One transit advocacy group in Toronto is alleging that a list of TTC service cuts was kept secret before a City Council budget vote in February. 

According to draft TTC service memos obtained by TTCriders, commuters will also experience longer wait times for the Line 1 subway starting on May 7. 

The documents, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information request, reveal that 14 TTC routes will see service reductions, which include both streetcar and bus routes. 

"TTC staff told City Councillors at the Jan. 9, 2023 TTC Board meeting and a Jan. 13, 2023 Budget Committee meeting that a list of service cuts would be available before Council voted on the 2023 budget on Feb. 15, 2023," the group wrote. 

.@ChrisMoiseTO and @BravoDavenport asked #TTC staff during the budget process if a list of service cuts would be available before the Feb. 15 City Council budget vote.

Staff said yes, but a list was never published.

Yet documents accessed through FOI show drafts were available.

— TTCriders (@ttcriders) April 12, 2023

"Documents received through a Freedom of Information request show that a list of service reductions planned for March 2023 was available on Feb. 8, 2023, but these were not made publicly available. A first draft of service reductions planned for May 2023 were made available on Jan. 27, 2023." 

According to the draft service memos obtained by TTCriders, 14 routes will see reductions as of May 7, namely Line 1, 506 Carlton, 512 St Clair, 32 Eglinton West, 52 Lawrence West, 70 O'Connor, 73 Royal York, 76 Royal York South, 85 Sheppard East, 95 York Mills, 112 West Mall, 116 Morningside, 131 Nugget, and 995 York Mills Express.

The TTC has confirmed cuts to Line 1, after CityNews investigated. Draft service memos obtained by TTCriders through FOI request show planned reductions on 13 more routes.

Read more: https://t.co/JBLLzM9K0Z
*Deleted and reposted graphic as previous set included a typo* pic.twitter.com/Dlhy0GySXx

— TTCriders (@ttcriders) April 12, 2023

According to the memos, Line 1 subway service wait times on weekend mornings, Sunday evenings, and weekdays after 10 p.m. would increase from five minutes to eight minutes. 

Other changes noted by TTCriders include the 506 Carlton/College route, which would increase wait times during morning and evening rush hour from nine minutes to 10 minutes. 

"It is concerning that information about the impacts of TTC service reductions was not made public before the TTC Board, the Budget Committee, and City Council debated the budget, even though this information was available," said Councillor Chris Moise (Ward 13 - Toronto Centre).

"When I requested this information at the Special TTC Board Meeting in January, I was told it was not available. The public expects and deserves greater transparency and accountability."