The Great TTC Debate!

This past Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, the heat turned up on the discussions surrounding the city of Toronto's vision for the future of public transit in the region. In one corner, Adam Giambrone, former Chair for the TTC and an advocate for public transit and the Transit City plan. In the other corner, Wendell Cox, Principal of Demographia, with a more holistic point-of-view on solving the city's congestion problems.

These opposing transit dynamos met head-on at the "Moving Toronto: Debate on the Future of the TTC" event held at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management. The debate raised many questions: how will Toronto's increasing congestion impact our plan for public transit? What roles do buses, streetcars, and subways play in the mix? Why don't we just build new freeways? Each discussion forced the audience to ponder how we'd handle transit in this city.

Amongst the crowd, of course, was your favourite group of #TransitHubbers - us! - capturing the best parts. Check out the photos, videos, and tweets from the debate below, then get talking...

Adam Giambrone's Opening Remarks

@TransitHubTO: #Transit issues are hot in #Toronto - can more public transit reduce congestion in the GTA??? #TTCdebate

@TransitHubTO: Giambroni showing a lot of passion for #transit at the #TTCdebate!! What a fight. #BayDundas

Wendell Cox's Opening Remarks

Adam Giambrone on Transit City

@TransitHubTO: Subways??? Streetcars?? Buses??? What's the right mix for a congested city like #Toronto?? #TTCdebate #TTC #transit

@therayjordan: @TransitHubTO toronto needs more subway lines, the longer we wait the more expensive it will become #TTC #TTCdebate

@TransitHubTO: Giambroni: 25% of ppl in #Toronto use the #TTC every day... They could all be #TransitHubbers!!! #TTCdebate

@TransitHubTO: Giambroni: #Toronto has been growing much faster than its #transit system since the '70s! The #TTC needs to catch up. #TTCdebate

@TransitHubTO: Booooo... this guy is arguing in favour of more roads....#TTCdebate #TTC #transit

@TransitHubTO: "#Transit's main issue is cost, not revenue" #TTCdebate #TTC

@gabelerman: 70% of the TTC's operating budget comes from fares, 28% from the City subsidy, 2% from the gas tax. #TTCdebate

@TransitHubTO: Lots of #transit system envy at the #TTCdebate: South America, London, Ottawa.......#TTC #transit

@TransitHubTO: Too much talk about fuel, not enough talk about #TransitHubbing!!! #TTCdebate #TTC #transit

Adam Giambrone's Closing Remarks

@freepublictrans: #TTCdebate -- @TransitHubTO -- tell them make the buses fare-free and it will soon become obvious where to put #rail.

@freepublictrans: #TTCdebate @TransitHubTO -- subways send people underground to make room for cars. Why not just get rid of the cars with #freetransit.

@freepublictrans: #TTCdebate @TransitHubTO -- 40% of the traffic in New York is people looking for parking. 

@freepublictrans: @TransitHubTO #TTCdebate what about the cost of cars (hint: cars cost the earth)

What should the future of public transit be, in YOUR opinion? Comment below and let us know!