TTC Chair Augimeri would improve bus service

Ward 9 member of council Maria Augimeri has been elected chair of the TTC by a vote of 23 to 21.  The close division of votes between Ms. Augimeri and Ward 15’s  Josh Colle was not an open book to at least some observers. It may have as much to do with favors, grudges, vote trading and friendship as it does with policy. An example: George Mammoliti said before the vote that he would never support Mr. Colle because he came recommended by the outgoing chair, Karen Stintz. Mr. Mammoliti clearly felt slighted because, in his view, Ms. Stintz had not explained transit matters adequately in his ward. In any case, Ms Augimeri may endear herself to many voters for taking a fresh look at the role of buses in the transit mix. Her remarks to the Globe and Mail suggest she believes that this staple of transportation should be enhanced to run more frequently and in greater numbers. “People feel like sardines and, hopefully, if we can get the buses running better, that’s a one-up on what we’ve done for decades, and that is centre on subways versus LRT and the sexier forms of transit,” she told the Globe. “People ignore the buses and the streetcars, so we want to put more emphasis on those.”  Here is council’s vote break down.