Amazing to see how things have changed. In 1986 the TTC was the best public transit systems in North America; fast forward 30 years later and you put it on a list of one of the worst in North America.
Now now........lets not exaggerate on the downside.
The TTC has many issues.
It certainly suffers from overcrowding, many of its older stations are overdue for their first reno, or to get their first reno fixed.......
There could be better amenities, particularly retail; and innovation is a tad pokey.
All that said..........anyone who has traveled around North America should be able to tell you the TTC is probably still the best overall system out there.
I'd accept Montreal as being in the running, but that's about it.
Nowhere else outside of NYC has even remotely comparable service levels. Sure LA has prettier stations, but a subway outside rush hour can be a 20min. wait. Ridership volumes there are so low
that almost no subway would ever have been built by Toronto standards.
NYC while much improved in terms of cleanliness and reduced graffiti continues to have stations that are, for the most part, barely above open sewer in appearance, style or condition. (or smell).
Many of NYCs signally systems are older than Toronto's, few stations are accessible and transfers to surface routes far less comfortable.
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None of that is to excuse the TTCs many shortcomings, but worst in North America? Hardly.