Darkest Day in Toronto Transit History Could be Just Around the Corner

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Toronto, Ontario - As "going green" is all the rage and saving the environment is the thing to do, the TTC is facing major cutbacks that will no doubt affect millions of riders.

These cutbacks, however may see the close of the Sheppard Subway line that stretches across the northern part of Toronto. Costing Toronto residents $1 billion to build five years ago, the 6.4 km route has seen it's ridership drop off in recent years.

It will be a sad day to see this part of the TTC close it's doors and I wonder if this is the best option? Is this a cry for help?

As Adam Giambrone said :

"This is extremely traumatic. There will be dramatic affects on everyone that uses the TTC."

Some of the surface lines that may be hit by this are: "the 26 Dupont, 67 Pharmacy and 120 Calvington routes."

Chopping the surface routes could save $1 million this year and $10 million next year, he added. The service halt isn't expected for at least a few months.

Is this the smartest thing to do? How will this help save $100 million in 2008? With the burbs being affected, I wonder how people living there will continue to "green" themselves while these lines are cut and the subway discontinued altogether?

Apparently the Sheppard Line is one of the least used areas of the TTC route, with only 40,000 riders each day. This is less than some of the bus routes in Toronto, however, this announcement comes at a time when ridership is actually up on the Sheppard line.

Giambrone has been accused of fear mongering while he insists that property taxes will rise 10% next year and that the shortfall next year will need to be covered somehow.

"It appears that this is an approach to scare people, that this is the only answer, and it shows a lack of creativity and a lack of innovation," said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong.

From what I remember, the last time the TTC had major cuts, the riders suffered the most. Green was not on their mind then and I wonder if it is now? Eventually the TTC recovered and even added the new Sheppard Subway Line, a godsend to those in the burbs who do not drive. Things were looking up.

But now what? If Toronto is to remain the metropolis that it is, their transit system should be a reflection of that, while offering it's people and the tourist industry an efficient and inexpensive alternative to driving.

I wonder how many more people will put their cars back on the roads should these cutbacks actually happen. If I recall, last time this happened, they did eventually find the money to save the day, but I wonder... is this a sign of the time or a cry for help?