On service, two major items were approved by Board members: the 2022 Annual Service Plan and a status update on the Cross-Boundary Service Integration Plan. Most notably, the Service Plan prepares us for the introduction of Line 5 Eglinton operations later this year.

On fares, the Board endorsed two separate reports: Fare Collection Modernization and Advancing the 5-Year Fare Policy. Both reports address our need to keep pace with changing technologies and achieve broader fare integration.

On the capital program, Commissioners approved the Transit Network Expansion Update. This report summarized several priority projects and programs, including major TTC capacity enhancements, City expansion projects and Provincial subway and LRT programs. The Board also received a status report on the Easier Access Phase III project to make our subway system fully accessible by 2025.

Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on February 10.

Giving back to support Toronto’s homeless shelters
Earlier this week, TTC Recreation Council, in partnership with Toronto Police, COMTO and TTC union partners, kicked off a sock drive to support several homeless shelters in Toronto. The donation drive runs until February 25 and aims to collect 10,000 pairs of socks.

I encourage you to contribute to this exemplary mission and make a donation at any transportation division, or in the lobby of the Gunn and Inglis buildings at Hillcrest or Head Office above Davisville Station. Employees can also choose to make a monetary donation by sending an e-transfer to odave.griffiths@ttc.ca.

Please remain vigilant and stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
February 11, 2022

TTC Board Highlights

TTC Board Meeting February 10, 2022

2022 Annual Service Plan
Commissioners approved the 2022 Annual Service Plan and the 20-point action plan that identifies 25 initiatives to optimize capacity across the TTC network. The plan includes routing changes on 27 bus routes to improve connections to new Line 5 Eglinton and routing changes on five bus routes to support customer travel patterns.

The 2022 Operating Budget, approved by the TTC Board on December 20, 2021, includes major investments to support the start of revenue service on Line 5 and the restoration of pre-pandemic service levels by the end of June based on demand. Total annual costs to operate and maintain Line 5 are anticipated to be $79.2 million gross and $62.7 million net of anticipated incremental revenue and bus service savings. With revenue service scheduled to start in Q4 2022, incremental funding of $25.6 million is included in the 2022 Operating Budget, with a further $33 million funding requirement anticipated for 2023.

Transit Network Expansion Update
The TTC Board received a third update report on the progress of transit projects to expand the TTC network with the following recommendations:

1. Authorize the TTC CEO to enter into an agreement to receive funding from Metrolinx for the infrastructure works required for Queen Street road closures to enable Metrolinx delivery of the Ontario Line Project;

2. (Subject to the first point), approve an increase to the TTC’s 2022-2031 Capital Budget and Plan to reflect the updated cost required to undertake the Queen Streetcar infrastructure work for the Ontario Line Project from $15 million to $19.3 million, and an increase in the number of temporary capital positions from four to 16 positions to perform the capital work with the total cost to be fully recovered from Metrolinx.

3. (Subject to the first point), staff submit the capital budget adjustment in the City’s first 2022 capital variance report for City Council approval; and

4. Authorize the TTC CEO to enter into the Subway Program Real Estate Protocol Agreement with Metrolinx and the City of Toronto for the Provincial Priority Subway Program based upon the key principles summarized in Appendix B of the report, to the satisfaction of the TTC’s General Counsel.

Commissioners also approved a motion moved by Commissioner Shelley Carroll for the TTC to request Metrolinx clarify the anticipated scope and provide a high-level timeline for the extension of Line 4, and that the TTC advise the Board of the response. The update report summarizes several priority projects and programs, including: Major TTC capacity enhancements, City expansion projects and Provincial subway and LRT programs.

Cross-Boundary Service Integration Plan
Commissioners approved the Cross-Boundary Service Integration Plan (CBSIP) in principle, including a phased implementation starting with a pilot on the Burnhamthorpe and Dufferin North corridors to evaluate customer experience before proceeding to full rollout. Recommendations included:

• Forwarding the CBSIP to the City Manager, City of Toronto, and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transportation, in order to:

   - Inform them of the possible benefits of the Plan; and

   - Advise of the current legislative barriers within the City of Toronto Act, that prevent the TTC from entering into agreements to co-ordinate operations within the city of Toronto with other public passenger transportation services.

• Requesting the Province to fund incremental capital and operating costs incurred by 905 transit agencies to implement service integration and PRESTO costs to develop a fare collection solution.

Commissioners approved a motion moved by Commissioner Shelley Carroll directing the TTC CEO to report back to the Board before entering phase two of the Cross-Boundary Pilot on the details of the interagency revenue sharing, a plan for the reinvestment of savings, and a plan for ensuring consistent customer service and support.

The TTC has been collaborating with neighbouring transit properties to develop a business case, implementation plan and pilot project to better integrate local public transit service across municipal boundaries.

2022 Subway Closures Forecast
Commissioners endorsed the 2022 Subway Closure Forecast and directed TTC staff to report on changes through the CEO’s Report. The report provides a forecasted schedule for subway closures in 2022, a summary of work achieved during last year’s closures, as well as initiatives introduced to improve transit service during closures. The tentative plan includes: 35 full weekend closures, eight late Sunday openings, 177 early weeknight closures and 20 days of station by-pass. The report will be forwarded to the City’s General Manager of Transportation Services.

Easier Access Phase III project status
Commissioners approved a status update report on the Easier Access Phase III project. Currently, eight subway stations are undergoing elevator construction: Lansdowne, Donlands, College, Summerhill, Rosedale, Castle Frank, Glencairn and Greenwood. The TTC’s Easier Access Phase III Project is scheduled to make all remaining subway stations accessible by 2025.

Fare Collection Modernization
After numerous deputations, the TTC Board approved the Fare Collection Modernization report with the following recommendations:

• Endorse in principle the technology and operations fare collection options, including Open Payments and account-based architecture detailed in the Comments section of the report to develop and inform the implementation plan that will be presented to the Board for approval in May 2022; and

• Authorize a sole source contract with Scheidt & Bachmann Gmbh for the purchase and installation of the required hardware to enable Open Payments on the fare gates to an upset limit of $4.3 million, inclusive of applicable taxes.

• Authorize a sole source contract with Scheidt & Bachmann Gmbh for the purchase and installation of the required hardware to enable Open Payments on the fare gates to an upset limit of $4.3 million, inclusive of applicable taxes.

• That information contained in the confidential attachment remain confidential in its entirety.

The TTC’s 10-Year Fare Collection Outlook aims to modernize the fare collection system and ensure the final outcome is driven by the TTC’s 5-Year Fare Policy. An update on Metrolinx’s revised proposal on Open Payments is scheduled for the July Board meeting.

Advancing the 5-Year Fare Policy
Board members approved the Advancing the 5-Year Fare Policy report with the following recommendations:

• Continue to support the TTC’s existing fare structure, which includes the flat fare, free two-hour transfer across all modes and the Fair Pass and age-based discounts as the hallmarks of the TTC’s fare policy;

• Direct staff to forward a copy of this report to the Ministry of Transportation to restart discussions on reintroducing the Discount Double Fare, the TTC-GO Transit co-fare to offset Line 3 closures.

Commissioners moved a motion by Chair Jaye Robinson to refer recommendation #2 in the report back to staff for further due diligence and detailed financial analysis to inform the final fare policy recommendations that will be presented to the Board for approval. The final report in May will include the findings from the last round of public consultations on customer perspectives related to fare capping and aligning concessions.

Principal agreement with Ontario Power Generation subsidiary to decarbonize TTC operations, fleet and facilitates
Commissioners approved the proposed negotiated terms with PowerON Energy Solutions LP (a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation Inc.) for the co-investment, ownership, design, build, operation and maintenance of electrification infrastructure as set out in a confidential attachment. Subject to the mutual agreement of the TTC and PowerON Energy Solutions, the TTC will make the executed agreement public. Commissioners also requested regular reporting back to the Board on the performance of PowerON Energy Solutions LP through staff’s updates on the TTC’s Green Bus Program.

The TransformTO Strategy identifies the growth and greening of the TTC fleet by 2040 as a critical piece of the City of Toronto’s Net Zero Strategy. Through the TTC’s newly established Innovation and Sustainability group, the TTC will apply a climate lens to its strategic decision-making to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make the TTC more resilient to the effects of climate change.

2022 Talent Management Outreach Plan
Board members received for information the TTC’s 2022 Talent Management Outreach Plan. The report outlines this year’s efforts to attract skilled and diverse talent for TTC job opportunities. These efforts are achieved through numerous outreach initiatives targeting under-represented and equity-deserving communities, Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and newcomers. The plan reflects the TTC’s commitment as a major employer in the city to attract a qualified and talented workforce that reflects the diversity of the customers we serve.

January 17 snowstorm presentation
Commissioners received a presentation from TTC Chief Operating Officer Jim Ross on the January 17 snowstorm and its full impact on TTC operations. A comprehensive audit is ongoing into what went well during the storm and where opportunities to improve exist. The audit includes a review of new technologies that could assist with extreme weather situations. Key lessons learned will be reviewed at the April Board meeting. The record-setting storm stopped buses due to hazardous road conditions, streetcars were held by vehicular traffic stopped on tracks, and open-cut sections of the subway network were quickly snow-covered, impacting the third rail and affecting the movement of trains. The TTC’s Transit Control Centre that day received twice the average volume of phone calls, and calls from buses and streetcars through the Vision system increased by 700 per cent to more than 14,000 calls. Commissioners recognized the intense efforts by the TTC workforce to keep the city moving as safely as possible.

Notice of Motion: West Rouge Automated Shuttle Trial
The TTC Board approved a Notice of Motion moved by Commissioner Jennifer McKelvie with the following recommendations:

• That TTC staff, in collaboration with City of Toronto transportation staff, provide a presentation at the May 2022 Board meeting on the lessons learned from the West Rouge Autonomous Vehicle trial;

• That TTC staff report back to the Board by July 2022 on the feasibility of microtransit to increase ridership and decrease greenhouse gas emissions; and

• That the TTC’s new Innovation and Sustainability Program develop an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Strategy aimed at further evaluating and deploying AV technology.

The motion confirmed the City of Toronto, the TTC and Metrolinx jointly agreed to conclude the West Rouge Automated Shuttle Trial after the Ministry of Transportation suspended its approval to operate the trial in Toronto due to an unrelated incident with a Local Motors shuttle in December 2021.

Next meeting of the TTC Board
The schedule of regular Board meetings in 2022 is condensed as a result of the municipal election on October 24. The next scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Thursday, April 14.

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