Post by nickchu

A quick look at some of the statistics that make your cities work (or not): Special Toronto Edition

Toronto’s nickname: Hogtown

Hogtown’s new mayor: Rob Ford

Political ambitions: Derail gravy train

Personal vehicle tax: Scrapped

Potential money saved: $60

Municipal land transfer tax: Scrapped

Potential money saved: $1,000’s

Garbage collection: Outsourced

War on cars: Scrapped

Road tolls/congestion fee: Scrapped

Free zoo, golf, and transit passes for councillors: Scrapped

Existing number of city councillors: 44

Proposed number of city councillors: 22

Annual councillor expense budget: Minus $20,000

Councillor hiring budget: Minus $1.4 million

Expected budget savings over 4 years: $1.58 billion

Toronto’s transit plan, net value: $17.5 billion

TTC wildcat strikes: Abolished

Percent of voters supporting a candidate favouring subways: 83%

Ford’s favourite transit mode: subways

Transportation ambitions: Derail light rail train

Existing order placed on light rail/streetcars: $1.2 billion

Streetcars ordered: 204

Cost per streetcar: $5.8 million

Cancelling order: $100 million penalty

Ford’s proposed alternative: Toronto east subway loop

Cost: $3 billion

Length: 12km

Number of Gondolas proposed in the Toronto East Subway Loop: 0

Cost per km: $250 million

New bike trails: 100km

Cost: $55 million

Lastman vs Hall: Suburban victory

Miller vs Tory: Urban victory

Ford vs Smitherman: Suburban victory

Future: Who knows