The TTC and today’s announcement from the Province of Ontario

This morning (April 10), Premier Doug Ford made an announcement about transit expansion in Toronto and the surrounding areas. Four projects were highlighted. They are:

• A revised and extended Relief Line (the “Ontario Line”) will cost $10.9 billion and will be delivered by 2027.
• The Line 1 North Extension will cost $5.6 billion and should be open soon after the Relief Line.
• A revised and extended Line 2 East Scarborough Extension will cost $5.5 billion and will be delivered before 2030.
• The Line 5 Eglinton West Extension will cost $4.7 billion and will be delivered before 2031.

Together with the TTC Executive and City of Toronto staff, including the City Manager, I am taking the time to review the information released in today’s announcement to determine what, if any impacts, it has on the TTC. There are still many details that need clarity.

Today’s announcement introduced new and revised transit projects that will certainly impact the TTC’s own plans and deliverables. We have an incredibly competent and committed workforce who not only know how to deliver the highest quality service to our customers, but understand the importance that transit plays in the fabric of this city.

While I will be reviewing the details announced today in great detail, it was encouraging to hear that there is shared recognition that we need to improve capacity issues on Line 1. It was also encouraging to hear that some of the proposed plans build on the strong work the TTC has already been doing, particularly as it relates to the engineering and expansion work on the Line 2 East Extension, the Line 1 North Extension and the Relief Line South projects.

We will continue to work with the City of Toronto and the Province on the specifics of what was announced today as it relates to the future ownership of our subway network.

I know many of you will have questions about what today’s announcement – and the ongoing discussions about transit ownership – mean for the TTC, for your teams and for your own jobs. Between now and next Tuesday, April 16, the Provincial Budget will be released, and both the TTC Board and City Council will meet. There will no doubt be more details and updates. I am committed to sharing any and all new information that comes from those meetings with you.

For groups that are more directly impacted by what was revealed today about transit expansion and the TTC, I will be working with my colleagues on the TTC Executive to meet with you directly to answer your questions as best as we can. I am unwavering in my commitment to transparency and will continue to provide you with information, as well as making myself and my colleagues available to answer questions directly with your teams.

You are the common thread that helps keep this city moving and I appreciate your effort and commitment every single day. I am reassured in the knowledge that regardless of the path it takes, there is a shared commitment at all levels of government to make transit a priority and improve on what we have. We are vital to this city and its residents and you should all feel a sense of pride and comfort in that.

In the meantime, I want to thank you for the hard work you do, and for continuing to provide excellent service to our customers as we keep this city moving.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
April 10, 2019

News Release – Office of the Premier

Premier Ford Unveils Transportation Vision
Ontario Announces $28.5 Billion to Get Ontario Moving

TORONTO – Transit users and commuters across Ontario can look forward to transportation improvements as part of the Government of Ontario’s historic new transportation vision, Premier Doug Ford announced today. Joined by Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation, and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure, Ford announced a $28.5 billion expansion to Ontario’s transit network. This is the most money ever invested to get shovels in the ground and get new subways built.

“Our government is investing in transportation to bring relief and new opportunities to transit users and commuters,” said Ford. “We announced the new Ontario Line to deal with the dangerous congestion on Line 1, the Yonge North Subway Extension that will connect the subway to one of the region’s largest employment centres, the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension to better serve communities, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension – a large portion of which will be built underground to keep people and goods moving on our roadways. This is our plan, our priority.”

The province will invest $11.2 billion to support these four rapid transit projects. This funding over-delivers on the government’s commitment to put $5 billion into subway extensions.

This funding is in addition to the significant contributions made to transportation in Ontario. In just nine months, Ontario has delivered the long asked for expansion of GO Train service to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines, years ahead of schedule; dramatically enhanced GO Train service to Kitchener-Waterloo region; committed billions to transit projects for Hamilton and Ottawa regions; moved ahead with the long-awaited light rail transit for Mississauga; and announced $1.3 billion to repair and rebuild highways across the province, as well as billions in infrastructure to better support our rural communities.

As part of the announcement today, Premier Ford reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with the City of Toronto to upload the TTC subway infrastructure.

“The TTC is a vital service that supports not just Torontonians but the people of Ontario,” said Yurek. “Our government is continuing to work in good faith with the city under the Terms of Reference to make sure that we can build better transit faster.”

“Today we are embarking on the most ambitious provincial transit buildout Ontario has ever seen,” added McNaughton. “This is great for people and good for jobs.”

Quick Facts

• The Ontario Line will cost $10.9 billion and will be delivered by 2027.
• The Yonge North Subway Extension will cost $5.6 billion and should be open soon after the Ontario Line.
• The Scarborough Subway Extension will cost $5.5 billion and will be delivered before 2030.
• The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will cost $4.7 billion and will be delivered before 2031.
• The projects will require a combined $28.5 billion, of which the province has committed $11.2 billion.
• The Terms of Reference agreed between the province and the City of Toronto have guided discussions on uploading subway infrastructure from the city to the province, including the building and maintenance of new and existing subway lines. These discussions continue regarding existing subway lines.

News release issued by the Office of the Premier on April 10, 2019