TTC a major part of Mayoral Debates
SAMI HAj-ASSAAD-
Students who haven’t been paying attention to the mayoral debate here in Toronto, will likely want to tune in. Public transportation is
GH students concerned about the future of local transportation. Photo by Melanie Dziengo
always a pressing topic in the city, especially for young adults who do not own a vehicle. Many students at the Humber North Campus use some form of public transit and news that the TTC will be going through some significant changes, according to each of the potential mayors, should perk the interest of students.
“I use the streetcar every day to get around, especially for work and school.” says first year advertising student Marci Mancinelli.
Mayoral candidate Rob Ford doesn’t think that the streetcar is the ideal form of public transportation. His plan, according to his six page Transportation Plan says “Streetcars are slow, and take hours to travel across town.”
Ford’s proposes to replace the streetcar system with more subways, including a closed loop line. The plan is supposed to be better for both riders and commuters in the city, and supposed to reduce gridlock.
While Ford’s plan may help in the long run, it is the plans of Joe Pantalone and George Smitherman that may excite students at the Humber North Campus in the short term. Both candidates hope to have a LRT line that goes right to the college from Finch station.
“I have about an hour ride on the bus and subway every day I need to go to class” says Arthur Zakrewski, a third year Humber Student. “That Finch West LRT that Pantalone is going to make will definitely help my situation”
Similarly, George Smitherman’s plan also includes a Finch West LRT that would bring riders to Humber’s North Campus. Smitherman sees this being part of his second phase, of his two phase approach of changing the TTC.
Smitherman’s first phase is to extend the Sheppard LRT and create a Waterfront and new Eglinton line.
His two phases are expected to take ten years to complete.
With Humber College being part of some of the mayoral candidate’s transit plans, students are aware and ready to cast their vote.
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