UPX seen to be more expensive now, fewer likely to use

UPX seen to be more expensive now, fewer likely to use

Incorporate UPX into TTC at lower fare – majority

TORONTO AUGUST 4^th- In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among  892 Toronto voters, about one tenth have taken the Union-Pearson Airport Express (UPX - 9%), and usage is common to mid age groups (35 to 44 - 13%), males (11%) rather than females (6%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 14%) and Olivia Chow voters from the last mayoral election (14%).

More than two thirds say $27 fare “too expensive”

Close to 7-in-10 Torontonians find the $27 full price one way fare too expensive (68%), and just one quarter finds it “about right” (25%). This represents a sharp increase in those finding it too expensive since the last time we polled this question (April, 2015 - 58%). The fare is seen to be too dear especially by the youngest (72%), the least wealthy ($20K to $40K - 75%), Olivia Chow voters (75%), residents of the downtown (74%) and provincial New Democrats (74%).

Those who have not used less likely to use now than previously

Fewer than one fifth of those who have not used the UPX say they are likely to use it if traveling to or from Pearson (16%), and this is a decline from the last time we measured this, before service started (April, 2015 - 20%). In total, fewer than 4-in-10 are at all likely to use the UPX (39%), and this is down from close to half in the spring (46%). Those most likely to use it include Doug Ford voters (19%), in Etobicoke and York (22% each).

Majority agree UPX should be TTC commuter express, with lower fare, more stops

A large majority of Toronto voters agree with the proposition that the UPX should be incorporated into the TTC as a commuter express with a lower fare and more stops (70%), and very few disagree (15%). Agreement is common to the mid aged (44 to 54 - 75%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 77%), Chow voters (76%), in York (74%) and Scarborough (76%).

$12 seen as appropriate one way fare for UPX as TTC Commuter Express

When asked the appropriate one way fare for a UPX designated as a TTC commuter express with more stops, the average suggested is about $12, and this is common to all demographic groups. The suggested range ran from “less than $5” to “$27, the same as it is now”.

“It appears Torontonians use and accept the necessity of an airport link, it’s just that they think it should cost half as much and stop more. It’s instructive that, after 6 weeks of operation, voters think it’s more expensive than they did initially, and are less likely to use it," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.