came to them telling senior operators how to do their jobs (with the station managers never having operated a vehicle in their life). It was last winter and this particular operator had left his bus running in the middle of the bay while he used the washroom. The Station Manager complained about the bus idling in the bay. The operator informed the station manager of the temperature, effect of temperature on a bus (when turned off) and need to use the washroom at which point the station manager got upset at the correction so to speak.

I have also heard stories where they park in short term parking spots for the entire day at Warden because they are closer to the station. They feel as though because they are station managers that they can park in spots that are prohibited for use by TTC employees.

The best rumour by far though is that the Station Manager at Warden got her son hired on as some sort of supervisor/station manager position without experience or qualification based on her position. That son was later caught misusing TTC property (company issued tablet) by watching pornography and fired. This is a rumour that has been mentioned by a few different operators I know.

 

[someMidTowner]

They have a bit of a reputation.

Today on TTCMZ

 

[salsa]

Looking at some of the pictures of Vaughan station, I feel that it's an awfully long walk to transfer between the Viva buses and the YRT terminal. It reminds me of the Line 1 Spadina subway to streetcar connection. They had a blank slate to work with and this is the best they could do?

Oh, and the official terminal name is "SmartCentres Terminal at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station".

 

[Megaton327]

Looking at some of the pictures of Vaughan station, I feel that it's an awfully long walk to transfer between the Viva buses and the YRT terminal. It reminds me of the Line 1 Spadina subway to streetcar connection. They had a blank slate to work with and this is the best they could do?

Are a large percentage of passengers expected to transfer between YRT and Viva at this station? I would imagine that most of the transfers here will be between the subway and either Viva or YRT.