Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe area media report on public transit issues today.

Greater Toronto Area

• Beach Metro News article, “What if we actually took a smart tack on SmartTrack?”, here.
• CBC News Toronto report, “Random drug testing of TTC employees to start March 1”, here.
• CBC News Toronto report, “Metrolinx doesn’t know why its $15k Presto machines aren’t working”, here.
• CBC News Toronto report, “Giorgio Mammoliti unfurls banner over Gardiner to protest proposed road tolls”, here.
• Globe and Mail column, “Toronto’s highway toll proposal is a war on the car - and it’s about time”, here.
• Globe and Mail commentary, “The upside to road tolls, if done correctly”, here.
• Marshall’s Musings post, “Mapping Toronto’s streetcar network: The horsecar era - 1861 to 1891”, here.
• Marshall’s Musings post, “Unanswered questions about Toronto’s next subway extension”, here.
• Marshall’s Musings post, “GO Transit’s Grimsby problem”, here.
• Metro Toronto column, “Four reasons why Patrick Brown needs to steer clear of Toronto’s plan for road tolls”, here.
• National Post commentary, “John Tory defends road toll plan: If you have a better idea, let’s hear it”, here.
• National Post article, “To catch a texter: How Toronto-area police officers are using public transit to catch distracted drivers”, here.
• Oshawa Express article, “Report: Metrolinx, get to work”, here.
• rabble.ca post, “John Tory’s plan for road tolls is as progressive as he is”, here.
• Railway Age post, “CBTC: Are you a visionary or a skeptic?”, here
• Steve Munro’s post, “TTC Service Changes Effective Sunday, January 8, 2017”, here.
• Streetsblog USA post, “Toronto’s Simple Measure to Cut Traffic and Improve Transit: Toll Highways”, here.
• Talk Radio AM640 report, “Mammoliti continues fight against proposed road tolls”, here.
• Torontoist post, “What the 2017 Budget Says About the Yawning Gaps in Toronto Transit Funding”, here.
• Torontoist post, “Toronto City Council Preview: December 2016”, here.
• Torontoist post, “Why Toronto Should Repeal Vacant Stores Tax Break”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “TTC to complete Presto switch by 2018”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “TTC, Metrolinx confronting taboo of talking about suicide”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “Drug, booze tests coming for TTC staff in 2017”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “New transportation boss says car is no longer king”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “Kathleen Wynne will co-operate with John Tory’s toll plan”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “Electrical fire caused by melting snow sparks morning subway chaos”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “Family seeks funds for uncle’s funeral in Ethiopia after apparent GO train suicide”, here.
• Toronto Star editorial, “Mayor John Tory should think bigger on city budget”, here.
• Toronto Star column, “Patrick Brown’s road map to profit from tolls”, here.
• Toronto Star article, “December 12, 1944: Massive storm shuts down Toronto”, here.
• Toronto Sun column, “Gridlock, road tolls inevitable result of Bill Davis’ decision to stop the Spadina Expressway”, here.
• ValueWalk post, “Canadian National Railway: The Great Railroad Construction Robbery”, here.
• YorkRegion.com article, “Stretch of Hwy. 404 in York Region to be widened, HOV lanes added”, here.
• YorkRegion.com editorial, “Road tolls not a bad idea if used to fund transit”, here.
• YorkRegion.com article, “Toll on DVP would have profound impact on York Region residents”, here.
• YorkRegion.com editorial, “Tax dollars deserve a little respect”, here.

Elsewhere in the Greater Golden Horseshoe

• Barrie Examiner article, “Yonge GO Village to mix 6-storey buildings, 3 townhouse types”, here.
• Barrie Examiner article, “CGI consents to court order”, here.
• Barrie Today article, “Transit plan will link Midland and Penetanguishene to Barrie”, here.
• Bayshore Broadcasting report, “New buses for Orillia Transit”, here.
• Bayshore Broadcasting report, Ride [Orillia] Public Transit for a Week”, here.
• Hamilton Community News article, “Hamilton Mountain councillor Donna Skelly says LRT operational costs could cost city ‘millions’”, here.
• Kingston Whig-Standard article, “Bombardier completes expansion”, here.
• Kitchener Post editorial, “Auditor general’s report reveals gaps in services, lack of oversight”, here.
• Orangeville Citizen article, “Orangeville Transit marks 25th anniversary with brand new bus”, here.
• Orillia Packet and Times article, “Three new transit buses en route”, here.
• Simcoe.com article, “Huge development planned next to Barrie GO station”, here.
• Simcoe.com article, “Bus frustration prompts challenge to Orillia council”, here/
• Waterloo Chronicle article, “Region’s LRT director leaving for Metrolinx”, here.