Office of the Chief Executive

The TTC has reached another important milestone – last week we surpassed 33 billion riders on the system since 1921. This is particularly meaningful given the impact COVID-19 has had on our ridership over the past two years. Throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to carry thousands of customers daily, and we see more returning every day.

This achievement is a real testament to the dedication of our workforce. None of this would have been possible without the nearly 16,000 employees who worked tirelessly to get our customers to and from their destinations safely. Thank you for all you do to make the TTC a great transit system.

Wi-Fi pilot on buses expanded
The TTC continues to expand its Wi-Fi pilot on buses. Wi-Fi equipment was recently activated on all 34 Eglinton East and 165 Weston Rd buses. This pilot is part of a phased proof-of-concept trial aimed at improving the TTC’s service offering, and is specifically targeted towards priority neighbourhoods in Toronto.

In 2021, the TTC introduced Wi-Fi-enabled buses on the 35/935 Jane and 102/902 Markham Rd services as part of a two-phased project testing onboard Wi-Fi. To date, just over 180 TTC buses are now equipped for public Wi-Fi. Special exterior decals are affixed to the vehicles to inform riders that they can take advantage of Wi-Fi service on their trip.

The data gathered from the pilot is assisting the TTC to develop a business case for future recommendations for public Wi-Fi on surface transit.

TTC/United Way campaign events
The TTC/United Way campaign is in full swing. There’s several terrific events coming up and I’d like to encourage everyone to attend:

• Wasaga Paintball Adventure on Saturday, October 22.

• TTC’s first-ever Halloween Fest at Bay Lower Station on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

• Bowling Tournament on Thursday, November 10.

• Trivia Night on Thursday, November 24.

Family Day delivers a fun day for all
After a three-year hiatus, the TTC’s Family Day delivered a fun time for employees and their families. More than 1,200 people attended the special event on October 16, and it was wonderful to meet and greet so many of you in person.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteer staff and participants for making Family Day 2022 a great success. Thank you!

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
October 21, 2022