A new report reveals that bunching is causing significant delays on Toronto’s transit routes, leaving riders frustrated.
The report looked at data from early September to mid-November 2024. It found that on 41 routes, riders waited about 30% longer than scheduled. That’s a significant wait, especially during busy times. Only 10 routes managed to meet the TTC’s on-time targets during the evening rush last fall.
TTCRiders used data from a freedom of information request and a real-time tracking website to get these insights. Shelagh Pizey-Allen, the director of TTCRiders, pointed out that the TTC’s way of measuring performance doesn’t really show how often buses and streetcars arrive on time. They only check the end terminals, which doesn’t give a full picture of the service.
The TTC claims that between October and mid-November 2024, buses were on time 83% of the time, while streetcars were on time 69% of the time. However, Pizey-Allen argues that this doesn’t reflect the actual experience of riders.
In response, the TTC is trying out a new program to reduce bunching on 11 key routes. They plan to use on-street supervisors to help keep vehicles spaced out. They’re also looking into measuring on-time performance at midpoints on some routes, but that comes with its own challenges.
Pizey-Allen is hopeful about these initiatives and wants to see them expanded across the entire transit system. It’s clear that riders are eager for improvements to their daily commutes.
