[URBAN NOTE] On the Union-Pearson Express and mass transit in Toronto

[rfmcdonald]

The Union-Pearson Express is doing poorly, with ridership dropping strongly and cars being 90% empty. blogTO's Amy Grief suggests that, at $C 27.50 a ticket, the price is just too high.

Many believe that the $27.50 one-way fare (or $19 with a Presto Card) is just too expensive, especially when Torontonians can take an alternative route to the airport, via the TTC, $3. Yet, according to the Globe and Mail, the provincial government doesn't want to lower the UPX fare prices any time soon.

Provincial Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca expects the UPX's currently lacklustre numbers to increase and he hopes to see more than 5,000 daily riders by June of next year.

However, at Queen's Park yesterday, PC MPP Michael Harris said the UPX is "becoming a white elephant on the rails," reports the CBC.

Transportation advocacy groups, such as TTCriders, are also vocal about their disdain for the UPX, which cost $456 million to build and $68 million annually to operate. They want to integrate the express train with the TTC. Others, say this money should go towards more essential projects such as a downtown relief line.

Toronto needs to do mass transit better.