Toronto public transit services and politicians are facing backlash on social media following Game 7 of the World Series because some transit services were not extended past 1:30 a.m.
Videos circulating on social media show fans waiting in stations after the game when service had stopped. Some social media users are upset with the decision, calling it poor planning, and saying that service should have been extended due to the size of the event.
The Toronto Transit Commission posted a reminder on social media before the game that the subways will stop after 1:30 a.m. and the city reposted it shortly after midnight, saying the last GO train from Union Station would be leaving soon.
“Reminder: we know the game is running late, but transit won’t wait!” the city said in a post.
The game wrapped up shortly after 12 a.m. in a heartbreaking loss for the Blue Jays. About 40,000 people packed the sold-out Rogers Centre and watch parties were hosted across the city.
Mandeep Lali, the CEO of the TTC, put out a response on social media saying there were “very few issues” with TTC service Saturday night and the contingency plans, that were in place should the game run late, were not activated.
Lali said TTC service operated for 90 minutes following the end of the game and services other than subways and TTC buses are out of their control.
“We’re aware of social media complaints about GO and UP Express service at Union Station, but Metrolinx, operates those services, not the TTC,” Lali said on social media Sunday afternoon.
Metrolinx is unable to operate overnight or add additional trains “due to track ownership and operational considerations,” the service said in a statement to CBC Toronto on Sunday.
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Metrolinx also said they offered additional service throughout the Blue Jays postseason run including additional late-night trains on the Lakeshore West line, Kitchener line, Stouffville line and Barrie line to accommodate Game 7.
“These trains were held as long as possible after the game and every train was at full capacity when it departed,” Metrolinx said in the statement.
City councillor, Josh Matlow, said on social media that he plans to raise concerns about the service at the TTC board meeting on Monday.
“Both Metrolinx and the TTC really should’ve been prepared for the possibility of a late game to avoid leaving thousands of people stranded,” Matlow said in his post.
Some users on social media are targeting their complaints about the service to Toronto’s mayor, Olivia Chow. Braman Thillainathan, a spokesperson from Mayor Chow’s office, said the mayor plans to raise the issue at Monday’s TTC board meeting, where she’ll support a motion from the TTC chair to improve special event transit service.
“Mayor Chow believes TTC service should be extended after major events so riders can get home safely and conveniently,” the statement reads.
Councillor Brad Bradford, who has said he plans to run in the next mayoral election, also addressed the complaints on social media.
“We’ll fix dumb decisions like this as part of my back to basics approach: move lots of people, where they need to go, when they need to. Serve the people, not the punch clock,” he said in a post Sunday morning.
