Pearson employees outraged at steep airport-link fares

[Piratos]

That would be the issue: why are we paying for a project that only "business class executives" can afford and not the general public? They can pay for their own train / limo / helicopter service as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem if the private sector fully funds and charges whatever they want because that's makes business sense. The market will work out what price is appropriate.

This is not the case however and IMO, the project is still a public private partnership. The public's paying for a project that the private (select few people) can reap the benefits of.

My limo driver figures that the "blue suits" will still opt for limo vs. this train. I think he is correct unless you are going to the RY hotel or something else very close to Union Stn. The only thing that works to this train's advantage is the mess on the Gardiner slowing down the limos.
I do like the Vancouver Canada Line train, faster than a car to downtown and I believe it is under $10 each way.

 

[explorerzip]

I assume you and explorerzip want the linmk to operate at a loss and have general tax revenues pay fort your trips to and from Pearson; did I mis yor post asking for taxes to be raised to cover this cushy option for you?

Somehow I'd have thought higher taxes to buy subways, streetcars buses and City-wide better transit for all should come first.

I did not say that the line should operate at a loss. I also did not post that taxes should be raised for this cushy option.

Metrolinx said that this line is not public transit and is aimed at business class executives. Since you clearly did not read my previous posts, my issue is that public money was used to pay for a line that they largely cannot use because of the cost. In other words, we're using public money to build private transit.

If business class executives want a train from Union to Pearon, let them pay for the construction and cover any operating loss by paying the high fares.

 

[explorerzip]

My limo driver figures that the "blue suits" will still opt for limo vs. this train. I think he is correct unless you are going to the RY hotel or something else very close to Union Stn. The only thing that works to this train's advantage is the mess on the Gardiner slowing down the limos.
I do like the Vancouver Canada Line train, faster than a car to downtown and I believe it is under $10 each way.

Yeah, business class executives commonly have an expense account to cover travel costs. So it makes sense to travel directly from the office to the airport using a private limo instead of going to union and then transferring to the UP Express.

 

[oldjones]

I did not say that the line should operate at a loss. I also did not post that taxes should be raised for this cushy option.

Metrolinx said that this line is not public transit and is aimed at business class executives. Since you clearly did not read my previous posts, my issue is that public money was used to pay for a line that they largely cannot use because of the cost. In other words, we're using public money to build private transit.

If business class executives want a train from Union to Pearon, let them pay for the construction and cover any operating loss by paying the high fares.

In the post you opened the thread with:

Sounds like another government sanctioned fuck up. "Metrolinx has said the airport link should not be considered public transit because it is aimed at business executives at a cost comparable to the Toronto Airport Express bus, which costs about $27, but will stop service Oct. 31."

The public paid for this project, but we can't use it?

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/201...yees_outraged_at_steep_airportlink_fares.html

Use it all you want. Unless you imagine there will be guards keeping us ordinary 'public' people off the train, all you're really saying is is that you cannot afford the high fares that MetroLinx hopes will keep the line operating in the black.

Cheaper fares would have to be subsidized out of taxes, just as the build was. The Airport itself and the roads you drive—OK crawl—along behind all the other cars taking folks to the Airport were also 'paid for' that way.

Cheaper user fees mean more money must be collected other ways, and no one with a mortgage should imagine making end-users and only end-users pay the up front building costs is a feasible way to get anything significant built. TANSTAAFL.

On a philosophical/political basis I'm with you; we paid, so the pricing/payback plan should include lower people-attracting fares that get cars off the roads. But then I don't believe anyone's ever gonna find some kinda Magic Gravy in savings to pay for stuff we need. That's what taxes are for.

 

[Gingerbeard]

It's a pink elephant.

It'd have to run every 15 minutes to attract a business traveller. It'll likely run every hour to start. Even with the traffic, one can get downtown faster unless the wait for train is only 10 minutes.

Also, think about travellers who go in pairs or more...$60 for this express train for 2 when a limo will cost about the same?

 

[oldjones]

It's a pink elephant.

It'd have to run every 15 minutes to attract a business traveller. It'll likely run every hour to start. Even with the traffic, one can get downtown faster unless the wait for train is only 10 minutes.

Also, think about travellers who go in pairs or more...$60 for this express train for 2 when a limo will cost about the same?

I suspect you're right, and certainly few will see this as the "better way" to go out to the airport and back to see someone off or to pick them up. The laugh is that GTAA has convinced MetroLinx this thing will cut inmto their parking revenues, when it actually quantifies and confirms the 'wisdom' of driving.

But until you can convince the FordFools of the real wisdom of paying a bit more to build a City that works efficiently for all, we'll just have one after another of these misconceived projects sold to us on the hollow promise it will cost us nothing. Take a look at John Tory's east end version of this same plan to utilize of existing trackage at no cost to the taxpayers.

If we want it, we'll hafta pony up. TANSTAAFL.