Item - 2013.HL20.3
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on March 25, 2013 and was adopted with amendments.
HL20.3 - Next Stop Health: Transit Access and Health Inequities in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Requested the Premier of Ontario, President and Chief Executive Officer of Metrolinx, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission to ensure that a portion of new funding for transit expansion be used to improve the affordability of transit for low income residents as part of a comprehensive transit strategy.
2. Requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission and Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning to ensure that the Official Plan review and transit planning process improve transit availability in areas of the city with a high proportion of low income residents and lower transit availability.
3. Requested the Premier of Ontario to include strategies to improve transit affordability in:
a. the 2014-2018 Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy;
b. the implementation of the recommendations of the Social Assistance Review Commission.
4. Requested the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to expand the Transportation Tomorrow Survey to collect more information on the socio-demographic characteristics of public transit users (including at a minimum household income) and public transit costs and implement strategies to promote inclusion of hard to reach groups in the survey.
5. Forwarded the report (March 11, 2013) from the Medical Officer of Health to:
a. Federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of State for Transport, House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities;
b. Ontario Ministers of Health and Long Term Care and Transportation;
c. City Manager and Deputy City Manager Cluster B;
d. Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning;
e. Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario;
f. Ontario Public Health Association, Association of Local Public Health Agencies, and GTA Boards of Health;
g. Canadian Urban Transit Association and Pembina Institute;
h. Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Wellesley Institute, and United Way;
i. Martin Prosperity Institute and Cities Centre, University of Toronto; and
j. Civic Action and Toronto Fair Fare Coalition.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Board of Health:
1. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health when the City presents its report on next transit lines to be built, and/or when the Province comes out with its revenue tools strategy with a screening health impact assessment.
2. Forwarded the report (March 11, 2013) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Community Development and Recreation Committee with the request to work with the TTC to do some costing of various options related to discounted fares for Torontonians in need.
Origin
Summary
Access to public transit contributes to the health of individuals, neighbourhoods, and to the city overall. The importance of public transit in Toronto is evident in residents’ high usage rates to commute to work compared to other Canadian cities. This is particularly true for lower income commuters who are more dependent on public transit to get to work than their higher income counterparts.
Despite greater reliance on public transit, its cost remains a barrier for low income Toronto residents, particularly for those on social assistance. The availability of transit also has an impact on low income residents' ability to access important goods and services such as food, health care, employment, and recreation, all of which impact their health.
It is critical that the barriers to accessing public transit experienced by low income residents be addressed. It is an opportune time to consider the needs of low income residents given the focus on transit expansion and funding in Toronto. This is especially important given the impact of limited access to transit on health and well-being. This report identifies options for addressing barriers to public transit use faced by low income Toronto residents including affordability measures, improved availability of public transit, and better data collection to enable planning to meet the transit needs of low income residents.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-56665.pdf
(March 11, 2013) Attachment 1 - Next Stop Health: Transit Access and Health Inequities in Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-56681.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/hl/comm/communicationfile-35251.pdf
(March 25, 2013) E-mail from Linsey MacPhee, Manager, Toronto Drop-In Network (TDIN) re: Next Stop Health: Transit Access and Health Inequities in Toronto (HL.New.HL20.3.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/hl/comm/communicationfile-35263.pdf
Speakers
James Kilmartin, Fair Fare Coalition
Linsey MacPhee, Manager, Toronto Drop-In Network (Submission Filed)
Shah Mohamed, Outdoor Health and Recreation Program Manager, Evergreen
Motions
That the Board of Health:
1. Request the Medical Officer of Health to report back to the Board of Health when the City presents its report on next transit lines to be built, and/or when the Province comes out with its revenue tools strategy with a screening health impact assessment.
2. Forward the reports (Items HL20.2 & HL20.3) to Community Development and Recreation Committee with the request to work with the TTC to do some costing of various options related to discounted fares for Torontonians in need.