Year in review 2014
January 1: New fare rates in line with the rate of inflation took effect. The pricing change saw a five-cent increase in the price of a single Adult token and a proportionate increase to all other fares, plus a one-trip increase in the price of the Adult Metropass. Cash fares remain unchanged.
January 1: A new Support Person Assistance Card was introduced to permit one support person to travel with a fare-paying customer with a disability on a single fare.
February 14: TTC Chair Karen Stintz and CEO Andy Byford unveiled the second annual Customer Charter at Bloor-Yonge Station.
February 19: City Council appointed Ward 9 York Centre Councillor Maria Augimeri as TTC Chair to a term of office expiring on Nov. 30. She replaced TTC Chair Karen Stintz.
February 26: After more than 80 sessions reaching nearly 6,500 employees throughout the organization, CEO Andy Byford wrapped up his Employee Town Halls at Roncesvalles Carhouse.
March 3: The TTC launched a wayfinding signage trial at Bloor-Yonge Station using line numbers and colour-coding to identify subway/RT lines.
March 30: The original Yonge Subway turned 60 years old. Canada’s first subway – and the first post-war subway to be built in North America – opened on March 30, 1954.
April 20: The TTC’s new, low-floor streetcar appeared in the Toronto Beaches Easter Parade accompanied by a CLRV, PCC and Peter Witt streetcar – the first time all four generations of the vehicles were seen together.
May: Blue priority seating was introduced on the new articulated buses. The blue-coloured seats began to appear on all vehicles to enhance the visibility of designated seating areas for persons with disabilities, the elderly and expectant mothers.
May 16: The TTC and its four unions successfully negotiated and ratified new, four-year collective agreements. Contracts with ATU Local 113, CUPE Local 2, CUPE Local 5089 and IAMAW Lodge 235 expire on April 1, 2018.
June 8: 2014 Roadeo champions: Bus Roadeo: Grand Champion Dave Kirby; 2nd John Bome; 3rd Acquilino Rodas. Wheel-Trans Roadeo: Grand Champion Steve Brumpton; 2nd Michael Petersen; 3rd Donald MacLeod.
June 12: A commemorative plaque was unveiled at Wellesley Station to honour the diverse community hosting WorldPride 2014. The TTC also celebrated WorldPride with a special Family/Group weekend pass and a specially wrapped Pride bus.
June 21: The TTC Cricket Team beat the Toronto Police to capture the Mayor’s Cricket Trophy at Sunnybrook Park.
July 7: The TTC’s online store, shop.ttc.ca, was launched, selling vintage posters, route maps and other merchandise.
July 11: Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver visited Hillcrest to announce a new 10-year gas tax agreement flowing more than $8 billion directly to Ontario municipalities for top infrastructure priorities.
August 18: Union Station second platform officially opens for service, doubling platform capacity at the station.
August 19: The TTC Board unanimously approved Opportunities to Improve Transit Service in Toronto, a report outlining nine bus and streetcar service initiatives that can be implemented in the short- to medium-term to improve the quality, reliability, comfort and convenience of transit service in Toronto.
August 31: The first, new accessible streetcars (#4400 and #4403) were launched into revenue service on the 510 Spadina route. The low-floor cars were operated by Eddie Braga and Anna Nisiewicz. The 510 became a proof-of-payment route and accessible to riders using wheelchairs and scooters.
September 12: The Track and Structure Shop at Greenwood Complex was formally dedicated to the memory of the late Road Master Peter Pavlovski with a special plaque unveiling.
October: CEO Andy Byford introduced the TTC’s first-ever Employee Charter, a key component in the TTC’s modernization and transformation journey.
October 20: The TTC launched the Employee Engagement Survey to measure employee satisfaction on a range of workplace issues.
November 10: ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear unveiled a report entitled Toronto’s Transit Future at City Hall. The report addresses many challenges facing the TTC and outlines specific and costed-out recommendations to address those issues.
November 24: Dufferin Station elevators entered service, making it the TTC’s 33rd accessible subway/RT station.
November 26: The TTC set a new one-day ridership record of 1,875,455 passengers carried (excluding 2002 World Youth Days/Papal Visit).
November 30: New streetcars #4400 and #4404 were the first of two vehicles on the 510 Spadina route to be activated with PRESTO smart card technology.
December 3: City Council appointed Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence Councillor Josh Colle as TTC Chair. He replaced TTC Chair Maria Augimeri.
December 8: New Toronto Mayor John Tory and new TTC Chair Josh Colle announced that proof-of-payment and all-door boarding would be effective on Jan. 1, 2015 on the 504 King, the TTC’s busiest surface route.
December 9: Seven elected Councillors appointed to the TTC Board were sworn in prior to the first meeting at City Hall.
December 16: Mayor John Tory and TTC Chair Josh Colle announced expanded debit/credit payment for tickets, tokens and passes effective on Jan. 1, 2015.
December 19: Lawrence West Station elevators entered service, making it the TTC’s 34th accessible subway/RT station.
December 31/January 1, 2015: For the second consecutive year, the TTC offered free New Year’s Eve rides courtesy of Corby Spirit and Wine.