Toronto transit for sale: Private operators are accountable to shareholders, not riders

from NOW Toronto:





Toronto transit for sale
Private operators are accountable to shareholders, not riders

By Adam Giambrone


The announcement that Metrolinx would contract out operation of the Eglinton line when it opens in the early 2020s was news, but not really a surprise.

It’s another example of the province going back on its word. It had clearly stated that our LRTs would be run and maintained by the TTC.

But opening day on the Eglinton line is likely over 10 years away (no one in the industry expects the arbitrary 2020 deadline to be met), so we won’t find out for a long time what the consequences are of this decision.

History here and elsewhere shows what happens when contracts aren’t well structured — poor service and higher costs. Few know that the decision to create the TTC in 1921 was a direct result of the bad service offered by the private companies that had won the right to drive streetcars in the mid-19th century. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=188858