The Next Stop Podcast

Episode 017: Scarborough Rapid Transit

January 27, 2023 thenextstop Episodes

We take the Scarborough RT and visit all six stations on Line 3: Kennedy, Lawrence East, Ellesmere, Midland, Scarborough Centre, and McCowan.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:45 — 50.9MB)

Episode 016: Welcome Back

December 31, 2022 thenextstop Episodes

After an extended break, we return to chat about transit safety on the TTC, narratives of transit versus driving as dangerous activities, and looking ahead to 2023.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:15 — 13.8MB)

Episode 015: What is Dundas Station?

May 31, 2022 thenextstop Episodes

We ponder the downtown shopping experience, art versus embellishment, and constant activity at Dundas station.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:06 — 37.0MB)

Episode 014: Intercity Bus Maps

April 28, 2022 thenextstop Episodes

We talk about the gaping void of intercity bus maps in Ontario, and interview two transit advocates who filled that void with their own maps: Shaun Cleaver and Sean Marshall.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:33 — 58.9MB)

Episode 013: What is St. George Station?

January 31, 2022 thenextstop Episodes

A visit to the very utilitarian transfer station between Line 1 and Line 2.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:41 — 32.2MB)

Episode 012: Ontario Line Update

December 14, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

We welcome back veteran transit advocate Steve Munro for a critical look at the updates to the Ontario Line subway plan.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:17 — 37.8MB)

Episode 011: What is Kipling Station?

October 8, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

Exploring the western terminal station of the Line 2 subway, and the new GO Transit/MiWay regional transit hub across the street.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:24 — 40.0MB)

Episode 010: The Case for Free Transit

September 13, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

A super-sized episode about free transit: what it means, how to do it, where it’s been tried, and its successful implementation in Kansas City, Missouri. Guests: Jason Prince (urban planner & co-editor, Free Public Transit), Matt Staub (Kansas City transit advocate), Robbie Makinen (president & CEO, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:54 — 72.5MB)

Episode 009: What is Dundas West Station?

June 28, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

The next instalment of Station Shorts takes us to Dundas West subway station, where we encounter Vincent Loop, a two-way McDonald’s, and go on an adventure to find the Union-Pearson Express.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:28 — 42.8MB)

Episode 008: Meet Fenton Jagdeo Jr.

May 31, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

A feature interview with Fenton Jagdeo Jr., the newest and youngest person to serve on the board of the Toronto Transit Commission.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:36 — 33.8MB)

Show Notes & Links – Episode 007: Fair Enforcement

April 11, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

Fun coincidence: we released episode 007 on the same day that the TTC released its own report on racial disparities in transit enforcement. (Toronto Star)

Toronto Auditor General’s Report on Fare Evasion and Fare Inspection (PDF)

Accompanying video of AG report (YouTube)

Reece Maxwell-Crawford

Episode 007: Fair Enforcement

April 8, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

We tackle the thorny issue of TTC fare enforcement: its recent origins, why we don’t like it, and what the TTC should be doing instead of fixating on fare evasion. Adriel Smiley shares his Transit Story of being fare inspected at Spadina subway station.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:55 — 32.8MB)

Episode 006: What is Bessarion Station?

February 10, 2021 thenextstop Episodes

The next installment of our Station Shorts miniseries takes us to Bessarion station, the infamously isolated station of Line 4.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:09 — 22.7MB)

Episode 005b: Shut It All Down (Part 2)

December 14, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

A look back at the U.S. anti-racism protests in May-June 2020, and the unprecedented transit shutdowns in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Minneapolis. Part 2 of 2: Miami and Minneapolis. Guests: Laurie Scop (Miami transit rider) & Adam Burch (Minneapolis Metro Transit bus driver)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:44 — 32.9MB)

Episode 005: Shut It All Down (Part 1)

November 10, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

A look back at the U.S. anti-racism protests in May-June 2020, and the unprecedented transit shutdowns in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Minneapolis. Part 1 of 2: New York City and Los Angeles. Guests: Terry Nguyen (Vox Media) & Laura Nelson (Los Angeles Times)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:14 — 27.2MB)

Episode 004: What is Chester Station?

September 23, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

First in our Station Shorts miniseries: A profile of Chester subway station, the most unassuming station on Line 2.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:25 — 19.6MB)

Show Notes & Links – Episode 003: The Miracle of Brampton Transit

July 24, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

Brampton Transit By the Numbers:

70 bus routes, including: 5 Züm rapid bus routes + 4 express routes
3 heavy rail lines
450 buses
1,500 employees
Ridership in 2019: 32,000,000

References:

Brampton Transit

Brampton 2040 Vision

Episode Music:

“Inspired” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Episode 003: The Miracle of Brampton Transit

July 24, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

A feature episode on the city of Brampton, Ontario, a car-centric suburb that’s achieving and sustaining impressive ridership growth through its “Transit First” approach to planning, operations, and policy.

Guests: Sean Marshall, urban geographer; Alex Milojevic, General Manager of Brampton Transit; Mayor Patrick Brown, City of Brampton.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:43 — 47.2MB)

Episode 002: Very Special Episode: The Effects of COVID-19 on Transit

June 6, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

A very special episode that examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected transit in three Canadian cities: Toronto, Windsor, and New Westminster.

Guests: Carlos Santos, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113; Councillor Rino Bortolin, City of Windsor; Councillor Nadine Nakagawa, City of New Westminster; Petros Kusmu, SaveTransit.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:10 — 61.1MB)

Show Notes & Links for Episode 001: The Ontario Line

May 8, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

Glossary of Terms:

LRT (Light Rail Transit) – Rapid transit that has similar capacity and speed of a subway, but more cost-effective due to being above ground.

Metrolinx – The regional transit planning agency of the Government of Ontario that is overseeing the Ontario Line subway proposal.

P3 (Public-Private Partnership) – Contract between the government and private sector to build public infrastructure.

Example: Crosslinx is the P3 contract for the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (or Line 5) in Toronto.

Scarborough RT (or Line 3) – Six-stop rapid transit line between Kennedy subway station and McCowan station in Scarborough.

TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) – The public transit system of the city of Toronto, consisting of buses, streetcars, subways, the Scarborough RT, and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (opening 2021).

Links:

Ontario Line Subway Proposal (Metrolinx)

Summary of Ontario Line (City of Toronto)

City of Toronto and TTC Assessment of the Ontario Line (PDF)

Doug Ford’s Ontario Line headed down the wrong track (NOW Magazine, February 2020)

Ontario Line: Many Questions, Few Answers (stevemunro.ca, February 2020)

Episode 001: The Ontario Line

April 27, 2020 thenextstop Episodes

In the pilot episode of The Next Stop, Helen Lee and Vincent Puhakka share why they want to explain and demystify transit in Toronto and beyond.

Vincent takes a first look at the proposed Ontario Line subway in an interview with veteran transit advocate, Steve Munro. Helen introduces the ongoing series, My Transit Story.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 21.8MB)