Fudged LTC Numbers?

Can the LTC be trusted?

Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:40:42 -0700 (PDT) From: “Gregory Fowler” To: “Larry Ducharme” Subject: LTC Ridership Sir, In the past, I have communicated my concern to you that raw ridership numbers are relatively meaningless, because they do not reflect the corresponding increase in the city population. However, it did not occur to me that there was any reason to question those raw numbers. I simply accepted them at face value. Having re-examined all of the staff reports re ‘Financial Update – Passenger Riding’ which are available on the LTC website as part of your meeting agendas, I now have a question with respect to the accuracy of the reported raw ridership numbers. By your own admission, there has been a marked trend “away from the cash and ticket categories to the pass category.” Although the cash and ticket categories can be very accurately measured, ridership for the pass category can only be calculated. As I understand it, you have created something that you call “ride factors” which are based upon “expected usage” of those passes, and you then pad (fudge?) the measured ridership (cash & ticket) to arrive at your published ridership numbers. Worse still, “factors are adjusted as required…” Required for what purpose? So that it will appear that you are experiencing a growth in ridership? How hard would it be for you to take an actual head count? An accurate measurement of the number of individuals who actually board LTC buses month by month? Instead of simply guessing? Greg Fowler 962 Eagle Crescent London, Ontario; N5Z 3H7 — https://frommybottomstep.wordpress.com

Tags: accounting, accuracy, calculation, decline, expect, growth, LTC, measure, number, passenger, population, report, Ridership