Lack of subway lines, overcrowding top concerns for Toronto voters (POLL)

Toronto transit/Shutterstock

With less than a month to go before the municipal election, a new poll from Forum Research has found that transit appears to be the main issue among voters.

This new public opinion poll shows nearly 70% of those surveyed said they have concerns about public transit in Toronto.

The poll also found a third (31%) said not enough subway lines is their biggest concern, while 29% of respondents said that overcrowding as their top worry.

Moreover, the poll found that 13% of voters are more concerned with unreliable service, while 10% said the cost of fares is their biggest concern.

“We know moving around in Toronto is going to be an issue in the municipal election,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

“How the candidates approach this important issue is critical to their success in 2018.”

With the municipal election scheduled for October 22, both mayoral candidates Jennifer Keesmaat and John Tory have said transit is a major priority.

Keesmaat, who served as a former Toronto chief city planner announced her ambitious transit plan in August, which includes building the Relief Line three years earlier and making the King Street Pilot permanent.

Earlier this month, Mayor Tory promised if he’s re-elected, he’ll move forward with the council-approved network plan that includes: a relief line, a one-stop Scarborough subway, and six SmartTrack GO stations within Toronto’s borders.

The Forum poll, which was conducted September 20 to 24, surveyed 944 voters via telephone. The results are considered accurate plus or minus 3%, 19 times out of 20.