TTC offering free New Year’s service again this year—only the event is going unsponsored
Good news, everyone: the TTC will offer its usual free ride home for revellers after the clock strikes midnight this New Year. In contrast to the last few years under Adam Giambrone, this year the service will not be sponsored by a private partner—the commission is paying for the whole thing. In a release from the TTC, new chair Karen Stintz says that “while the TTC has traditionally sought sponsorship to cover the costs of this free service, I believe our public transit system can, and should, do its part to help curb impaired driving.”
We spoke briefly with Brad Ross at the TTC who said that the TTC did try to find a sponsor this year, but that last year’s partner, Liberty Entertainment, declined to re-sponsor the night, and the TTC wasn’t able to find anyone else willing to step up to the plate. While we’re grateful for the TTC covering the tab for an expensive but valued public service, we can’t help but wonder why no private partner signed up.
But then, we had to ask Ross to remind us who last year’s sponsor was, so maybe they just weren’t getting enough good PR from the deal.
From the TTC’s press release, details of the TTC’s New Year’s Eve service:
· Reduced morning peak-period service on Dec. 31
· Reduced afternoon peak-period service, operating from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31
· Subway and most surface route service extended until approximately 4 a.m., Sat., Jan.1
· Last trains on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway leave Union Station at 3:30 a.m. for
Finch Station and 3:34 a.m. for Downsview Station.
· Last trains on the Bloor-Danforth Subway leave Bloor-Yonge Station at 3:37 a.m. for Kipling Station and at 3:37 a.m. for Kennedy Station.
· Last train on the Scarborough RT leaves Kennedy Station at 4:05 a.m. for McCowan Station.
· Last train on the Sheppard Subway leaves Sheppard-Yonge Station at 3:58 a.m. for Don Mills Station.
· On Sat., Jan. 1, 2011, the TTC will operate on a Sunday service schedule. Subway and most surface routes will begin operating at 9 a.m.
don’t they need the money? im sure they can find a sponsor… anyone?
no sponsors are a shock? why would any company sponsor a failing – no, flailing – system?
Why the Hell would anyone sponsor the TTC money when they just claimed $64MIL in SURPLUS while they rip us off with fare increase annually?! Come on , Toronto – Wake up!!
Can we Torontonians get out & travel see the world and see how real transit is run cheaply? Take the great big NYC – $2.25 for a subway system that takes you over 2 hours from Bronx to all the way to brooklyn, runs 24 hours, express trains move quickly and overall efficient. TTC – $3 for a system that take you nowhere, shuts down b y 1am, opens at 9am on sundays,slow,freezing switches in winter when it rarely runs above ground….GEE!!!
CRITIC: almost every other system is subsidized by higher levels of government. The TTC is not. It’s that simple.
Nothing is that simple : lets get the city & province working harder to get canada’s largest city up to scratch with a basic good metro system! THATS simple.
ANDREW: We always have an excuse or reason to not move Toronto ahead. Lets pressure our politicians to make things happen, cut out the red tape and move this city along. We are too simple and dead – WAKE UP!