TOinTransit: Coalition to meet with Metrolinx over Union-Pearson Express
A coalition of airport workers and transit advocates will meet on Thursday with a high-ranking Metrolinx official to discuss concerns for the Union Pearson Express (UPX) air rail link.
A coalition of airport workers and transit advocates will meet on Thursday with a high-ranking Metrolinx official to discuss concerns for the Union Pearson Express (UPX) air rail link.
UPX President Kathy Haley has agreed to sit down with representatives from the coalition, which includes the Toronto Airport Council of Unions, the Clean Train Coalition and TTCriders, a spokesperson for the group confirmed late last week. In addition to demanding fares comparable with the TTC for the service, the coalition wants to see UPX electrified and expanded beyond its initial four-stop route. It’s scheduled to launch next spring.
•Announcing #grumpyrider campaign
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
TTCriders has launched its latest social media campaign, calling on fed-up transit commission users to post grumpy "selfies" in reaction to the latest delay in service.
"Next time you’re feeling grumpy on the TTC snap and send a #grumpyrider selfie to us and our elected officials at City Hall and Queen’s Park," says the group in a press release. "Our elected officials need to understand the collective frustration Toronto’s 1.7 million riders feel when we face overcrowding, delays, breakdowns, long wait times and more on the TTC."
For more information on the campaign check out TTCriders.ca
• WiFi marches on in TTC
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Another four transit stations have wireless internet, the TTC announced last week.
Dundas, Queen, King and Union stations are now part of the burgeoning TConnect network, which is accessible from subway platforms for free after viewing an advertisement. The stations join Bloor-Yonge, St. George, Bay, Wellesley and College, with more downtown stations scheduled to go online before the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
WiFi provider BAI Canada has pledged to have the entire TTC subway network hooked up with the service by 2017.
• Presto on new TTC streetcars
Presto is now available on the new TTC streetcars.
The preloaded fare card allows riders to pay by "tapping on" at specially-designed access portals. It launched on two of the TTC’s sleek new streetcars last Sunday, the only vehicles operated by transit commission to offer the service. A third TTC streetcar, which just recently began running on the 510 Spadina tracks, will also offer Presto in the near future, although it will still be several more years before Presto is fully available on all TTC vehicles.
Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transit reporter. His column appears every Thursday. Follow him on Twitter @TOinTransit.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation