August 31, 1998

To:Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council

 From:Gary Welsh, Director, Transportation Services, Works and Emergency Services, District 4

 Subject:1999 Toronto Transit Commission Service Plan

All Scarborough Wards

 Purpose:

 To provide information on the 1999 Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Service Plan.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 Not Applicable.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

(1)That a copy of this report, as adopted by Council, be forwarded to the Toronto Transit Commission before October 28, 1998.

 (2)That the proposal to remove service on the 12 Kingston Rd. route be re-evaluated.

Council Reference/Background/History:

 In previous years, Scarborough Works & Emergency Services staff, with input from Planning and Buildings Department staff, would present our Service Standards Submissions in a report to Scarborough Works and Environment Committee and Council. The requests included in this report would originate from the public, Councillors and City staff. This year TTC Service Planning staff gave the new City of Toronto Councillors the opportunty to submit their service requests directly to the Commission. Furthermore, in spring a public meeting was held to receive further input directly from the TTC patrons.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The Toronto Transit Commission has completed its evaluation of all outstanding requests for improved transit service. The results of its analysis and recommendations are contained in a document entitled "1999 Service Plan". This report was prepared in August 1998 and the TTC is now requesting comments on this Service Plan before October 28, 1998.

The evaluation contained in the 1999 Service Plan includes recommendations from Councillors, TTC staff, TTC customers as well as City of Toronto staff.

The TTC has indicated that the service changes recommended in this Service Plan will "improve service for approximately 10,100 customer-trips each day by reducing the distance that customers need to walk to and from their nearest bus stop, by reducing the numbers of transfers they need to make, or by reducing their travel time." TTC also expects to increase ridership by "approximately 102,000 customer-trips to the TTC each year, and thus increase revenue by approximately $141,000 each year". Staff of the District 4, Transportation Services and the District 4, Urban Planning are supportive of the proposals put forward herein as they relate to service in district 4 unless otherwise indicated.

 A.RECOMMENDED NEW AND REVISED SERVICES

 85 Sheppard East - Direct Service East of Meadowvale Road on weekends (page 15) Wards 14, 17, 18:

 At the request of TTC staff, the possibility of a direct, no transfer ride between Sheppard Station (Yonge-University-Spadina subway) and points east and west of Meadowvale Road was evaluated. Currently, from Monday to Friday, the 85 Sheppard East bus runs between Sheppard Station and the Rouge Hill GO Station. On weekends, the 85 Sheppard East bus runs between Sheppard Station and the Toronto Zoo and then a transfer is required to continue to the Rouge Hill GO station. The route has now been combined so that the bus would run between Sheppard Station and the Rouge Hills GO Station, however the buses will all detour via Meadowvale Road to the Toronto Zoo.

  Approximately 120 customer-trips each Saturday and approximately 90 customer-trips each Sunday would save a transfer. The TTC recommends this improvement since service will be improved without any inconvenience or cost.

 53 Steeles East - New Service on Elson Street East of McCowan Road (page 15) Wards 17, 18:

 TTC staff proposed that the 53 Steeles East bus be extended to Markham Road by looping via McCowan Road, Elson Street (Town of Markham), Markham Road and Steeles Avenue. Currently the bus does a similar loop, however it only proceeds as far east as Middlefield Road. This service will provide a shorter walk for approximately 250 customer-trips each day as opposed to approximately 200 customer-trips who will have a longer walk or a longer travel time.

 The TTC recommends this service change since it will be an overall improved in service for customers.

 68 Warden - Extension to Steeles Avenue (page 16) Wards 13, 14, 17:

 A suggestion from TTC staff to extend the 68 Warden bus from its present on-street loop via Bamburgh Circle to a new off-street loop just north of Steeles Avenue is recommended by the TTC. The advantage of this new loop is that it will provide a convenient transfer to the 53 Steeles East bus and reduce the walking distance for some customers. Specifically, the TTC has indicated that the change would create a shorter walking distance and or wait time for approximately 350 customer-trips each day. Conversely the change will also make service less convenient for approximately 300 customer-trips each day. These would be the customers who are closer to Bamburgh Circle and now will have to walk further to Warden Avenue to use the service. Nonetheless, the TTC has indicated that the change in weighted travel time shows a benefit to customers, and this extension is recommended.

 131 Nugget - New Sunday and Holiday Service (page 18) Wards 15, 16, 18:

 TTC staff proposed that Sunday and Holiday service be provided on the 131 Nugget route. Currently this service is only provided from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., Monday to Friday and 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

 The TTC has stated that "The comparison of the operating costs with the projected increase in ridership indicates that the service would meet the TTC's financial standards, and it is therefore recommended."

 B.SERVICE CHANGES TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

 12 Kingston Rd - Removal of Service east of St. Clair Avenue (page 21) Wards 13, 16:

 The TTC has recommended that the service provided by the 12 Kingston Rd route be removed east of St. Clair Avenue to Morningside Avenue to reduce operating costs. This section of road is currently served by both the 102 Markham Rd and 86 Scarborough routes. While this is the case, to travel on Kingston Road between Morningside Avenue and points west of Brimley Road would now require a transfer of three buses. We understand that removing this service will improve the financial performance of the route however, 380 customer-trips each day will require an additional transfers. It has been brought to our attention by residents living even further east of Morningside Avenue that they are frustrated as they can not conveniently access service to travel on Kingston Road, as the existing bus service is all destined to and from the subway and RT stations.

 District 4, Transportation Services and the District 4, Urban Planning staff do have concerns regarding this removal of service and would ask that the TTC reconsider this proposal. The vision of the Kingston Road Study with respect to a viable retail component does include enhanced continuous bus service along Kingston Road.

 86 Scarborough - Removal of Non-Summer Weekend Service to Toronto Zoo (page 22) Wards 13, 15, 16, 18:

 The TTC is recommending that the weekend service to the Toronto Zoo be removed except during the summer months. The performance of this route, other than during weekends during the summer, does not meet the TTC's financial standard. Service will still be provided during the non-summer weekends by the 85 Sheppard East route. This change will make service less convenient for approximately 50 customer-trips each Saturday and 90 each Sunday.

 Service Reductions on Other Routes (page 24) All Wards:

 The financial performance on the following routes does not meet the TTC's minimum financial standard. These service changes are being made by the TTC to reduce the cost of operation.

 C.OTHER PROPOSALS EXAMINED AND NOT RECOMMENDED

 113 Danforth - Extension to Coxwell Station (page 29) Wards 13,15:

 TTC staff is recommending changes to the 113 Danforth route by extending the operation to the Coxwell Station during the peak periods. Currently the service provides access to the Main Street station. Although this change does not directly impact Scarborough roads, it may improve service for some Scarborough residents who have a destination closer to the Coxwell Station.

 43 Kennedy and 57 Midland - Service to Pacific Mall and Milliken GO Station (page 32) Wards 15, 17:

 As a result of a public meeting that the TTC attended on May 26, 1998, and at the request of TTC staff, the feasibility of amending the north-end loop of both the 43 Kennedy and 57 Midland bus to travel through the Pacific Mall on Steeles Avenue was investigated. On both routes, the TTC has indicated that the inconvenience to customers outweighs the benefits of these new loops, and they are not recommended. The TTC has indicated that they will review opportunities to improve these services following the proposed expansion of the Milliken GO station and road construction projects on Steeles Avenue.

 130 Middlefield - Extension to Tapscott Road (page 33) Ward 15, 18:

 TTC staff suggested that the 130 Middlefield bus operate on Middlefield Road, Passmore Avenue, Dynamic Drive and McNicoll Avenue and that service be removed from Middlefield Road north of Passmore Avenue. The proposal would include extending the 129 McCowan North route east on Steeles Avenue to serve the loop on Middlefield Road and Steeles Avenue. The change is considered to cause an overall inconvenience for customers and is not recommended.

 133 Neilson - Expansion of the North-End Loop (page 33) Wards 15, 16, 18:

 The request from TTC staff was for the 133 Neilson bus service to serve a section of the 132 Milner route during the time periods when that service does not operate. This, however would decrease service on Neilson Road. The review of these options revealed that more customers would be inconvenienced by this amendment then would receive the benefit. As such, as this proposal would cause an overall inconvenience for TTC customers, it is not recommended.

 131 Nugget and 134 Tapscott - Revised Routes (page 33) Wards 15, 18:

 Under this proposal, the amendments proposed by TTC staff would provide new service on Washburn Way during the evenings from Monday to Friday, and would remove service from McLevin Avenue between McCowan Road and Tapscott Road during the same time periods.

  While this would improve service for some customers, it would inconvenience more. As such, the TTC has indicated that the increase in transfers and the increase in waiting time is more important to customers than the reduction in travel time and shorter wait for others. Therefore, this change is not supported.

 67 Pharmacy - Revised Service North of Highway 401 (page 34) Wards 13, 14, 17:

 The TTC staff proposal was to provide bus service between Sheppard Subway Station via Sheppard Avenue and then northbound on Pharmacy Avenue. This would require the elimination of continuous service on the current 67 Pharmacy route between the sections of Pharmacy Avenue both north and south of Highway 401. The TTC's evaluation of this proposal reveals that such an amendment would inconvenience more customers than it would benefit. As such, it was not supported; however, changes to this service will be considered again when connecting bus routes to the Sheppard Subway are planned.

 130 Middlefield - Saturday and Sunday Service (page 39) Wards 15, 18:

 At the request of TTC staff, providing Saturday and Sunday Service on the 130 Middlefield route was examined. The TTC has determined that this service does not meet the minimum financial standard, and this service is not recommended.

 D.POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEWS OF SERVICE CHANGES

 133 Neilson - Expanded North-end Loop (page 41) Wards 15, 18

 In February 1997, the TTC began operating the 133 Neilson route during the evening Monday to Saturday and all day on Sunday and holidays service by looping west on Crow Trail, south on Tapscott Road and then south on Neilson Road. While this amendment improved service for customers travelling to or from stops on Crow Trail and Tapscott Road, it made service less convenient for customers using the 133 Neilson route to travel to or from stops Baldoon Road and Finch Avenue. Overall, however, TTC continues to feel that this change has improved overall transit service for patrons and has recommended that this be a part of their regular service.

 Conclusions:

 This report provides a summary of the 1999 Service Plan as prepared by the TTC. Additional information on these changes can be found in the Service Plan.

      We do not object to the changes proposed by the TTC with the exception of the removal of service on the 12 Kingston Rd route east of St. Clair Avenue. We would ask that the TTC reconsider the removal of this service.

 This report, along with the comments of Community Council and Council should be forwarded to the TTC prior to October 28, 1998.

 Contact Name:

 Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Emergency Services

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca

     Gary H. Welsh

Director

Transportation Services

Works and Emergency Services

District 4

 BDC:ca

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