Mitzie Hunter issues plan to open subways at 5:30 am on weekdays for those working early shifts

Comprehensive plan to get Toronto moving again also includes TTC service restored, fare increases rolled back, seniors and Wheels Trans users ride free

Toronto – Mitzie Hunter, mayoral candidate, says under her plan to get Toronto moving again, subways will open at 5:30 am Monday to Saturday starting in September making it easier for people who work early shifts to get to work.

“Too many early-shift workers are forced to take two or three or even four buses to get to work because the subway does not open until 6 am,” says Hunter.

“This takes a toll on hard-working early-shift workers and their families. As mayor, I will help make their trip to work easier by opening the subways earlier.”

Opening the subway earlier will benefit early-shift workers including thousands of people in the service sector as well as construction workers including journeypersonsand apprentices.

Opening the subways earlier will also encourage many to leave their car at home easing traffic congestion as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

“Our economy depends on traffic being able to move and our climate benefits every time someone leaves their car and takes the TTC,” says Hunter.

“Opening the subways earlier is a practical way to help get Toronto moving again and help achieve our climate goals.”

The cost of opening subways earlier is $9.3 million through the end of 2025. It is part of Hunter’s fully-costed platform, including a balanced budget plan, to Fix the Six for a Toronto that works for everyone.

TTC ridership last year was less than 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and road traffic is crawling. In the already-congested downtown core, the beginning of construction on the Ontario Line will only make traffic worse.

This is the worst time to be reducing TTC service frequency and hiking fares and Hunter will fix that by restoring service, reducing fares and improving service.

“Safe, reliable, frequent, and affordable transit is the best tool we have to get Toronto moving again and it will also help us achieve our climate goals and help reduce congestion,” Hunter says.

“We need to get Toronto moving again. My plan will do that.”

Opening the subways earlier is just the latest in a series of announcements Huinter has made to improve the TTC, which include:

Hunter began her campaign by issuing her five-point TTC Safety Plan:

A Clear Contrast

No candidate has proposed TTC enhancements comparable to those proposed by Hunter.

Olivia Chow, Josh Matlow, and Mitzie Hunter have all pledged to reverse service cuts but only Hunter’s plan is to do so this September. Chow has not said when she would act and she has not committed any funds to achieve this goal.

Today’s announcement joins Hunter’s earlier pledge to expand Wheel Trans service as specific and costed service improvements. Chow has made unspecific and uncosted promises to "significantly improving transit service" someday. This is similar to Josh Matlow’s equally unspecific plan to “move forward” with a ridership growth strategywhich does not say when or how much he will commit.

Unlike Hunter, Chow has made no commitment to reduce fares.

Josh Matlow voted for the City budget that slashed services and fees. He has not committed to reversing the general fare hikes but has proposed a fare reduction for seniors of 4.5 per cent.

Hunter has offered seniors and all users of Wheel Trans a 100-per-cent fare reduction.

Ana Bailao has offered nothing to TTC users aside from an unworkable proposal to reduce fares on two routes which cannot be done using current Presto services.

Brad Bradford voted in favour of fare hikes and service reductions and has not said anything about reversing these positions.

Mark Saunders has no policies to improve service or lower fares for TTC riders.

Part of A Fair and Affordable Plan 

The measures are included in Hunter’s fully-costed plan to Fix the Six for a Toronto that works for everyone.

 While others refuse to be clear on their property tax proposals, Hunter has put forward her 3 & 6 plan detailed in her platform released last Thursday.

 Under this plan, the 40 per cent of homeowners with household income under $80,000 will have a below inflation increase equal to three per cent - $108 per year for the average Toronto homeowner.

 More than 50 per cent of all senior homeowners will be able to eliminate or defer their property tax increase so they have no out-of-pocket increase.

 And higher income homeowners who can afford to pay a little more will be asked to pay six per cent which is $216 per year for the average Toronto homeowner. This is only slightly more than the 5.5-per-cent increase in 2023. 

 It’s a new, different, affordable and progressive way to adjust property tax increases fairly.

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Contact:

Charmain Emerson

charmain@culturedcommunications.ca

Remarks by Mitzie Hunter announcing subways to open earlier on weekdays and Saturday, May 30, 2023: 

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