市府今年多给TTC$8000万 买783辆新巴士

多伦多市长庄德利和TTC主席科尔（Josh Colle）今天在Broadview地铁站联合宣布，市府今年将多给TTC$8000万的拨款，以便TTC 购买783辆新巴士，为市民提供更优质的服务。

据悉，在尚待市议员表决通过的市府预算中，将给TTC及其Wheel-Trans service列出$19.5亿的营运开支， 主要用于TTC系统的800部地铁，200部街车，1,900部巴士营运；更新地铁一号线信号系统，以便增加班次密度减少暂停次数，提高营运效率；完成智能卡（Presto）系统安装，开通到约克大学的地铁延伸线以及继续士嘉堡地铁延伸线的相关工作。

$19.5亿的营运开支也意味着TTC仍然能够在每个周日早开班，也可保证12岁及以下儿童可以免费乘车。

TTC 总裁贝福德（Andy Byford）上月表示，由于2016年乘客量只有5.38亿，比预期目标减少1500万人次，令TTC减少营运收入$4600万。但贝福德相信，今年的情况会有所改善，估计今年使用TTC系统的乘客量会增加到 5.44亿人次。

市长庄德利还在新闻会上表示，去年市府曾经要求各部门从预算中节支2.6%，也包括TTC。但考虑到TTC实际上花钱的项目多，能够节省的方面确实有限，因此TTC并未做到这一点，从现在看起来，当初的计划也只能算作“建议”了。

TTC主席科尔则表示，市府新预算以及增加给TTC的拨款，对多伦多有耐心而且忠诚的乘客而言是好消息。

他说，TTC也处于一个重要的转换时期，就在今年TTC也有不少新鲜事：新的智能卡系统，不少地铁站的通达性改善，Wheels-Trans服务扩大，70部新的街车，更重要的是，有新的地铁延伸线开通，这是2002年以来的头一次，相信这些硬件和软件系统的改进有利于全面提高TTC的服务质量。

John Colle, TTC chair and Toronto councillor, said the TTC is undergoing a major transformation that will ultimately improve service. (CBC)

Toronto Coun. Josh Colle, TTC chair and who accompanied Tory to Broadview station, said the new money should be good news for the TTC's "very patient and loyal" customers.

"As you know, the TTC is under serious transformation right now," Colle said.

"It will make the system look like a new one to all of us, with a new Presto system, revitalized stations that are accessible, expansion of Wheels-Trans, 70 new streetcars, opening of a new subway, the first since 2002, which is good news for all riders," he said.

"With these improvements, the customer experience should improve for everyone and that's the goal of all this."

2.6% budget cut not implemented

Tory said the new money means funding one million more Wheel-Trans rides, finishing the rollout of the Presto system, opening the subway extension to York University, and continuing work on the one-stop Scarborough subway expansion.

It also means running 800 subway cars, 200 streetcars and 1,900 buses to carry 544 million riders this year, buying 783 new buses and upgrading signals on Line 1 to ensure subway trains on that line can run more frequently and with fewer stoppages.

And it means continuing to open the subway earlier on Sundays and continuing to allow children 12 and under to ride free on the TTC.