[URBAN NOTE] Five Toronto links: TTC and transit, neighbourhood councils, Yonge and Bloor, houseboat

[rfmcdonald]

• Steve Munro examines the underlying factors behind crowding on the TTC's bus routes.


• NOW Toronto takes a look at the apparent Doug Ford plans to have the Ontario provincial government take over the TTC. Potentially fine in theory, given the scope of GTA transit, but not as it is likely to come about.


• The suggestion reported on by Samantha Beattie at the Toronto Star that the City of Toronto could compensate for a smaller city council with expanded neighbourhood councils does sound attractive, but it needs leadership to be pulled off.


• Making Yonge and Bloor a grassy pedestrian intersection for a few hours on the 19th sounds like fun. The Toronto Star reports.


• In the current real estate climate, the cost of living on house boats is less--and their attractiveness greater--than one might think. CBC reports.