“What is ‘public’ about public transportation? The question of accessibility”

Presented by the CIVIS research cluster at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies and co-sponsored by the CITY Institute. The event will be supported with live captioning.

Speakers

• Ron Buliung, Geography, University of Toronto
• Mahtot Gebresselassie, EUC, York University
• Aimi Hamraie, Social Science, York University
• Commentary from James Perttula, Director of Transportation Planning, City of Toronto

27 February 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 am EST | Register Here

This Sunday February 8th, Toronto’s longest transit network expansion ever begins service. Rides will be free on Sunday, and the TTC is calling this a “phased opening” reflecting the limited service levels and times, and the risk of the privately-built, Metrolinx-controlled infrastructure, which has proven unimpressive along Line 6. The Eglinton Crosstown was the first Transit City light rail line to begin construction, but was beset by many delays and challenges over the last 15 years. Say hello to Line 5!

Line 5 Eglinton is a new 19-kilometre half-tunnel, half-surface light rail line running from Mount Dennis station in the west (connecting with GO and UPX trains) to Kennedy station in the east (connecting with GO and Line 2 trains). It also connects with Line 1 at Cedarvale (formerly Eglinton West) and Eglinton stations.

TTC schedules indicate a significant decrease in travel time compared to the current bus service, in both tunneled and surface sections. This, along with improved consistency of travel time, should bring significant benefits to riders across Toronto. Reliability is one of the biggest predictors of transit success, so we’ll be keeping an eye on ridership and on-time performance for sure.

For the phased opening, Line 5 LRT service will run longer than Line 6’s early service levels, from 5:30 AM – 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM on Sundays and holidays. After this winter’s “soft launch” period, our understanding is that the schedule will be extended to match the rest of the rapid transit network, and a formal launch event will be held once the TTC moved to their regular service schedule, expected in May.

CodeRedTO volunteers will be along the route on Sunday February 8 starting at 7:30 AM with some free pins for the first riders – keep your eyes peeled!

(would you like a bag to hand out too? Write to info @ CodeRedTO.com before Sunday!)

Toronto is in the middle of a very large transit expansion, with new lines and stations expected to open fairly regularly over the next decade. You can learn more about the expansion projects on the City of Toronto’s Transit Expansion website. And if you like maps, they’ve got a doozy too!

We hope to see you on Line 5 one day very soon!

(This sort of thing doesn’t happen very often!)

This Sunday December 7th, the first Transit City light rail line opens! Say hello to Line 6 Finch West!

In case you missed the news: it’s really happening. Line 6 Finch West is a new 11-kilometre mostly-surface light rail line running from Finch West station on Line 1 to Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus. It runs in a reserved right-of-way in the centre of Finch West allowing vehicles to speed past traffic congestion, and should provide much more reliable and predictable transit service across Etobicoke. Reliability is one of the biggest predictors of transit success, so we’ll be keeping an eye on ridership and on-time performance for sure.

At launch, Line 6 LRT service will run from 6 AM – 10 PM Monday to Saturday and 7:30 AM – 10 PM on Sundays. After this winter’s “soft launch” period, our understanding is that the schedule will be extended to match the rest of the rapid transit network.

CodeRedTO volunteers will be along the route on Sunday December 7 starting at 7:30 AM with some free pins for the first riders – keep your eyes peeled!

This route runs from the edge of York Centre ward, across Humber RIver-Black Creek, and deep into Etobicoke North ward. The 36 Finch West bus which currently runs this route carries about 40,000 riders per day, and these three wards have a combined population of over 330,000 residents. If you’d like to learn more about the neighbourhoods Line 6 passes through, the University of Toronto’s School of Cities has published some fascinating Maps of Line 6 Finch West showing population density, green space, car space, and more!

Toronto is in the middle of a very large transit expansion, with new lines and stations expected to open fairly regularly over the next decade. You can learn more about the expansion projects on the City of Toronto’s Transit Expansion website. And if you like maps, they’ve got a doozy too!

We hope to see you on Line 6 one day very soon!

To: Members of the Executive Committee

CodeRedTO strongly supports proposed revenue tools and changes in 2023.EX7.1, based on both our research and the work of other civil society organizations such as Move TheGTHA, CivicAction, Toronto Environmental Alliance, The Atmospheric Fund, and others. CodeRedTO has consistently advocated since 2011 in support of improved transit funding from the provincial government, and new city-controlled revenue sources, to protect and build our transit network for the future.

Parking

Modifying the cost of parking through Toronto Parking Authority and in commercial parking lots will better reflect the cost to the city of private vehicle congestion, and the measured approach and timing to these changes will allow ward-appropriate and context-appropriate changes. Carefully designed, a context-appropriate sales tax could net hundreds of millions in revenue per year according to city staff in 2021, significantly supporting city services.

Sales Tax

Adding a municipal sales tax would enhance the ability of the City of Toronto to respond to economic activity taking place within its borders which is not subject to property taxes, diversifying its revenue sources and creating more budget resilience. Carefully designed to avoid a regressive structure, a context-appropriate sales tax could net hundreds of millions in revenue per year according to city staff in 2021, significantly supporting city services.

Transit Funding

A restructured funding agreement with the province of Ontario for transit operations is vital, as new rapid transit lines add new costs not fully covered by farebox revenue. When opened, Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown and Line 6 Finch West will require new subsidies to unlock the improved mobility and economic activity they will bring, just as the TYSSE extension to York University and Vaughan brought both benefits and tens of millions in new TTC operations costs.

Additionally, pausing negotiation of further funding agreements for the Provincial Priority Transit Projects such as Yonge North (Line 1 extension), Scarborough Subway (Line 2 extension), Eglinton West (Line 5 extension), and the Ontario Line, and for any future provincial transit expansion project, is appropriate and urgent.

The transit network is the low-emissions economic and academic circulation system of our city and region, and enabling our healthy and sustainable growth through transit is critical for the future of our city and residents.

We urge the committee to quickly act on the city’s financial challenges, to repair and protect and then build our vital transit network.

Cameron MacLeod
Executive Director, CodeRedTO
www.CodeRedTO.com

About CodeRedTO

CodeRedTO is a non-partisan, apolitical and volunteer transit advocacy organization. We have held public meetings with the TTC and Metrolinx in Etobicoke, Scarborough, York, North York and East York. We have presented at public meetings with both Councillor Carroll and Mayor Chow on transit funding and challenges. We have met with dozens of councillors over the last decade, along with deputy mayors, a Chief Planner, a Minister of Transportation, and a Premier. We have published detailed reports on public transit networks, finances, and governance. And we continue to be available for any member of council to assist with transit-related discussions at any time.