The TTC Board is debating a staff report today on ways to improve transit service in the short term.

The report lists nine recommendations. They include allowing transfers to be used for multiple trips over a two-hour period and expanding the honour system to allow streetcar riders to board by the rear doors.

The recommendations would cost $288-million for new equipment, plus $65-million in annual operating costs.

TTC CEO Andy Byford acknowledges the plans will cost more, but he says they are necessary to improve service.

Mayoral candidates Olivia Chow, Karen Stintz, and David Socknaki are backing the proposals.

Rob Ford announced this morning that he would bring in most of the proposals if he’s elected again. But he says he doesn’t like the honour system or the two-hour transfer pass. And he took a swipe at his two main challengers, saying Olivia Chow just likes to spend, and  he claims John Tory won’t comment until he has studied it.

For the record, Tory has commented on the report. He says he agrees with many of the recommendations — and has proposed some of them himself — but he calls it irresponsible of the TTC to introduce hundreds of millions of dollars in proposed expenditures without a source of revenue.