TTC interim CEO Greg Percy is catching heat online for saying that overcrowding on the TTC shows signs of “good service.”
In an interview with the Toronto Star, Percy says he believes that concerns surrounding slow zones are “overplayed” and that riders are more concerned with overcrowding on vehicles and platforms.
He then went on to say that the agency is suffering from “popularity,” and that it wouldn’t have issues of overcrowding if it wasn’t giving good service.
The transit agency has come under fire in recent months with its imposing of slow zones on the subway system, undercover fare inspectors, service cuts to several bus routes, overcrowding on platforms, and long delayed subway and LRT projects.
However, back in September the TTC increased service on streetcar, bus, and subway networks, along with adding six new and revised routes in Scarborough, East Scarborough and Etobicoke.
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Social media users did not take kindly to Percy’s words, many disappointed, and now hoping that “he’s not in the running for the next TTC CEO job.”
“Completely out of touch! Maybe relieve crowding by not having people wait 5 minutes at rush hour,” an X user said.
One Reddit user said, “It feels like his answers have little concern about the user experience, but more about making the TTC look better on paper to people who don’t use the TTC.”
“You have those crowds because of bad, slow service, not because it’s ‘popular,’” another Reddit user explained.
Transit advocacy group TTCriders also expressed dissatisfaction with Percy’s comments. In a statement to Now Toronto, the group says, “transit vehicles are crowded because the TTC is not meeting its crowding standards and is running service less frequently than it should be.”
“When ridership reaches a certain level, service should be added so that transit comes more frequently and there is more room on board,” the statement continued.
The group says overcrowding is also being caused by transit vehicles being bunched, and says it’s advocating for more ‘bus lanes’ to help reduce the problem.
Now Toronto reached out to the TTC for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
Percy was named interim CEO in September after previous CEO Rick Leary resigned. He previously spent time working for Metrolinx, the provincial agency leading huge transit projects such as The Finch West LRT and Eglinton West LRT.
