FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights

At yesterday’s TTC Board meeting, it was my pleasure to recognize 32 new Fare Inspectors who graduated from our most recent training program in January. These new Fare Inspectors have invested many rigorous hours of work since last September to reach their goal. My thanks to the entire class and we wish them great success in their jobs.

Beyond their core responsibility to ensure fare compliance and protect our revenue stream, Fare Inspectors wear many hats – from educating customers on the importance of paying their fares to assisting riders with directions to providing a reassuring presence for Operators and other frontline staff. Fare Inspectors are also carrying naloxone as do Special Constables.

The dedication and compassion of Fare Inspectors – as well as the 160 additional frontline staff that were recruited and deployed in the subway system over the last several months – is a key part of ensuring the TTC remains a safe and welcoming service for everyone. A staff presentation to Commissioners showed that customer satisfaction (pride in the TTC, staff helpfulness, etc.) in stations has improved by six per cent since their deployment. In addition, the overall rate of reported offences against employees has dropped by 47 per cent since a year ago. While there’s more to do to enhance safety, security, and incident response, the trend is going in the right direction.

As we all know, fare revenue and fare compliance are critical for sustaining reliable public transit. The TTC is committed to maximizing its fare revenue through ridership recovery and fare compliance. Fare evasion erodes passenger revenues and limits our ability to fund reliable transit and reinvest in our services.

Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on February 22.

One Fare Program starts Monday
​Starting Monday, February 26, transit customers will no longer have to pay a double fare when they take the TTC and neighbouring transit systems, including GO Transit, MiWay, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit and York Region Transit.

The One Fare Program is available to adult, youth, senior, post-secondary and Fair Pass Transit Discount program customers when using a PRESTO card, PRESTO in Mobile Wallet, or open payment methods, including debit and credit cards. This fare integration initiative does not apply to riders paying with cash, TTC ticket or token.

Stations Department turns 10
​Finally, I want to congratulate the Stations Department on its recent 10th anniversary. Since 2013, department functions and responsibilities have grown to encompass Group Station Managers, Collectors, Customer Service Agents, frontline Supervisors and cleaning and maintenance personnel, including more than 140 student Janitors.

Stations staff and crews oversee and support everything that occurs in and around our 70 stations. Parades or protests, service disruptions or emergencies, the team has done a great deal of work over the past decade to build a strong frontline presence and to support positive customer experiences. Congratulations on the 10-year milestone!

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​February 23, 2024 

TTC Board Highlights
​TTC Board Meeting February 22, 2024

SRT Busway funding status update
​The TTC Board received for information a report on the funding status of the SRT Busway project. The TTC 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan that was approved by the TTC Board on December 20, 2023 has been revised and subsequently approved by City Council on February 14, reflecting the reallocation of $67.9 million necessary to accommodate full funding of the SRT Busway project based on a 60-per-cent design estimate.

City staff have committed to work with the TTC to identify any incremental funding that may be required once the 100-per-cent design of the Busway is completed. City Council has directed City staff to continue negotiations with the Province as part of the Subway Agreement in Principle to fully recover the cost of the SRT Busway project.

Fare compliance presentation
​Board members received a staff presentation on fare compliance and inspection at the TTC. The presentation addressed inspection deployment strategies, staff recruitment, new technologies and a new fare compliance campaign scheduled to begin in March. The TTC is committed to maximizing its fare revenue through ridership recovery and fare compliance. Fare evasion erodes passenger revenues and limits the TTC’s ability to fund reliable public transit and to reinvest in its transit service.

New Entrance Connection to Bay Station approved
​The TTC Board approved a new Entrance Connection to Bay Station within the development located at 5 Cumberland Street via the development at 65 Cumberland Street; and authorized execution of an Entrance Connection Agreement, and any other agreements arising as a result of the Entrance Connection, all on terms and conditions acceptable to the TTC’s General Counsel.

The Entrance Connection is an Indirect Entrance Connection under the TTC’s Entrance Connections Policy. Indirect connections were introduced as part of the most recent update to the policy. They improve accessibility by increasing the number of signed, weather-protected and barrier-free paths that connect to the system while also meeting the TTC’s accessibility design requirements, and are formalized through entrance connection agreements.

The proposed Entrance Connection will provide barrier-free access from Cumberland Street to an elevator leading to the concourse level of the development where customers will be able to continue through the approved accessible entrance connection within 65 Cumberland Street to Bay Station. The Accessible Path will be barrier-free, fully enclosed, weather-protected and open during the operating hours of the subway.

Board motion: A Step Towards Free Transit for Middle and High School Students
​Commissioners received for information a TTC staff report responding to a Board motion to provide free transit to middle and high school students. The report presents information related to ridership, operational and financial implications as well as implementation considerations.

At its September 26, 2023 meeting, the TTC Board adopted a motion directing TTC staff to assess two fare proposals for free transit for youth. Motion 1 provides free transit to Middle School and Secondary School groups making field trips during off-peak hours. Motion 2 provides a quantity of free youth PRESTO tickets to registered charities operating in Toronto that provide wrap-around services to overcome barriers to education.

The Board also passed the following motion moved by Commissioner Dianne Saxe:

• Report back to the TTC Board at or before its May 16, 2024 meeting on the scope of a pilot program for the school year 2024-25 to provide free transit tickets to the four public and separate school boards for Middle School and Secondary School field trips using existing spare capacity, subject to reasonable date, time and location restrictions established by the TTC and to reasonable reporting requirements.

• Engage with School Boards and Get on the Bus to create an education module that develops student skills, confidence, etiquette and fare compliance when riding the TTC, and request that school groups, which access the free school trip program, complete said training before (or, if necessary, within one month after) their trip.

Enterprise Asset Management Program Update
​Board members received for information an update on the TTC’s Enterprise Asset Management program and the work completed to date. The report also highlights the future work plan to build on and mature the TTC’s asset management capabilities. Effective asset management ensures that an organization’s assets are managed in a way that balances the achievement of the required level of performance while managing risk and reducing whole-life cost. It involves the development of strategies and plans aligned to an organization’s corporate objectives that are based on life cycle decision-making.

Wilson Carhouse expansion/alterations project update
​Board members approved a status update report on the Wilson Carhouse Tracks 15 and 16 Expansions and Alterations project with recommendations outlined in a Confidential Attachment. The report summarizes the outstanding issues relating to the project under Contract C1-42, which achieved Substantial Performance on May 1, 2023.

City Council Transmittals
​The TTC Board received three City Council Transmittals for its consideration:

• MM13.29 Confronting the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: Renaming Civic Assets Bearing the Henry Dundas Name – recommendations to rename Dundas and Dundas West stations.

• CC13.2 Ontario-Toronto New Deal Agreement – recommendations to implement the City’s commitments in the New Deal Term Sheet as it relates to the TTC, and direct staff to engage in negotiations with respect to future transit commitments.

• EX8.9 Wheel-Trans Service Model Update – Accessibility Feedback – recommendations to consult with the TTC’s Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit and community organizations serving people with disabilities, on ways to improve awareness and education around Wheel-Trans registration and the Family of Services program.

Commissioners also passed the following motion moved by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers on Transmittal MM13.29:

• That TTC staff, in collaboration, with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture and relevant stakeholders, develop a framework for considering the naming of Dundas Station and Dundas West Station and report to the TTC Board by the end of Q3 2024 with a recommended process for public and stakeholder engagement, including consideration of:

a) Existing policies and procedures for naming TTC assets and how associated costs and values are determined;

b) A Racial Equity analysis regarding capital asset naming/renaming generally, and the TTC racial equity impacts and opportunities of Dundas and Dundas West renaming specifically, consistent with the City of Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, City of Toronto Reconciliation Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, City of Toronto Reconciliation Action Plan, Embrace Diversity – The TTC’s 10 Point Action Plan and 5-Year Diversity and Human Rights Plan;

c) Associated costs, including opportunities to leverage efficiencies and partnerships to enhance public art and beautification of Dundas and Dundas West stations alongside implementation of any renaming; and

d) Background on any requests or discussion with non-profit third parties with respect to the naming of Dundas Station and/or Dundas West Station.

Next meeting of the TTC Board
​The next regular scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Thursday, April 11.

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