March 6, 2000

To: Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council

From: Gary H. Welsh, Director, Transportation Services, Works and Emergency

Services, District 4

Subject: Toronto Transit Commission 2000 Service Plan - Follow-Up On Councillors' Comments

All Wards

Purpose:

To provide a summary of a report from the Toronto Transit Commission, that addresses Scarborough Community Council's questions on the 2000 Service Plan.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

At the Scarborough Community Council meeting on February 15, 2000, Transportation Services staff were requested to "submit a report to Scarborough Community Council every three months on the status of the implementation of the 2000 Service Plan as it affects the Scarborough area".

Comments:

The following summarizes the response from Toronto Transit Commission staff, in a report dated January 12, 2000, on comments made by Scarborough Community Council as a result of the 2000 Service Plan:

University of Toronto at Scarborough - Proposals for improved service

As part of the operating budget for 2000, the Commission has approved the funding of improved services to lead and promote ridership growth on the TTC system. Among these services being investigated is a connection between Scarborough Centre Station and the University of Toronto at Scarborough.

Meetings have taken place involving TTC staff, Councillor Balkissoon, Councillor Shaw, representatives of Councillor Moeser and Councillor Soknacki, as well as representatives of the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto Students Administrative Council to discuss this connection.

TTC staff have indicated that if their budget is approved by City Council, then funding for this new service would be available for September, in time for the start of the new academic year at the University. TTC staff will work with University of Toronto staff to evaluate several alternatives to provide this new service and will present recommendations to the Commission in the spring of 2000.

139 Huntingwood - Possible reduction in service

The TTC had originally proposed that the interval between buses on the 139 Huntingwood route be increased from 15-18 minutes to 30 minutes during the peak periods.

This reduction in service is not being recommended at this time. This issue has been deferred for consideration in conjunction with the City's request for reductions in the TTC's operating budget. If the City does not approve the TTC's operating budget, then service reductions may be required.

12 Kingston Road - Proposal for continuous service east of St. Clair Avenue

The removal of continuous service on Kingston Road between Victoria Park Avenue and Morningside Avenue resulted in TTC patrons having to transfer buses to travel between these two locations. Most recently, at the request of Scarborough Community Council, the TTC has evaluated restoring this service during the peak periods.

As one bus would be required to operate this service, resulting in an increase in the operating cost, TTC conducted a financial assessment. As a result of this assessment they have determined that it does not meet the TTC financial standard, and for this reason, the proposal is not recommended.

Nonetheless, this issue will be reviewed again in the 2001 Service Plan, and, in the interim, Councillor Ashton will undertake further consultation with the community.

131 Nugget - Proposal for service north of Old Finch Avenue

On February 14, 2000 the TTC began operating a new north end loop of the 131 Nugget service via Littles Road, Old Finch Avenue and Morningview Trail. In this same vicinity, the TTC also evaluated the provision of service on Old Finch Avenue between Morningside Avenue and Littles Road. This service was not recommended, however, as it would cause an overall inconvenience to customers.

The TTC will be reviewing, as part of the 2001 Service Plan, another proposal in this same area to extend the 131 Nugget or the 116 Morningside route to provide service north of Old Finch Avenue, specifically via Harvest Moon Drive, Casemore Road and Wandering Trail. The 2001 Service Plan will be presented to the Commission in mid-2000.

130 Middlefield Road - Proposal for limited Sunday service

The TTC did not support new Sunday service on the 130 Middlefield route in the 2000 Service Plan as it did not meet their financial standard. However, since this plan was presented Councillor Balkissoon has been assisting TTC staff to gather more data about potential ridership to several religious establishments in the area. Several of the churches and other institutions have conducted surveys of their membership, and have forwarded that information to TTC staff. Additional data are still required from some of the institutions.

Once all of the data are collected, TTC staff will evaluate the proposal again, based on operating costs and projected ridership. If the proposal meets the TTC's financial standard, then TTC staff will prepare a report for the Commission recommending the introduction of a new Sunday service.

67 Pharmacy - Possible reduction in service north of Highway 401

In the 2000 Service Plan, the TTC proposed that the interval between buses on the 67 Pharmacy route be increased from 30 minutes to 60 minutes during the midday from Monday to Friday and from 20 minutes to 40 minutes on Saturdays.

This reduction in service is not being recommended at this time. This issue has been deferred for consideration in conjunction with the City's request for reductions in the TTC's operating budget. If the City does not approve the TTC's operating budget, then service reductions may be required.

68 Warden - Extension to Steeles Avenue

In the 1999 Service Plan, the TTC recommended that the 68 Warden Avenue route be extended to a new bus loop to be constructed on Warden Avenue, north of Steeles Avenue. It is anticipated that this new loop will be constructed by the TTC and Markham Transit in mid-2000, at which time the service will be removed from the current on-street loop on Bamburgh Circle.

The TTC will advertise this route change to patrons by posting notices on bus stops and subway stations. Press releases are prepared by the TTC for the local media, and these press releases are available on the Internet. For this particular route change, TTC staff have attended public meetings and provide information to be included in Councillors' newsletters. TTC staff have indicated that they are not recommending altering their current notification practices unless the City of Toronto provides additional funding for increased marketing and information activities.

Maintaining Minimum Levels of Service

Scarborough Community Council endorsed the policy that the interval between buses on any route should not exceed 30 minutes. The TTC indicated that they will not exceed this standard unless the service has such poor financial performance that it would otherwise be removed. An interval greater than 60 minutes would be used, and this would only occur because a less-frequent service is preferred over complete removal of the service.

The three routes that operate in the Scarborough Community that have been retained, but at an interval greater than 30 minutes, are the 9 Bellamy (All Saturday, Sunday and holiday service), the 17 Birchmount (Sunday and holiday evening service), and the 20 Cliffside (Saturday evening service). The TTC is not recommending removal of these services.

The following table lists the TTC routes in the Scarborough Community with poor economic performance, as identified in the 2000 Service Plan. Reduction in service on these routes is not being recommended at this time. This issue has been deferred for consideration in conjunction with the City's request for reductions in the TTC's operating budget. If the City does not approve the TTC's operating budget, then service reductions may be required.

Conclusions:

This report is presented to update Scarborough Community Council of the status of outstanding requests generated as a result of the TTC's 2000 Service Plan. As directed by Scarborough Community Council, we will update Scarborough Community Council again in three months on the status of the implementation of the 2000 Service Plan. We will also report in the Fall on the 2001 Service Plan, which is traditionally published in August or September.

Contact:

Bruce D. Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services

Tel: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-Mail: clayton@toronto.ca

Gary H. Welsh

Director

Transportation Services

Works and Emergency Services

District 4

BDC:ca

c:\work\reports\scc\serviceplan

D00-003