JackTatt 🇨🇦
@jacktatttran.bsky.social
MASc. Graduate from UofT CivMin who researched public transport fare and service integration @TAL_UofT.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Like trains and buses and trams and people. Urban Transit Planning.
Pinned
JackTatt 🇨🇦
@jacktatttran.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Up now: speeding up the very slow Finch West LRT and other surface transit routes. Councillor Bravo asks what speed limits have been set for the Finch vehicles. Staff say top vehicle speeds are generally capped at 60 km/h, with 25 km/h limits when approaching stops or going through intersections.
The 25km/hr intersection speed limit makes no sense and is too low. These are suburban multilane traffic-light controlled intersections. Trams should travel at near full speed through them just as general car traffic does.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
the eglinton line, which will have at least triple the ridership of finch west in the short term, and may well become the single busiest LRT line in canada, is programmed with a weaker and less flexible version of signal priority than finch west or the existing streetcar system.
In this article, the City reveals that the Transit Signal Priority on the Eglinton LRT only allows green extensions up to 16 seconds, which is far less than the 30 s maximum that's programmed on streetcar lines and on Finch
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
February 19, 2026 at 5:34 PM
the eglinton line, which will have at least triple the ridership of finch west in the short term, and may well become the single busiest LRT line in canada, is programmed with a weaker and less flexible version of signal priority than finch west or the existing streetcar system.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
streetcars at my office's stop get greens through the preceding intersection the majority of the time (great!)
it's a lower traffic cross street on spadina with shorter light cycles, so TSP is more noticeably effective.
it's hopeless, though, with frequent bunching and poor line management.
it's a lower traffic cross street on spadina with shorter light cycles, so TSP is more noticeably effective.
it's hopeless, though, with frequent bunching and poor line management.
February 19, 2026 at 10:29 PM
streetcars at my office's stop get greens through the preceding intersection the majority of the time (great!)
it's a lower traffic cross street on spadina with shorter light cycles, so TSP is more noticeably effective.
it's hopeless, though, with frequent bunching and poor line management.
it's a lower traffic cross street on spadina with shorter light cycles, so TSP is more noticeably effective.
it's hopeless, though, with frequent bunching and poor line management.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
The Mayor of Laval is clearly a little disappointed in the REM de l’Est having been cancelled.
He’s talking about creative ways to use space under elevated trains. Says cities like Buenos Aires can teach us in Quebec lessons for future projects.
(Translation in alt text.)
He’s talking about creative ways to use space under elevated trains. Says cities like Buenos Aires can teach us in Quebec lessons for future projects.
(Translation in alt text.)
February 19, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The Mayor of Laval is clearly a little disappointed in the REM de l’Est having been cancelled.
He’s talking about creative ways to use space under elevated trains. Says cities like Buenos Aires can teach us in Quebec lessons for future projects.
(Translation in alt text.)
He’s talking about creative ways to use space under elevated trains. Says cities like Buenos Aires can teach us in Quebec lessons for future projects.
(Translation in alt text.)
The Eglinton LRT is critical rapid transit. Give it the full 30 second green extension of other streetcar lines @toronto.ca. And look into red truncation too (may be challenging given minimum pedestrian crossing times). Who cares about drivers waiting, transit must get priority.
In this article, the City reveals that the Transit Signal Priority on the Eglinton LRT only allows green extensions up to 16 seconds, which is far less than the 30 s maximum that's programmed on streetcar lines and on Finch
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
February 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The Eglinton LRT is critical rapid transit. Give it the full 30 second green extension of other streetcar lines @toronto.ca. And look into red truncation too (may be challenging given minimum pedestrian crossing times). Who cares about drivers waiting, transit must get priority.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
In this article, the City reveals that the Transit Signal Priority on the Eglinton LRT only allows green extensions up to 16 seconds, which is far less than the 30 s maximum that's programmed on streetcar lines and on Finch
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
February 18, 2026 at 1:53 AM
In this article, the City reveals that the Transit Signal Priority on the Eglinton LRT only allows green extensions up to 16 seconds, which is far less than the 30 s maximum that's programmed on streetcar lines and on Finch
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
toronto.citynews.ca/2026/02/17/l...
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Doug Ford’s metrolinx’ infrastructural incompetence rises to be a frankly national economic problem
Eyes absolutely bleeding from these Metrolinx costs. An incredible shame that this general investment in transit in Toronto isn't getting us 3-4x as much transit, like it would in a country with reasonable costs.
February 16, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Doug Ford’s metrolinx’ infrastructural incompetence rises to be a frankly national economic problem
This really sucks for not just Gatineau but the National Capital Region, because this line was being planned to extend into downtown Ottawa either underground beneath Sparks Street or on a pedestrian mall along Wellington that would also improve parliamentary security. Can Feds fund it with city?
bad news tonight for transit in québec, the gatineau streetcar project has been abandoned.
www.lesoleil.com/actualites/l...
www.lesoleil.com/actualites/l...
PRIMEUR | Québec tire la plogue sur le tramway de Gatineau
C'est la fin pour le projet de tramway de l'ouest de Gatineau.
www.lesoleil.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:34 AM
This really sucks for not just Gatineau but the National Capital Region, because this line was being planned to extend into downtown Ottawa either underground beneath Sparks Street or on a pedestrian mall along Wellington that would also improve parliamentary security. Can Feds fund it with city?
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
i used this station every day last summer and the transfers are awful, even from surface routes. the closest streetcar stops are at least a few hundred meters…for no reason! there WAS a stairway connection to the bridge with surface transit connections and they REMOVED it. it’s a shame honestly.
This is totally predictable, and unfortunately while if I was in charge I'd be planning a tunnel and a high quality integrated GO-subway interchange here, the powers that be at literally every level of gov are. . . not.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=38M_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=38M_...
Danforth GO station congestion issues
YouTube video by CityNews
www.youtube.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:53 AM
i used this station every day last summer and the transfers are awful, even from surface routes. the closest streetcar stops are at least a few hundred meters…for no reason! there WAS a stairway connection to the bridge with surface transit connections and they REMOVED it. it’s a shame honestly.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
There’s a small investment that the province could make as part of uploading the DVP that could improve traffic for drivers merging on/off the DVP and remove conflicts for the light rail: add the missing two clover leaf loops. Eventually add pedestrian over/under-passes to segregate past Wynford.
February 10, 2026 at 9:25 PM
There’s a small investment that the province could make as part of uploading the DVP that could improve traffic for drivers merging on/off the DVP and remove conflicts for the light rail: add the missing two clover leaf loops. Eventually add pedestrian over/under-passes to segregate past Wynford.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
The opening of the Ontario Line should be used as a justification to redesign Strachan because south of King it is just such an awful street to be on.
February 16, 2026 at 12:46 PM
The opening of the Ontario Line should be used as a justification to redesign Strachan because south of King it is just such an awful street to be on.
I rode Line 5 one week on between Mount Dennis and Cedarvale. Some observations for #TTC:
1. They have brought their dwell time discipline: doors open for less than 20 seconds.
2. The annoying yellow line warning system seems be turned off
3. Still a station speed limit of 30km/hr (needs to go).
1. They have brought their dwell time discipline: doors open for less than 20 seconds.
2. The annoying yellow line warning system seems be turned off
3. Still a station speed limit of 30km/hr (needs to go).
February 15, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I rode Line 5 one week on between Mount Dennis and Cedarvale. Some observations for #TTC:
1. They have brought their dwell time discipline: doors open for less than 20 seconds.
2. The annoying yellow line warning system seems be turned off
3. Still a station speed limit of 30km/hr (needs to go).
1. They have brought their dwell time discipline: doors open for less than 20 seconds.
2. The annoying yellow line warning system seems be turned off
3. Still a station speed limit of 30km/hr (needs to go).
Look how amazing elevated rail can be! We need more of this.
Rode my bike on the Upfield bike path yesterday, Valentine‘s Day in Naarm/Melbourne.
Unlike the photo, there were people everywhere - riding, walking, having coffee, in playgrounds, walking dogs, playing games.
And I was genuinely thinking ‘this is Paradise’
Unlike the photo, there were people everywhere - riding, walking, having coffee, in playgrounds, walking dogs, playing games.
And I was genuinely thinking ‘this is Paradise’
February 15, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Look how amazing elevated rail can be! We need more of this.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Sorry, but this @nytimes.com op-ed on free fares in New York City, by @galvinalmanza.bsky.social, is deeply ignorant of the issues.
It proposes that pretty social justice vibes and some careless citations will change facts of math. Thread: 1/
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/o...
It proposes that pretty social justice vibes and some careless citations will change facts of math. Thread: 1/
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/o...
Opinion | Something Surprising Happens When Bus Rides Are Free
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Sorry, but this @nytimes.com op-ed on free fares in New York City, by @galvinalmanza.bsky.social, is deeply ignorant of the issues.
It proposes that pretty social justice vibes and some careless citations will change facts of math. Thread: 1/
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/o...
It proposes that pretty social justice vibes and some careless citations will change facts of math. Thread: 1/
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/o...
A reminder that public transport requires grid capacity, consistent grid capacity, especially high speed rail projects. That electrification comes from clean sources in Canada, like hydro and nuclear as well as wind and solar, which both have a role because hydro and nuclear can meet that baseload.
Doubling the electric grid is a plan for a high carbon future.
Building the grid requires materials and energy. Generating electricity likely means dams or burning fuel.
Then all the vehicles to use that power require materials, batteries and highways.
Do bikes and public transit instead.
Building the grid requires materials and energy. Generating electricity likely means dams or burning fuel.
Then all the vehicles to use that power require materials, batteries and highways.
Do bikes and public transit instead.
This is simply incorrect for numerous reasons: 1) Carney is increasing with oil and resource extraction, and proceeding with pipelines, 2) electric cars are not a climate change solution, 3) Canada is still buying warplanes from the US, not diversifying.
February 14, 2026 at 11:48 AM
A reminder that public transport requires grid capacity, consistent grid capacity, especially high speed rail projects. That electrification comes from clean sources in Canada, like hydro and nuclear as well as wind and solar, which both have a role because hydro and nuclear can meet that baseload.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Line 6 is a victim of a confluence of multiple problems:
1. Basically useless TSP because very restrictive settings
2. Low speed limits at curves and mainline for “initial operations”
3. Low speed restrictions for “Vision Zero” at intersections and platforms
4. All speed limits enforced extremely
1. Basically useless TSP because very restrictive settings
2. Low speed limits at curves and mainline for “initial operations”
3. Low speed restrictions for “Vision Zero” at intersections and platforms
4. All speed limits enforced extremely
February 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Line 6 is a victim of a confluence of multiple problems:
1. Basically useless TSP because very restrictive settings
2. Low speed limits at curves and mainline for “initial operations”
3. Low speed restrictions for “Vision Zero” at intersections and platforms
4. All speed limits enforced extremely
1. Basically useless TSP because very restrictive settings
2. Low speed limits at curves and mainline for “initial operations”
3. Low speed restrictions for “Vision Zero” at intersections and platforms
4. All speed limits enforced extremely
I think there is an issue with the traffic lights or road congestion at Eglinton Avenue and Photography Drive with all the buses entering/exiting the bus terminal. I also noticed a long wait there on Sunday when I was taking the 73B back from a day on the line. @ttcriders.bsky.social
Toronto’s new Line 5 Eglinton Crosstown LRT pulling into the Mount Dennis terminal station.
February 13, 2026 at 12:40 AM
I think there is an issue with the traffic lights or road congestion at Eglinton Avenue and Photography Drive with all the buses entering/exiting the bus terminal. I also noticed a long wait there on Sunday when I was taking the 73B back from a day on the line. @ttcriders.bsky.social
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
In 2019, Premier Ford substantially cut OSAP grants and axed the interest-free six-month grace period before graduates had to repay OSAP loans. He's again limiting grants as well as vastly increasing loans — a recipe for massive student debt, to begin being repaid immediately post-graduation.
February 12, 2026 at 8:19 PM
In 2019, Premier Ford substantially cut OSAP grants and axed the interest-free six-month grace period before graduates had to repay OSAP loans. He's again limiting grants as well as vastly increasing loans — a recipe for massive student debt, to begin being repaid immediately post-graduation.
The government is saying this brings Ontario in line with other provinces. How does this compare with other Canadian provinces because that seems bad?
Quebec supports their students more than this. Students are our next generation, critical to staffing the industries we need to build our future.
Quebec supports their students more than this. Students are our next generation, critical to staffing the industries we need to build our future.
February 13, 2026 at 12:33 AM
The government is saying this brings Ontario in line with other provinces. How does this compare with other Canadian provinces because that seems bad?
Quebec supports their students more than this. Students are our next generation, critical to staffing the industries we need to build our future.
Quebec supports their students more than this. Students are our next generation, critical to staffing the industries we need to build our future.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Repurposing car lanes for buses and bikes can improve speed and safety for everyone. Dedicated bus lanes move transit faster, reduce congestion, and even make roads safer for all users.
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02...
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02...
Study: Bus Lanes Boost Speeds for Both Buses and Cars
Dedicated transit and bike lanes can speed up traffic for everyone on busy roads.
www.planetizen.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Repurposing car lanes for buses and bikes can improve speed and safety for everyone. Dedicated bus lanes move transit faster, reduce congestion, and even make roads safer for all users.
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02...
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Chow like always lying about her housing record. We're being lapped in absolute numbers by Edmonton and Calgary and in per capita doing worse than Vancouver (pictured below) and Montreal
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Chow like always lying about her housing record. We're being lapped in absolute numbers by Edmonton and Calgary and in per capita doing worse than Vancouver (pictured below) and Montreal
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Toronto reserves (at ~11B) are about 3x higher than they were many years ago.
Conforti's (CFO) logic seems to be that we should have reserves in hand before beginning with cap projects?
And the reserves were increased a lot *during the pandemic*
I think we need a better discussion about reserves.
Conforti's (CFO) logic seems to be that we should have reserves in hand before beginning with cap projects?
And the reserves were increased a lot *during the pandemic*
I think we need a better discussion about reserves.
February 10, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Toronto reserves (at ~11B) are about 3x higher than they were many years ago.
Conforti's (CFO) logic seems to be that we should have reserves in hand before beginning with cap projects?
And the reserves were increased a lot *during the pandemic*
I think we need a better discussion about reserves.
Conforti's (CFO) logic seems to be that we should have reserves in hand before beginning with cap projects?
And the reserves were increased a lot *during the pandemic*
I think we need a better discussion about reserves.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Ugh, screen doors were so obvious here. Instead we use a complicated and fault prone system of lasers that ultimately still don't keep people off the tracks
Between Kennedy and Yonge, took 34 minutes.
Delayed at Forest Hill due to “trespasser on tracks”
Delayed at Forest Hill due to “trespasser on tracks”
February 10, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Ugh, screen doors were so obvious here. Instead we use a complicated and fault prone system of lasers that ultimately still don't keep people off the tracks
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
The GST will get the headlines but I encourage everyone to read the other measures our government is undertaking
January 26, 2026 at 3:28 PM
The GST will get the headlines but I encourage everyone to read the other measures our government is undertaking
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Overall, quite great. Over 10km of it is grade separated and that part was decently fast and very reliable, with a speed increase coming later. The at-grade road median portion was better with more consistent higher speeds than the Line 6 disaster but there is still work to be done on the TSP.
February 10, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Overall, quite great. Over 10km of it is grade separated and that part was decently fast and very reliable, with a speed increase coming later. The at-grade road median portion was better with more consistent higher speeds than the Line 6 disaster but there is still work to be done on the TSP.
Reposted by JackTatt 🇨🇦
Waaaaaayyyyyyy too much in the automated announcements. You don’t need to tell us to hold on to handrails every two minutes.
February 8, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Waaaaaayyyyyyy too much in the automated announcements. You don’t need to tell us to hold on to handrails every two minutes.
