Message from the Executives
FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights
Yesterday, the TTC Board held its final regularly scheduled meeting of the year. It was my pleasure to extend congratulations to the following employees in attendance who celebrated major milestones in 2023: Rail Cars and Shops’ Joseph Desario for 45 years of service, and from Bus Maintenance and Shops, Salvatore Ciociola, Frank Cosentino and Cosimo Lacaria (retired) on four decades of service.
The Board also welcomed five new ACAT members. Starting their new terms on January 1, 2024, will be Angela Marley, Chau Sheung Wong, Debbie Gillespie, Lori Bailey and Tammy Adams.
Staff also provided an update on our progress on transitioning our fleet to be completely zero emissions by 2040 or sooner. The next shipment of eBuses is expected to start arriving in Q2 2024, with all new vehicles delivered by the end of 2025. The 340 new eBuses will add to the TTC’s existing fleet of 60 and include fixes identified through the eBus pilot program.
Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on December 7. Board members will convene again for a special meeting on December 20 to review and approve the TTC budgets. The public meeting will be live-streamed on the Official TTC YouTube Channel.
Preparing for winter weather
While we may not all be looking forward to the winter weather, the TTC is ready for it – we have been preparing all year long. We have a plan in place to respond to severe inclement weather, and we have shared reminders with our frontline employees to safely handle cold and severe weather conditions on the roads and in their work locations.
In anticipation of the winter months, we have also worked closely with the City of Toronto to develop an operational plan to connect individuals using the TTC as shelter with supports outside the network. Until April 15, 2024, we will provide dedicated buses at Spadina and Union stations to transport these individuals to City of Toronto shelters and warming centres (when operating). When transport is not possible (i.e. warming centres and shelters have reached capacity), buses will be stationary overnight at Spadina Station using battery packs to stay warm. This demonstrates one of the many ways we are building important connections within our communities.
Stay safe.
Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
December 8, 2023
TTC Board Highlights
TTC Board Meeting December 7, 2023
Community Safety, Security and Well-Being on Public Transit
The TTC Board received for information a follow-up report on the TTC multi-disciplinary approach to managing community safety and well-being issues on the system. The report provides an update on the work undertaken to address the motions adopted by the TTC Board at the meeting on September 26. The three areas of focus are:
• High-visibility Presence and Incident Management – Customer Support
- Explore opportunities to cross-train and expand on Fare Inspector functions as the Commission invests in its approach to community safety and well-being on public transit.
- Feasibility of redeploying injured employees as Community Safety Ambassadors and/or Customer Service Representatives in stations to increase employee visibility.
- Feasibility of requiring Transit Control to have a Special Constable or other law-enforcement-trained specialist 24/7.
- Retention rates for Special Constables (starting with the class of 2018 and each subsequent class/year thereafter) to ensure the TTC ends its reliance on private security guards.
- Potential opportunities to educate customers on the safety measures that are in place in the transit system.
• High-visibility Presence and Incident Management – Employee Support
- Feasibility of providing enhanced support and counselling beyond the Enhanced Employee Assistance Program for employees that are witness and/or victims of crimes.
- Feasibility of reviewing the number of Court Advocates (currently there are two) providing support to employees that have been victims and/or witnesses of crimes and reporting back to the Board as part of the budget process as to whether this number is sufficient.
• Social Support for Persons Experiencing Homelessness and Individuals with Complex Needs
- Cost recovery from the City of Toronto for special buses provided for people waiting or provided for direct transport of people to shelters.
- TTC staff, in consultation with City staff, report back to the next TTC Board meeting with an update, developed in consideration of the forthcoming October 2023 City of Toronto Shelter System Update report, on the Getting Back to Transit initiative and the use of buses as part of the TTC’s Partnership Approach to Community Safety, Security, and Well-Being on Public Transit.
Policies to Support the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service Culture Change Program
After receiving a TTC staff presentation, Board members discussed the Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and Body-worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera System policies to support the overarching goals of the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Culture Change Program. Commissioners passed the following motion moved by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers:
Consideration of the item be deferred until the February 22, 2024 TTC Board meeting, at earliest, subject to the following:
a. Incorporation of all feedback received by the Board at its December 7, 2023 meeting into the Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and Body-Worn and Special Constable In-Car Camera Systems;
b. Full and robust consultation on the Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and Body-Worn and Special Constable In-Car Camera Systems policies, to begin no later than December 15, 2023 with Special Constables and Fare Inspectors, as represented by CUPE Local 5089;
c. Full and robust public consultation on the Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and Body-Worn and Special Constable In-Car Camera Systems policies, to begin no later than December 15, 2023; and
d. Preparation of a report to the TTC Board detailing the feedback received through a. b. and c. above, whether the feedback was incorporated into the policies, and if not, an explanation as to why the feedback was not incorporated.
Presentation on TTC’s Green Bus and Bus Design Innovation programs
The Board received a joint TTC/Amalgamated Transit Union (International) presentation on the Bus Design Innovation Program as well as an overview of the TTC’s Green Bus Program. In 2022, the TTC awarded its last hybrid-electric contract for 336 buses. As of December 6, 2023, 214 buses were delivered, with 142 of those in service. The BDI project explores safe and environmentally friendly design features that will enhance Operator and passenger experience and inform the design of future buses.
Contract for bus and streetcar servicing and cleaning
Board members approved the award of a contract for TTC bus and streetcar servicing and cleaning to TBM Service Group Inc. with the following motions:
• Authorize the contract option with TBM Service Group Inc. for one-year period, from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 for streetcar daily servicing, midday and detailed cleaning and increase the contract value by up to $4 million, inclusive of HST.
• Before December 2024, ensure that ATU Local 113 is given a fair opportunity to make a complete, competitive bid for bringing the same work in house, and to present that bid to the Board. After consulting with ATU Local 113, staff will provide a complete financial comparison of in-house and out-sourced bus and streetcar servicing, including all TTC resources that support or liaise with the contractor, are related to the contract, or that otherwise would not be incurred if the work were done in-house. Staff will also provide a comparison of in-house and out-sourced options, and ensure this process and analysis is conducted under the guidance of a fairness monitor.
New members named to ACAT
The TTC Board named five new members to the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT): Angela Marley, Chau Sheung Wong, Debbie Gillespie, Lori Bailey and Tammy Adams. They begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2024.
Members completing their terms at the end of the year are: Gwyneth Dalzell, Craig Nicol, Lauri-Sue Robertson, Rob Lackie and Valdo Tammark.
ACAT is comprised of Toronto citizens who advise members of the TTC on difficulties faced by people with disabilities and seniors, and recommends the elimination of barriers to accessible public transit.
Deferred items
Commissioners deferred the following agenda items to a Special Meeting of the Board on December 20, 2023:
• Item 7: Financial and Major Projects Update for the Period Ended September 30, 2023.
• Item 10: Declaration of Surplus Property – 21 Pleasant Boulevard.
• Item 11: Procurement Authorization – Sale and Removal of TTC Buses.
• Item 12: Proxy to Vote TTC Shares in Toronto Coach Terminal Inc.
Board members congratulate long-service recipients
Commissioners recognized and extended best wishes to the following TTC employees who achieved major milestones in 2023:
45 years of service
Joseph Desario, Rail Cars and Shops
40 years of service
Salvatore Ciociola, Bus Maintenance and Shops
Frank Cosentino, Bus Maintenance and Shops
Cosimo Lacaria (retired), Bus Maintenance and Shops
Next meeting of the TTC Board
The TTC Board will hold a special meeting to review and approve the TTC budgets on Wednesday, December 20.
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