View from the Cordillera

A Commentary on Achieving Excellence in Local Government
Read by Municipal Leaders on 4 Continents
Published by the Cordillera Institute

Moving People and Goods

Public Transit: The Better Way?  (Vol. 2, Issue 12)
The Toronto Transit Commission provides public transit services in the amalgamated City of Toronto.  Its slogan is:  TTC -- the Better Way.  But, is it really the better way?  For that matter, is public transit anywhere the better way?  Or, is there another better way?  After spending time in countries which offer other alternatives, I think it's time we took another look.  In this issue, we provide a brief overview of how public transit evolved in earlier times and how it came to be publicly owned.  Next, we see how these assets have performed in government hands and offer some explanations for that performance.  Before outlining a response to the challenges, we identify those who support the status quo.  Then, we review alternatives found elsewhere and identify why those alternatives aren't currently available here.  For those of you fortunate enough not to have the albatross of public transit, this may give you 2nd thoughts should someone from senior government come calling with the offer of subsidies to join the crowd.