A new transit report card reveals Toronto has the least reliable transit service in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond.
The transit report cards by the Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT) looked at various factors, such as basic service coverage, frequent service coverage, reliability, transit priority measures, 24-hour service, and integration. The board graded municipalities in the GTA, along with Hamilton, Guelph and the regions of Halton and Waterloo. The grades are based on transit data from 2022.
Overall, Toronto received a letter grade of B and a composite score of 69 per cent for its transit system. Toronto and Mississauga tied for the highest grade out of all the municipalities included in the report.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) scored high when it came to frequent service coverage with nearly all residents within walking distance of a bus stop and for basic service coverage which refers to the foundation of the subway system.
TRBOT says the reasoning behind Toronto’s B grade is due to long travel times and lack of fare integration with neighbouring municipal transit services.
Despite its high grade overall, Toronto received the lowest score for transit reliability out of all municipalities, earning only 58 per cent for trips that are on time.
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The other municipalities received over 70 per cent for transit reliability.
In order to obtain an A overall, the report claims there needs to be expanded express bus services where some routes utilize highways, urgent LRT service and a comprehensive strategy to improve reliability across the network, among others.
Furthermore, additional streetcars, more funding, integration, and addressing safety concerns are also necessary towards bettering the transit system.
To keep up with population growth, TRBOT is calling for time, investment and regional collaboration to fill the gaps across transit agencies.
“Without a regionally integrated network with frequent, all-day service, it will be impossible
to efficiently connect people to jobs, housing, and other opportunities,” the report reads.
In terms of regions with the worst grade, Oakville and Milton secured a D- because of its limited transit system.
