Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to keep transit running during the pandemic?
The safety of every person depends on safe, accessible public transit right now. Frontline workers in essential services, from health care to grocery stores, are relying on transit to get to work.
Emergency funding is needed to ensure that transit agencies can maintain enough service for transit workers and riders to practice physical distancing. Transit agencies must be supported to purchase adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, provide paid sick days, and halt fare collection, which puts operators and riders at risk with close physical contact.
How much funding is needed?
The Canadian Urban Transit Association is calling for $400 million per month to keep Canadian transit systems running during the pandemic. CUTA is calling for this funding to replace lost farebox revenue for operations for the duration of the pandemic, and until ridership regains February 2020 levels.
Agencies across Canada have seen ridership decline up to 90%. This is putting financial strain on agencies that rely on passenger fares for their operating budgets. In Toronto, where the majority of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)’s operating budget comes from passenger fares (67%), the TTC is losing $23.5 million per week.
Why can’t cities pay for transit?
Many Canadian cities are reporting major financial shortfalls due to the pandemic. Unlike the provincial and federal governments, municipalities cannot legally run deficits to pay for their operating budgets. Even if municipalities were granted the ability to run deficits during the pandemic, they would need to pay back the debt in future years and face a crunch later. Cities should continue to contribute to transit funding, but they cannot do it alone.
Why do we need permanent transit funding?
We need to ensure that there is enough funding so there are no service cuts to transit during and after the pandemic. Transit riders were already dealing with vehicles over capacity, unaffordable fares, and inadequate service before the crisis and we cannot afford fare increases or service cuts.
The federal government made an election promise to create a permanent transit fund and increase annual investments to $3 billion per year. This must be implemented as soon as possible, but capital funding alone won’t keep transit running or affordable. Stable provincial and federal operating funding is needed so that local transit agencies can improve service and lower fares to boost ridership after the pandemic.
How will transit investment help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Historically, transit ridership has remained relatively low during recessions, and agencies have cut service and increased fares in response. To meet our climate goals, we urgently need to shift people from cars to transit.
But people will not switch from driving to public transit unless it is frequent, reliable, and affordable. In a 14-year analysis of 25 transit systems in the US and Canada, researchers at McGill University found that the best way to increase transit ridership is to invest in operations, especially bus service, while limiting fare increases. Every fare increase results in fewer riders. This is why operations funding is needed for local transit agencies.
What kinds of public transit infrastructure does Canada need?
Municipalities across Canada have ambitious plans for rapid transit, accessibility upgrades, and fleet expansion that, if funded, would stimulate the economy, increase transit ridership, and provide good jobs. This could include electric transit vehicle manufacturing in existing facilities that are at risk of full or partial closure, such as the GM Oshawa plant.
This campaign is calling for transit stimulus spending to support publicly owned agencies and assets, so that investment is cost-effective and directly benefits the public, not private firms.
What’s wrong with using the Canada Infrastructure Bank and P3s?
Public-private partnerships cost the public more. A study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that private financing for the CIB could double the cost of infrastructure projects. Ontario’s Auditor General found that public-private partnerships cost Ontario taxpayers $8 billion more than if they had been procured publicly, largely due to higher private sector borrowing costs.
The Canada Infrastructure Bank was mandated to attract private investment for revenue-generating infrastructure projects. The Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) was partially financed by the CIB and is the largest public-private partnership in Québec. Decisions about everything from the route, fares, and operating levels will be determined by private investors, not the public interest.
Read more about transit and privatization:
What is Keep Transit Moving?
Check out the list of campaign supporters here.
This campaign website maintained by TTCriders, a membership-based transit advocacy organization based in Toronto. Does your organization want to endorse the three campaign demands for emergency transit funding during COVID-19, permanent operations funding from provincial and federal governments, and public ownership? Please contact info@ttcriders.ca to add your organization to the list of supporters!