The TTC needs fixing. Here are five transit systems from around the world that are doing it right

The better way? Maybe not. Weve been given a lot of reasons why Torontos transit system is so overcrowded and expensive, but many other cities around the world have solved these problems. Even cities like Bangkok, which have much less money. Whether its actually getting things built, free fares or working with private contractors, it seems there are a few tricks the TTC and Metrolinx could pick up from their peers around the world. Heres a look at five public transportation systems and the lessons they hold for the Greater Toronto Area.

LONDON, U.K.: Transit central

Between those iconic double-decker buses and the Underground (better known as the Tube), Londons public transportation network is one of the most well-known on the planet. The entire system is overseen by Transport for London, a municipal agency created by the municipal government in 2000. TfLs responsibilities include the Tube, buses, a cable car and even Santander Cycles, a bike rental service with docking stations around the city. Oh, and Transport for London is also responsible for most major roads in London. Its a holistic approach to moving people around one of the worlds biggest cities. But just because its got central oversight from a government body doesnt mean Londons public transportation system is a strictly governmental affair. Other than the Underground, the vast majority of the transportation system is run for TfL by private contractors and franchisees. Yup, even those iconic double-decker red buses. Maintenance for the Tube is also done by a public-private partnership, AKA PPP. The crown jewel of TfLs network is the Tube, which Londoners have been known to grouse about (especially if a rush-hour train gets stuck between stations in summer), but it is still the envy of most of the world. The Tube has 11 lines and a total of 270 stations, covering 402 kilometres, and moves up to five million passengers a day. The public transportation system in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore has won accolades from tourists, travel magazines and large international consultancies alike. The heart of it is the Mass Rapid Transit network, the rough equivalent of the TTCs heavy-rail subway system.In Singapore, there are six MRT lines with 122 stations, running a total length of 203 kilometres. By comparison, the TTC has three subway lines with 74 stops and a total length of 70.5 kilometres.Surely, then, Singapore must have started its MRT system long before Torontos own subway got underway, right? Guess again. While the TTCs first subway line opened up in 1954, Singapores MRT only opened in 1987. There are ambitious expansion plans, too, with expectations the MRT network will run a total of 360 kilometres by 2030. That would, according to Singapores Local Transport Authority, put eight out of 10 households on the island within a 10-minute walk of an MRT station. Still, while the LTA built (and still owns) the MRT, its day-to-day operations are handled by private contractors. In fairness to Torontos glacial transit decision-making, theres only one layer of government in Singapore national.Theres no such thing as a free lunch. But a free ride? That, you can find. Earlier this month, Luxembourg became the first European country to make public transportation free. Yes, even for tourists. Why, in a country that is the richest in the world by some measures (including a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), would the government feel the need to make streetcars, buses and trains free? Well, for one thing, the tiny countrys traffic jams especially in the capital city of Luxembourg City are notoriously bad. There are 647 cars for every 1,000 people, according to the International Road Federation. In the Estonian capital of Tallinn, the introduction in 2013 of free bus fares for local residents was followed by overcrowding on some more popular routes. Whether that will be Luxembourgs experience remains to be seen.The capital of the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan has a three-line, 36.2-kilometre subway, which opened to the public in 1977. The planning process for the network started after a major earthquake hit the Central Asian city in 1968. The 29 stations on the line were built to withstand an earthquake up to 9.0 on the Richter Scale. The tunnels and stations were also designed to be used as nuclear bomb shelters during the Cold War, and were technically considered military installations and thus, off-limits for picture-taking until 2018.But all those tidbits arent why Tashkents subway system is on this list. The rolling stock (thats transportation speak for the trains themselves) is old and creaky, and theres nothing particularly compelling about the service. No, the reason its here is that the stations are beautiful. No, really. Were talking museum-quality beauty, with intricate inlaid tile mosaics, marble and gold in many of the stations.Since 2004, commuters and tourists in the traffic-riddled Thai capital have been able to avoid the gridlock by riding a clean, modern Metropolitan Rapid Transit train (a heavy-rail, mostly-underground train equivalent to Torontos subway). There are two lines, with a total of 45 stations in the MRTs 60-kilometre network. Three more lines are under construction. The MRT is in addition to the BTS Skytrain, an elevated train that has been operating since 1999. There are 48 stations on two lines in the 53-kilometre BTS network. Bangkok also has hundreds of buses and dozens of ferries.

Question: Go to the content section and read The TTC needs fixing. Here are five transit systems from around the world that are doing it right. Choose one of the transit systems discussed in the article and make a case to TTC with reference to chapter 8, Management & Leadership and chapter 12 Human Resources, about what they should do using a key concept from each chapter that is most relevant to the case to support your response. Be sure to write in paragraph format, two paragraphs consisting of 6-10 sentences.