TOinTRANSIT: GO Transit set to hike fares

For the first time, GO wants fares to be determined by calculating total distance traveled. For example, the minimum cost of $5.20 for a one way trip would increase by 10 cents, while it will cost 50 additional cents compared to 2014 for fares exceeding $8.25.

All told, the fare hike works out to an average of five per cent compared to 2014.

BIKE SHARE GETS NEW CORPORATE SPONSOR

Toronto’s city-operated bike share service has a new corporate sponsor and, it would seem, long-term viability.

This week Mayor John Tory announced TD Bank will partner with Bike Share Toronto, a move he vowed would allow the cash-strapped bike rental service to remain sustainable for at least the next two years.

Despite record ridership Bike Share, when it was known as BIXI Toronto, still needed a bailout in 2013 from council to not default on a city-backed loan of some four million dollars. Last year BIXI also reported it could not meet its annual operating expenses of $400,000.

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Terms of the new sponsorship deal were not disclosed.

TTCRIDERS ANNOUNCE BEST AND WORST

The advocacy group TTCriders announced the winners of its annual awards showcase commemorating the naughty and nice when it comes to transit.

TTC CEO Andy Byford was named 2014’s Transit Champion for his efforts pushing for better transit funding. He accepted the award in person at TTCriders’ end-of-year party Thursday, Dec. 4.

As the head of the only G8 country without federal dedicated funding for transit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was named Transit Troll of the year beating out Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Doug Ford and Giorgio Mammoliti for the ‘honour’.

TTCriders chair Brenda Thompson said the group will campaign in 2015 to make transit funding a key federal election issue.

TTC WON’T MEET GROWTH TARGETS

Despite beating last year’s all-time high the TTC will not meet its ridership growth projections for 2014.

The transit commission had hoped to reach a threshold of 540 million rides this year, representing growth of 3 per cent from 2013, but it’s expected to fall five million short. In his monthly performance report to the TTC board, Byford said 2014’s final ridership tally will still exceed last year’s record total of 525 million rides.

TTC revenues were also down slightly this year, which was offset by much lower than projected fuel and hydro costs.

The TTC will present its 2015 budget calculations in January.

Rahul Gupta is Metroland Media Toronto’s transit reporter. His column appears every Thursday. Follow him on Twitter @TOinTransit