Financial evaluation of present services
As part of the TTC's service standards, the Commission has established financial criteria to govern whether a new service should be introduced, whether a trial service should be continued, or whether a service which is a regular part of the TTC system but has low ridership should be modified or removed. These financial criteria are used to evaluate every possible service change, including those in the annual service plan.
For every period of service on every bus and streetcar route, the change in ridership per dollar of net cost change has been calculated. For services which are already being provided, this is the number of customers who would no longer use the TTC per dollar of net cost savings if the service were removed. For proposed new services, this is the number of new customers who would be attracted to the TTC per dollar of net cost increase if the service were introduced.
A minimum value for the customer change per dollar of net cost change is established each year as the TTC's operating budget is established. The minimum value depends on the amount of fare revenue that is expected from customers and the amount of funding that is provided by the City of Toronto. For 1998, the minimum value is 0.23.
New services will not be introduced if the customer change per dollar of net cost change is below 0.23. Recently-introduced services which are on trial will be removed if the customer change per dollar of net cost change is below 0.23. Other services will be modified to reduce their costs if the customer change per dollar of net cost change is under 0.23, and if service reductions are required, either because of declining ridership or reductions in funding, then these services would be recommended for removal.
Appendix B lists the 151 periods of service on 56 routes which now have poor financial performance, with a customer change per dollar of net cost change value below 0.23.
This section presents recommendations for major changes on 10 routes, to reduce costs or increase ridership, so that the financial performance is improved. Also described are minor changes that are being made on 17 routes, also to reduce costs.
No changes were identified which would reduce costs or increase ridership on the other routes, and so if service reductions are required in the future, either because of declining ridership or reductions in funding, then these services would be recommended for removal.
The operating costs saved by these changes will be reallocated to introduce the new services that are recommended in this report, because they would attract more customers to the TTC. By reallocating operating resources from routes with poor financial performance to new services which are justified under the TTC's service standards, more customers will be attracted to the TTC, the TTC's productivity will be increased, and the TTC's fare revenue will be increased, without an increase in the total cost of operations.
160 Bathurst North -- Removal of late evening service
City wards: North York Centre, North York Spadina
Time periods: Late evening, seven days a week.
It is recommended that the 160 BATHURST NORTH route be removed after 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, to reduce operating costs. No customers would lose service, as service is also provided on this section of Bathurst Street by the 7 BATHURST route.
The 160 BATHURST NORTH route provides a supplementary service to the section of Bathurst Street north of Wilson Avenue, to provide a connection to Wilson Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway. Service on this section of Bathurst Street is also provided by the 7 BATHURST route, which continues south on Bathurst Street and connects to Bathurst Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway. During the daytime hours, seven days a week, and during the early evening from Monday to Saturday, the 160 BATHURST NORTH route continues north of Steeles Avenue to Centre Street, providing service outside Toronto under contract for the City of Vaughan.
The financial performance of the 160 BATHURST NORTH route during the late evening, seven days a week, does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The removal of the 160 BATHURST NORTH route during the late evening, seven days a week, would reduce costs, by requiring two buses fewer than at present. All of the stops which are served by the 160 BATHURST NORTH route would continue to be served by the 7 BATHURST, 96 WILSON, or 165 WESTON RD NORTH routes.
The change would make service worse for approximately 95 customer-trips each day, by requiring an additional transfer. It would, however, improve the financial performance of the route, and thus also improve the financial situation of the entire TTC system. The service change is recommended for this reason.
Outcome of proposal: implemented as proposed on February 14, 1999
121 Front-Esplanade, 72 Pape, 65 Parliament -- Revised service east of Union Station
City wards: Don River, Downtown
Time periods: Monday-Friday, peak periods and midday; Saturday daytime
It is recommended that, when the new streetcar track on Queens Quay between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street is complete, the section of the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route east of Union Station be combined with the 72 PAPE route from Monday to Friday and with the 65 PARLIAMENT route on Saturdays. The change would reduce operating costs, while still providing the same service to customers.
The 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route provides an east-west service across the southern part of downtown. It connects Bathurst Quay and the western part of Harbourfront with Union Station, and the St. Lawrence Market, and also connects the Port of Toronto, the St. Lawrence area, and The Esplanade with Union Station. During the summer, the route is extended west to provide a connection from Exhibition Place and Ontario Place to Union Station.
The financial performance of the service east of Union Station does not meet the TTC's minimum financial standard at any time of the week. The financial performance of the service west of Union Station does not meet the minimum financial standard in the midday from Monday to Friday or on Saturdays.
The 72A PAPE (Pape Stn-King & Parliament via Commissioners) and 72C PAPE (Pape Stn-Cherry via Commissioners) branches provide a local service in the industrial and commercial part of the Port of Toronto along Commissioners Street between Carlaw Avenue and Cherry Street. They connect these areas to Pape Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway, and connect also with many nearby bus and streetcar routes.
The financial performance of the 72A PAPE service to the Port of Toronto during the midday from Monday to Friday does not meet the TTC's minimum financial standard. The 72C PAPE service during the peak periods does meet the financial standard.
The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
Upon the completion of the new streetcar track on Queens Quay between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street -- expected in early 2000 -- the service west of Union Station will be replaced by the new 509 HARBOURFRONT route, as described in Section 4 of this report. Service would no longer be provided on the section of Front Street between Union Station and Spadina Avenue. Severe automobile congestion on this street has made service in this area unreliable for many years, and the number of customers who rely on the service on Front Street is very small.
The change to combine service east of Union Station would be made at the same time as the new streetcar line begins operating west from Union Station.
From Monday to Friday, buses on the branch of the 72 PAPE route which serves the Port of Toronto would operate from Pape Station to Union Station, via Pape Avenue, Carlaw Avenue, Commissioners Street, Cherry Street, and The Esplanade. At Union Station, buses would turn around by running north on Yonge Street, west on Wellington Street, south on Bay Street, east on Front Street, and south on Scott Street.
On Saturdays, buses on the 65 PARLIAMENT route would operate from Castle Frank station to Union Station, via Parliament Street and The Esplanade. At Union Station, buses would turn around on the same streets as the 72 PAPE service would use from Monday to Friday.
These changes would maintain the same service as is now provided by the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route east of Union Station, at a lower cost. One bus fewer than at present would be used during peak periods. In addition, a new direct service would be provided between Union Station and the Port of Toronto during the midday from Monday to Friday, and a new direct service would be provided between Union Station, the Esplanade, and Parliament Street on Saturdays. The 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route name and number would no longer be used. The removal of through service on Front Street to and from the west of Union Station would make service worse for approximately 160 customer-trips each day by requiring them to transfer between the 509 HARBOURFRONT streetcar and the bus service east of Union Station. There would be no other inconvenience caused for any customers of the present routes.
Status of proposal: until the 509 HARBOURFRONT streetcar opens, the current operating status of the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE bus remains unchanged.
12 Kingston Rd -- Removal of service east of St. Clair Avenue
City wards: Scarborough Bluffs, Scarborough Highland Creek
Time periods: Monday-Friday, peak periods and midday
It is recommended that the service provided by the 12 KINGSTON RD route east of St. Clair Avenue to Morningside Avenue be removed, to reduce operating costs. No customers would lose service, as this section of Kingston Road is also served by the 102 MARKHAM RD and 86 SCARBOROUGH routes.
The 12 KINGSTON RD route provides a local service to the residential areas on Victoria Park Avenue south of Danforth Road and on Kingston Road east of Victoria Park Avenue and west of Brimley Road. From Monday to Friday, during peak periods and the midday, the route is extended east along Kingston Road to Morningside Avenue. Also during peak periods, a branch of the route is extended north on Brimley Road to Eglinton Avenue. The route connects with Victoria Park station, and Kennedy Station in peak periods, on the Bloor-Danforth Subway, and connects also with many nearby bus routes.
The financial performance of the service east of Brimley Road does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The removal of the section of the 12 KINGSTON RD route east of St. Clair Avenue would reduce costs, by requiring one bus fewer than at present in each of the morning and afternoon peak periods. All of the stops which are served by the 12 KINGSTON RD route east of St. Clair Avenue would continue to be served by either the 102 MARKHAM RD route or the 86 SCARBOROUGH route.
The change would make service worse for approximately 380 customer-trips each day, by requiring an additional transfer. It would, however, improve the financial performance of the route, and thus also improve the financial situation of the entire TTC system. The service change is recommended for this reason.
Status of Proposal: implemented as proposed on February 14, 1999. Requests to review this change have been considered, but the change has not been revoked.
86 Scarborough -- Removal of non-summer weekend service to Toronto Zoo
City ward: Scarborough-Malvern
Time periods: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, daytime
It is recommended that the service provided by the 86 SCARBOROUGH route to the Toronto Zoo on Saturday, Sundays and holidays outside the summer be removed, to reduce operating costs. No customers would lose service, as the Toronto Zoo is also served by the 85 SHEPPARD EAST route on weekends.
The 86 SCARBOROUGH route provides a trunk service on Eglinton Avenue, Kingston Road, and Meadowvale Road through the southern part of Scarborough, and connects these residential and commercial areas to Kennedy Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway and Scarborough RT. Each day of the week, until approximately 7:00 p.m., the route extends north of Sheppard Avenue to the Toronto Zoo, where it supplements the 85 SHEPPARD EAST route.
The financial performance of the service on Saturdays and Sundays north of Sheppard Avenue to the Toronto Zoo outside the summer months does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The removal of the section of the 86 SCARBOROUGH route north of Sheppard Avenue would reduce costs, by requiring one bus fewer than at present at certain times. The stops at the Toronto Zoo would continue to be served by the 85 SHEPPARD EAST route on Saturdays and Sundays, and by the 86 SCARBOROUGH route from Monday to Friday. During the summer months, the 86 SCARBOROUGH route would continue to operate to the Toronto Zoo on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, as it does now.
The change would make service worse for approximately 50 customer-trips each Saturday and 90 each Sunday, by requiring an additional transfer. It would, however, improve the financial performance of the route, and thus also improve the financial situation of the entire TTC system. The service change is recommended for this reason.
115 Silver Hills -- Combination with 78 St Andrews
City ward: North York Centre South
Time periods: Monday-Friday, peak periods
It is recommended that the 115 SILVER HILLS route be amalgamated with the 78 ST ANDREWS route to reduce operating costs, while still providing a comparable service to customers.
The 115 Silver Hills route now provides a local service in peak periods in the area west of Leslie Street and south of Highway 401. After making a loop through the neighbourhood, buses on the route run south on Leslie Street and west on York Mills Road to York Mills Station. Along York Mills Road, the 115 SILVER HILLS route supplements the service that is provided by the 95 YORK MILLS and 122 GRAYDON HALL routes.
The financial performance of the 115 SILVER HILLS route does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The amalgamation of the 115 SILVER HILLS route with the 78 ST ANDREWS route would increase ridership, as the frequency of service would be improved in the afternoon peak period, and would also reduce costs, by requiring one bus fewer than at present in the morning peak period.
After making the same loop as at present through the Silver Hills area, buses would run west on Silvergrove Road and Truman Road to Bayview Avenue, from where they could travel over the present 78 ST ANDREWS route to York Mills Station. Service would no longer operate on the section of Bannatyne Drive between Davean Drive and Leslie Street, and customers who now travel to or from stops on this section would have to walk longer to reach their nearest bus stop. The 115 SILVER HILLS route would also no longer operate on Leslie Street or York Mills Road, and customers who now travel between the Silver Hills area and bus stops on these roads would have to make one or two additional transfers.
The change would improve service for approximately 140 customer trips each day, by reducing the waiting time between buses in the afternoon peak period. The change would make service worse for approximately 110 customer-trips each day, by increasing the walking distance to the nearest bus stop or by requiring an additional one or two transfers. The change to weighted travel time shows that, overall, the change would make service worse for customers. It would however, improve the financial performance of the route, and thus also improve the financial situation of the entire TTC system. The service change is recommended for this reason.
Status of proposal: not implemented for 1999 in order to allow for greater public consultation within the affected neighbourhoods.
88 South Leaside -- Removal of Saturday evening service to Thorncliffe Park
City Ward: East York
Time periods: Saturday evening
It is recommended that the service provided by the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE route east of Laird Drive to Thorncliffe Park be removed after 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays, to reduce operating costs. No customers would lose service, as Thorncliffe Park is also served by the 81 THORNCLIFFE PARK, 25 DON MILLS, and 100 FLEMINGDON PARK routes.
The 88 SOUTH LEASIDE route provides a local service to the residential areas south of Eglinton Avenue between Yonge Street and Laird Drive. During the daytime hours and early evening from Monday to Saturday, the route extends east of Laird Drive to Thorncliffe Park.
The financial performance of the service east of Laird Drive to Thorncliffe Park during the early evening on Saturdays does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The removal of the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE service east of Laird Drive to Thorncliffe Park during the early evening on Saturdays, would reduce costs, by requiring one bus fewer than at present. All but one of the stops which are served by this section of the 88 SOUTH LEASIDE route would continue to be served by the 81 THORNCLIFFE PARK, 25 DON MILLS, or 100 FLEMINGDON PARK routes.
The change would make service worse for approximately 90 customer-trips each Saturday, by requiring an additional transfer or by requiring a longer walk to the nearest bus stop. It would, however, improve the financial performance of the route, and thus also improve the financial situation of the entire TTC system. The service change is recommended for this reason.
168 Symington -- Removal of late evening service north of St. Clair Avenue
City wards: Davenport, York Humber
Time periods: Late evening, seven days a week
It is recommended that the section of the 168 SYMINGTON route north of St. Clair Avenue to Bicknell Loop be removed after 10:00 p.m., seven days a week, to reduce operating costs. No customers would lose service, as this section of Old Weston Road is also served by the 41 KEELE route.
The 168 SYMINGTON route provides a supplementary service on the section of Old Weston Road and Rogers Road north of St. Clair Avenue, to provide a connection to Dundas West station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway. Service on this section of Old Weston Road and Rogers Road is also provided by the 41 KEELE which continues south on Keele Street and connects to Keele Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway.
The financial performance of the section of the 168 SYMINGTON route during the late evening, seven days a week, does not meet the TTC's financial standard. The TTC's service standards require that, where possible, changes be made to improve the financial performance of unsatisfactory routes, either by increasing ridership on the route or by reducing operating costs.
The removal of the service north of St. Clair Avenue on the 168 SYMINGTON route during the late evening would not change the operating cost, but would allow a more-frequent service to be provided south of St. Clair Avenue, where the interval between buses would be reduced from 20 minutes to 12 minutes. A comparison of weighted travel time shows that the benefit of a shorter waiting time on the section south of St. Clair Avenue is more important to customers than the inconvenience of either a longer waiting time north of St. Clair Avenue or an additional transfer between the 41 KEELE and 168 SYMINGTON routes. This comparison also indicates that, over the longer term, ridership on the 168 SYMINGTON route would be higher with the more-frequent service south of St. Clair Avenue than with the extension north of St. Clair Avenue to Bicknell Loop; thus, the financial performance of the route would be improved with this change.
Because it would be an overall improvement for customers and because it would strengthen the TTC's financial situation, the service change is recommended.
Service reductions on other routes
The financial performance of each of the following services does not meet the TTC's minimum financial standard. Service changes will be made to reduce the cost of operation, in most cases by reducing the number of buses used on the route.
2 Anglesey - Beginning in November 1998, the interval between buses between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. on Sundays will be increased from 22 minutes to 45 minutes.
4 Annette - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses between 10:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays will be increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
5 Avenue Rd - Beginning in November 1998, the interval between buses between 7:00 and 10:20 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays will be increased from 20 minutes to 40 minutes.
502 Downtowner - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between streetcars between 9:00 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. from Monday to Friday will be increased from 16 minutes to 20 minutes.
36 Finch West - Beginning in October 1998, the trips on the 36D FINCH WEST (Milvan-Finch Stn) branch leaving Finch Station at 8:39 a.m. and 6:12 p.m. and the trip leaving Milvan at 2:56 p.m. will be removed. The schedule of the other branches of the route will not change.
139 Huntingwood - Beginning in September 1998, the interval between buses between 5:45 and 8:38 a.m. from Monday to Friday will be increased from 15 minutes to 17-18 minutes.
12 Kingston Rd - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 am., seven days a week, will be increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Also, at the same time as the service east of St. Clair Avenue is removed, as recommended earlier in this section of the report, the interval between buses on the 12B KINGSTON RD (Victoria Park Stn-Kennedy Stn via Brimley) will be increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. The interval between buses on Kingston Road and on Victoria Park Avenue will not change.
30 Lambton - Beginning in November 1998, the interval between buses between 10:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight from Monday to Saturday and between 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight on Sundays will be increased from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
52 Lawrence West - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses on the 52C LAWRENCE WEST (Lawrence Stn-Culford) branch between 6:10 and 9:10 a.m. and between 2:45 and 6:15 p.m. from Monday to Friday will be increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. The interval between buses on the main 52 LAWRENCE WEST (Lawrence Stn-Martin Grove) branch will not change.
62 Mortimer - Beginning in November 1998, the interval between buses between 10:00 p.m. and 1:20 a.m. from Monday to Friday and between 7:20 and 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays will be increased from 20 minutes to 40 minutes.
501 Queen - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between streetcars between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays will be increased from 10-11 minutes to 11-12 minutes.
86 Scarborough - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses on the 86 SCARBOROUGH (Kennedy Stn-Beechgrove via Lawrence) branch on Lawrence Avenue, Beechgrove Drive, Coronation Drive, and Manse Road, will be increased. Between 5:20 and 9:00 a.m., the interval will be increased from 15 minutes to 20 minutes, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., it will be increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, and between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., it will be increased from 16 minutes to 21 minutes. The interval between buses on the other branches of the route will not change.
134 Tapscott - Beginning in September 1998, the interval between buses between 2:50 and 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday will be increased from 12 minutes to 15 minutes.
112 West Mall - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses north of Eglinton Avenue between 5:45 and 9:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday will be increased from 7-8 minutes to 15 minutes, and between 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. it will be increased from 9-10 minutes to 20 minutes. The interval between buses south of Eglinton Avenue will not change.
98 Willowdale-Senlac - Beginning in November 1998, the interval between buses between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sundays will be increased from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
96 Wilson - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses east of Wilson Station between 10:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Sundays will be increased from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. The interval between buses west of Wilson Station will remain at 15 minutes.
92 Woodbine South - Beginning in October 1998, the interval between buses between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays will be increased from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. The interval will return to 15 minutes during the summer months.
