"Save Transit City" campaign picking up steam online

Mayor David Miller is trying to rally opposition to Dalton McGuinty's decision to delay $4 billion worth of transit funding. In a recent editorial board with the Star, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan praised Miller's passion but said, in so many words, he is wasting his breath.

Despite a call to arms from even the mighty Royson James, it has been difficult to see that the rallying cries are having much more effect than Miller's federally ignored "One Cent Now" campaign.

But there is a buzz online that seems to be bigger than the community of self-described city nerds. When Miller filed a twitpic of his "Save Transit City" button, many on Twitter and Facebook asked where they could get theirs. (Given the transit link, it's tempting to reference another button, but we'll refrain.)

There are 463 members of the Facebook "Save Transit City" page, but it's growing quickly.

Do you think it will work? What would it take?

Comments

[george sawision]

the predictions by David Miller that the world will end without transit city just confirm that he is no longer in control at the hall.The truth about the fiasco called transit city isn't being told. Replacing buses with streetcars does not improve the congestion in the city in any real way.Looking at the St.Clair project it becomes very evident that traffic congestion actually increases. Do we want to duplicate the fiasco on St Clair with burgeoning costs and failed expectations?
We need a subway line utilizing the rail lines that cut through our city.It would be cheap and relatively easy to accomplish.And by building a "green roof" on top of those lines we gain hectares of badly needed green space.In fact the rail lines just happen to be near most of the new condo projects that David Miller supports.
It's time to stop the rhetoric and form a vision for this city, one that works and takes us into the green future with confidence.

[@ivanvector]

You didn't mention that Miller posted that picture about two hours ago, and the #savetransitcity movement has been picking up pace on twitter very quickly since. Join in!

http://www.twitter.com/search?q=savetransitcity

[Andre]

I have looked at the facebook page and I will refuse to be a fan of the page. I have only seen one person of prominence as one of the fans - Peter Tabuns, of the NDP. Some people are from highschools outside of the city and probably others are adding their names for the sake of doing so.

As with past posts and on my blog, I am a full supporter of transit but not a supporter of Transit City. Why? As ambitious of a plan as it is, it only is a politically driven, Toronto-centric plan. TBOT claimed that the Toronto CMA which is comprised of a smaller portion of the GTHA is losing steam because of its lack of transit, congestion problems, etc. There are well over 5 million people within the region and will grow over the next 25 years. With a diverse and dispersed population, don't you think there needs to be a REGIONAL transportation plan which goes beyond the borders of Toronto?

The reporters from the Star of indicated that the province maybe setting the stage for a takeover of the TTC and put it under Metrolinx. It makes sense folks. Let's think outside the box for once.

[Derek]

Andre: Transit City is a Toronto-centric plan because it is Toronto's plan. Do you want Toronto planning for Oakville or Brampton planning for Ajax?

Metrolinx knit all of the local plans together in its "Big Move" plan which, if you read it, includes all of Transit City. I support it, and I support light rail lines on Hurontario, in Hamilton and throughout the region. I also support electrifying GO and offering all-day service.

But I live in Toronto so I want McGuinty to reverse the cut and let construction continue this year on Transit City.