Toronto Transit

I have had opportunity to take the Toronto TTC a number of times here. Mostly I sit in a 12th floor condo and read, but I've been out.

It is a real good system. At first I was put off by the $2.75 fare, but when going from out here at York University to downtown, that $2.75 goes a long way. One gets on the local route 106 to go to Downsview station. Or the 196 Rocket (express) to the same place, just a little faster.

At the transit station it is not necessary to use a transfer. Debarking from the bus one finds that one is inside the station; behind the barrier I suppose. You are above ground; enter the building and descend to the train platform and get on board. No hassles about getting a transfer, no one has to check anything.

It works the same in the other direction. Get on the subway downtown with a token or exact change and go to the end of the line. Downsview, in this case. Walk upstairs and go out to the bus platform and get on your bus. No hassles. I've never seen this before and like it very much.

Local papers talk about how the TTC has gone downhill, and Thorald (my host) remarks on how not too long ago the fare was $1 rather than $2.75, but it is far better integrated than the San Fran Bay area or Los Angeles, and far more pleasant than New York, NY.

There are hardly any freeways here. Freeways are what we call them out west. Expressway or Turnpike are terms used in the East. In San Jose an Expressway is a surface street with limited access, while a Freeway is completely isolated from the normal surface grid.

Toronto TTC must run a great many busses. They certainly have a large variety of types. New busses are Electric/Diesel hybrids while older ones are marked as Bio Bus; denoting Biodiesel fuel. They are still running 30 year old GMC forward look coaches; the single speed automatic V-drive with two stroke engines. Perhaps they are adapted with new engines, but the units we drove in the 70's. I liked them. They were hot rods to drive, handled like a sports truck.

The Central city has street cars as well, with overhead power. Looks like some Coviet block arrangement, Budapest perhaps. Some streets have a separated area in the middle of the road which autos are not allowed to share. This is being expanded recently, to the annoyance of some drivers, apparently.