FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights

At yesterday’s Board meeting, the TTC’s first-ever Asset Management Plan was approved. The TTC has $25.1 billion in assets and this plan is a significant part of the modernization we are undergoing to maintain safety and improve reliability.

The plan details the information required by Ontario Regulation for all assets owned and managed by the TTC – fleets, facilities, systems, structures and all infrastructure assets – everything necessary to operate and maintain Wheel-Trans, bus, subway and streetcar services that keep our great city moving.

It also includes new ways of managing vehicles, IT, construction and materials. The TTC now has centralized oversight of our enterprise assets, better management of them, and a checklist of what is needed to keep our assets in a state of good repair.

Diversity and Culture Annual Report: Progress Through Systemic Change
​The TTC’s third Diversity and Culture Annual Report was proudly presented to the TTC Board. This annual report highlights the progress the TTC has made over the past year while at the same time giving us a clearer picture of where we can make improvements.

Looking back at the progress we have made in changing the culture in the past four years makes me proud. In 2019, around 41 per cent of our workforce identified as racialized. Today, that number is more than 50 per cent. Four years ago, roughly 15 per cent of our workforce was women. Today, it is nearing 20 per cent.

You have heard me say it before: with Toronto being one of the most diverse cities in the world, we need everyone – customers and employees – to feel welcome on our system. We must ensure everyone is treated with respect whether riding on, or working at, the TTC.

I want to add also that Commissioners approved policies to support the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service Culture Change Program. Those policies are Use of Force and Use of Discretion policies for Special Constables and Fare Inspectors as well as the Body-Worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera System policy. The latter policy includes pilots beginning in spring 2024. Comprehensive communications are planned for employees and customers to make sure they are aware of these policies and pilots. Communications will begin rolling out next week.

Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on April 11.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​April 12, 2024 

TTC Board Highlights
​TTC Board Meeting April 11, 2024

Line 3 SRT Incident Investigation and Subway Track Continuous Improvement Initiatives
​Following a TTC staff presentation, Board members received for information a report highlighting the consultants’ findings and the TTC’s review of the July 24, 2023 Scarborough Rapid Transit incident investigation. The report provides a high-level overview of the ongoing work over the past five years to modernize the business practices in the Subway Track workgroup, with a focus on better inspection, proactive asset maintenance, and improving the overall maturity of asset management throughout all existing subway lines.

The Board passed a motion to request the City of Toronto’s Auditor General conduct an investigation into the systemic causes of the July 24, 2023 Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) derailment, with the scope of the investigation to include review of maintenance records, record keeping and third-party investigative reports.

In response to questions raised at the February 22, 2024 Board meeting surrounding the reduction in noted SRT reaction rail defects from 2021 to 2023, the TTC committed to provide a subsequent explanation for a sudden drop in defects.

Based on the review of all available records, the reason for the overall reduction in SRT reaction rail defects in 2022 is due to the increased reliability of refurbished track assets. This increase in reliability and availability is due to the successful execution of the SRT life extension program, performed between 2016 and 2021, along with ongoing corrective maintenance resulting from laser scans of the reaction rail geometry, coupled with continued time-based maintenance activities lasting right up until the date of the derailment. These time-based maintenance activities were conducted consistently on Line 3, as it was with the other subway lines.

On July 24, 2023, a southbound Line 3 service train departing Ellesmere Station had its trailing car derail. The root cause of the incident was presented to the TTC Board on September 26, 2023. The suspected failure of the reaction rail anchor bolts likely caused the unintentional lift of the reaction rail, which sits between the two running rails, causing the contact between the reaction rail and the train motor, leading to the derailment. The reaction rail is a specialized asset within the TTC and has been utilized at only two other transit companies in North America – Vancouver’s SkyTrain and Detroit Transit.

2024 TTC Asset Management Plan
​Commissioners approved the 2024 Asset Management Plan (AMP), with a recommendation to forward the 2024 plan to the City Manager for submission and incorporation into the City’s Asset Management Plan that must be prepared before July 1, 2024 to comply with legislated timelines.

Board members also approved a motion to request the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) to conduct a peer review of the TTC’s subway and streetcar assets and maintenance programs, with a proposed scope of the peer review to be confirmed at the next meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

The AMP is in compliance with the Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure Regulation, O. Reg. 588/17 (as amended by O. Reg. 193/21). The AMP details the information required by the O. Reg. for all assets owned and managed by the TTC, and these are grouped into the following asset categories: Fleets, Facilities, Systems, Structures and Linear Infrastructure.

Information on inventory, age, condition, life cycle activities, costs, and risks is presented according to the asset categories, with overall performance and levels of service considered across the TTC’s transit services.

Key conclusions of this plan indicate that 50 per cent of the $25.1 billion in assets are entering, or in some cases, are well into their twilight years, and that the condition of these assets will span from poor to excellent. The plan also identifies the lack of adequate state-of-good-repair funding.

The 2024 AMP highlights particular concern over the lack of funding for:

• Line 2 Bloor-Danforth subway elements (power, signals, communications systems, and vehicles) that are at/or approaching end of life.

• Facilities maintenance of garages, yards, carhouses and various other buildings (HVAC, roofs, structures, elevators, escalators, and plumbing).

• Bus fleet with the majority now over halfway through its life cycle.

• The streetcar network will predictably be at risk within five to 10 years without capital funding commitments for rehabilitation.

Policies to Support the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service Culture Change Program
​Board members approved a report with amendments on policies to support the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service Culture Change Program, with the following recommendations:

• Approve the Use of Force policy;

• Approve the Use of Discretion policy;

• Approve the Body-Worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera System policy; and

• Endorse a nine-month Body-Worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera System pilot beginning in Q1 2024.

The Board passed the following motions moved by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers:

• Amend Recommendation 5 so that it now reads: Approve the Use of Discretion policy, attached as Appendix 10 and request that staff report back to the TTC Board by the end of Q4 on whether the scope of the policy should be expanded to all personnel in customer-facing operations.

• Adopt the following new recommendations:

   - The TTC Board requests that a Joint Working Group composed of an equal number of members from CUPE 5089 and the TTC’s People Group be established; and

   - That the Joint Working Group report quarterly to the Human Resources Committee on the implementation of, and any issues emerging from the implementation of the Use of Force and the Use of Discretion policies.

Board members also approved a motion moved by Commissioner Josh Matlow requesting the CEO to:

a) Ensure there is publicly advertised community consultation on the implementation of the Use of Force policy, including opportunities for racialized and underhoused Torontonians, and other riders from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by societal enforcement activities, to obtain personal accounts.

b) Incorporate identity-based data collection on Use of Force- encounters as part of the TTC’s Anti-Racism framework.

c) Provide annual reports to the TTC Board based on information collected in recommendations a) and b).

Through the TTC’s Culture Change Program, the Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service departments continue to undergo transformative internal and external change to demonstrate a commitment to accountability, transparency, building public trust, addressing regulatory concerns and ensuring bias-free delivery.

The Revenue Protection and Special Constable Service departments continue to ensure that the delivery of Special Constable and Fare Inspector duties are provided in an equitable, inclusive, respectful and safe manner to increase accountability, transparency and public trust. The departments have considered critical recommendations from the Ombudsman, expert stakeholders, and industry benchmarking while focusing on the essential priorities of transit safety and security, and at the same time maximizing revenue protection.

The Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and Body-Worn and Special Constable Service In-Car Camera System policies support the outcomes desired through three of the four Culture Change Program pillars: Modernize Policies, Procedures, Standards and Programs, Update Technologies and Overhaul of Training and Monitoring Systems.

The Body-Worn Camera pilot is expected to run for a nine-month period, beginning in Q1 2024. In total, 20 Special Constables and 20 Fare Inspectors will be equipped with body-worn cameras using a phased implementation approach. The phased implementation will rotate body-worn cameras amongst all Special Constables and Fare Inspectors by requiring them to wear the devices during a six-week period. Through this phased approach, all Officers will have the opportunity to be equipped with a body-worn camera during the pilot.

At the conclusion of the pilot, an evaluation of pilot success will be completed using established KPIs, with a report outlining the final results provided to the TTC Board in Q4 2024.

Diversity and Culture 2023 Annual Report
​Commissioners received for information the TTC’s Diversity and Culture 2023 Annual Report – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA): Progress Through Systemic Change. The annual report will be forwarded to the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, the Indigenous Affairs Office of the City of Toronto, and Ombudsman Toronto for information.

The Board also approved the following motions: to be referred to the TTC Human Resources Committee:

• Direct TTC staff to schedule mandatory annual training sessions starting in Q3 2024, including, but not limited to the following topics to ensure that the TTC Board effectively serves diverse communities and fosters inclusivity and equity – Confronting Anti-Black Racism and Indigenous Cultural Competency.

The TTC’s Diversity and Culture Annual Report includes reporting and updates on initiatives aimed at creating an organizational culture of equity, inclusion, belonging, respect, and dignity that is free from harassment and/or discrimination. In 2023, the TTC continued to build upon the work started in 2020, and progressed on the commitments made to employees, customers and the community at large.

Highlights in the 2023 report include:

• The TTC Diversity Department is close to being fully staffed.

• Anti-Racism Strategy and Policy completed for 2024 launch.

• For the third consecutive year, the TTC surpassed its target of 40 per cent women as new Transit Operator hires, with the 2023 figure of 41 per cent matching the 2022 rate.

• After listening to our employees and ridership, several initiatives to support women are in progress, including mentorship programs and greater access to washrooms for Operators, and increased visibility of staff in transit locations to improve safety.

• Inclusive Design Project to identify and address barriers to inclusion and accessibility in the built environment is underway.

• Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) training continued at an increased rate, with 1,355 unionized employees (Bus Operators) and 534 non-unionized staff completing the training program in 2023.

• Upskill EDIA training program for Executive piloted in 2023 for 2024 launch.

• Special Constable Culture Change Program continues.

• Community and employee engagement partnerships expanded in 2023.

• The TTC has emerged as an industry leader in EDIA in transit, with panellist presentations at America Public Transit Association (APTA), and Canadian Union of Transit Associations (CUTA) events.

TTC Special Constable Service 2023 Annual Report
​The TTC Board received the TTC Special Constable Service 2023 Annual Report. The 2023 report will be forwarded to the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) as per Section 8.9 of the Special Constable Agreement between the TPSB and the TTC.

In 2023, the Special Constable Service received 30,909 calls for service, representing an 11 per cent increase from the previous year. Special Constables submitted 229 records of arrest for Criminal Code offences in 2023 (19 per cent decrease from 2022) and made 197 apprehensions under the Mental Health Act (11 per cent decrease from 2022).

Highlights in the 2023 report include:

• To support the Culture Change Program’s first pillar of creating a structure for success, the Special Constable Service (SCS) recruited 42 Special Constables in 2023 through fair and merit-based recruitment practices. The SCS’s recruitment efforts aim at further strengthening the department’s presence in the transit system while also fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• The SCS achieved the Culture Change Program’s second pillar of modernizing policy and procedures by putting forward an updated Use of Force policy and new Use of Discretion and Body-Worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera System policies for implementation. The policies are intended to strengthen accountability and public trust in enforcement activities, particularly accountability for equity and rights protection for Indigenous, Black and Equity Seeking Groups.

• In 2023, the SCS developed an implementation plan for a Body-Worn Camera and Special Constable In-Car Camera pilot program, contributing to the Culture Change Program’s third pillar of updating technologies. Through this initiative, the TTC is increasing accountability and transparency in its enforcement and customer engagement process to deliver bias-free service and ensure public trust. The pilot will prioritize transit safety, security and revenue protection, underlining the TTC’s commitment to excellence.

• In 2023, the TTC continues to enhance Special Constable training to ensure that all duties are founded in equity, respect and dignity for customers and employees. Over the past year, the SCSC Department provided Officers with the essential tools for effective decision-making by introducing new Use of Force and Use of Discretion policy training. The department also continued to provide recruitment and refresher training aimed at providing Special Constables with best practices in addressing customers and employees with respect and sensitivity, and without bias.

Easier Access Phase III project status
​Commissioners approved a status update report on the Easier Access Phase III project with the current EAIII Program Schedule, noting the acceleration efforts presently underway, and that staff continue to seek opportunities for schedule improvements.

Since the last update to the Board in September 2023, construction has progressed at the 15 stations under construction, and the forecasted dates for completion have not changed since the last report. Of the 16 remaining stations to become accessible:

• Three stations are scheduled to be completed in 2024: Donlands, Glencairn, and Castle Frank, resulting in 57 of 70 (or 81 per cent) of stations being accessible by the end of 2024;

• Eight stations are scheduled to be completed in 2025: Summerhill, Greenwood, Rosedale, College, Lawrence, Christie, Museum, and High Park, at which time a total of 65 of 70 (or 93 per cent) stations will be accessible.

• Four stations: Spadina, King, Islington and Warden are due to be completed within 2026, bringing the total number of accessible stations to 69 of 70; and

• Old Mill Station is expected to begin construction in 2024, subject to completion of the expropriation process of the required property.

Approval of Public Art Concepts for five subway stations
​Board members approved the public art concepts for the following projects:

• Bay Station Easier Access: “Confluence” by Francisco-Fernando Granados;

• Castle Frank Station Easier Access: “Earth Runs Wild” by Vivian Rosas;

• Christie Station Easier Access: “Rise Together” by Sanaz Mazinani;

• Donlands Station Second Exit and Easier Access: “Field” by April Hickox; and

• Lansdowne Station Easier Access: “Shifting Beauty” by Steven Beckly.

In accordance with the TTC’s Art in Public Transit Facilities policy, public art is being provided at five stations as part of the Easier Access Phase III and Second Exit projects, and is being administered in groups in co-ordination with the project construction schedules.

Procurement Authorization – Subway Track Rail Milling Services
B​oard members approved the award of a contract worth a total upset limit amount of $11,990,000 (inclusive of all applicable taxes) on the basis of the lowest bid price, to Rhomberg Sersa for subway track rail milling services for a period of three years commencing on August 24, 2024, with extension options for up to two additional, one-year terms.

TTC and IAMAW Lodge 235 – Collective Agreement Ratification
​Commissioners received an action report adopting the recommendations as set out in a Confidential Attachment, and authorized that the information set out in the Confidential Attachment be released upon the ratification of the tentative agreement by both the TTC and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Lodge 235.

Appointment to TTC Pension Plan Board of Directors
​Commissioners approved the appointment of Shakira Naraine, TTC Chief People Officer, as a Director on the TTC Pension Plan Board of Directors to fill a current skills gap on the TTC Pension Board. The other skills gap within the Board is in the investment area, but this is currently addressed through a third-party advisor retained by the Board to assist with investment and other financial/actuarial matters.

Next meeting of the TTC Board
​The next regular scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Thursday, May 16.

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