Year in review 2005
January 6: The Platform Video Screens pilot was launched at Bloor-Yonge Station.
February 9: The Commission approved the purchase of 330 new, low-floor buses: 180 low-floor, clean-diesel and 150 low-floor, diesel-electric hybrid – the first of their kind to enter the fleet.
March 6: The cost of tickets, tokens and cash fares increased, but the price of the Metropass remained frozen.
May 1: 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Metropass.
May 26: The TTC officially welcomed aboard its 25 billionth rider at Eglinton Station.
May 29: 34th Annual Bus Roadeo Grand Champions: Edward Mernagh – Bus; Martin Owen – Wheel-Trans; Paolo Pozzebon/Nektarious Doukogiannis/Bob Keketsidis – Maintenance Team; David Kirby – Maintenance Driver; and Carey Leroux – Support Group Drivers.
May 30: The public got their first chance to see and try out new racks on buses at the launch of Bike Week.
June 17: Chief General Manager Rick Ducharme, Toronto Mayor David Miller, Michael Roshlau, President of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, expressed delight at the funding agreement signed by the federal government and the Ontario government, which will pump gas tax dollars into public transit.
June 27: The TTC’s It’s On Here pizzazz campaign kicked off with a special summer concert series with a grand piano player in white tie and tails at Finch Station.
July 31: A Time-Based Transfer pilot program was introduced on the 512 St Clair route.
August 18: The TTC officially broke ground for the new $78.5 million Mount Dennis Garage/Division.
September: The TTC introduces the new transferrable Metropass and the new transferrable Weekly Pass.
September 15: The TTC officially launched its fifth Community Bus route – the 405 Etobicoke.
September 27: The TTC launched pilot projects to test automated bus stop announcements and security cameras on buses.
October 25: Eglinton West becomes the TTC’s 23rd accessible station with the official launch of elevator access.
November 23: The Canadian Urban Transit Association presented Employee Recognition Awards to three Russell Carhouse employees and to the 2004 TTC/United Way Fundraising Team.