FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights

At our first Board meeting of the new year yesterday, I took the opportunity to provide Commissioners with a summary of 2023 accomplishments and a look-ahead at our 2024 goals and objectives.

The overview covered an array of completed and ongoing projects, ranging from operations, safety, maintenance and state of good repair to inter-governmental relations, customer service and labour relations. Our employees and customers are at the heart of each and every one of those projects.

Putting people first is the driving factor behind our next Five-Year Corporate Plan. At the previous meeting, we presented the Board with the draft plan and highlighted the outreach we did in preparation, which included speaking to internal and external stakeholders, such as senior management, customers, ACAT, elected officials and Board members, other transit agencies and, of course, our Union partners.

The final draft of the plan will be presented to Commissioners in the coming months, and will include new vision and mission statements to further acknowledge the critical role the TTC plays as the backbone of Toronto’s mobility network.

2024 holds exciting opportunities as we continue to transform and modernize the TTC to meet the needs of Canada’s largest city.

Among the reports approved by the Board yesterday, updates were given on the forecast for subway closures and streetcar diversions for 2024-25 and the Train Operating and Services Agreement for Line 6 Finch West. Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on January 25.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​January 26, 2024 

TTC Board Highlights
​TTC Board Meeting January 25, 2024

Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) Line 3 Bus Replacement and Busway Status Update
​The TTC Board approved an update report on the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) Line 3 Bus Replacement and Busway with the following recommendations:

• Approve the temporary property acquisitions set out in Attachment – 1 Confidential Information and maintain confidentiality of the information until such time as the agreement(s) are executed with all the property owners.

• Authorize staff to request the City of Toronto’s Corporate Real Estate Management Division to negotiate the required temporary property rights and initiate expropriation proceedings, where appropriate, once project funding for the Busway (Phase 2) is approved, if negotiations are unsuccessful.

• Direct TTC staff to prepare the Environmental Project Report for the SRT Busway Conversion and issue the Notice of Commencement for the Transit Project Assessment Process once ready to proceed.

• Forward this report to the City Manager for information to support ongoing intergovernmental discussions.

Commissioners also passed the following motion moved by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers:

• Request the CEO to identify and report back to the TTC Board at its February 22, 2024 meeting on any 2023 permanent savings and/or reallocation of funds within the TTC’s 2024 Capital Budget totalling $15.2 million in order to reduce risk and ensure the property acquisition and enabling works of the Busway project can continue to proceed on schedule while the City of Toronto pursues provincial funding for the project.

• Request the CEO to report to the TTC Board on the outcome of the City of Toronto’s negotiations with the Province of Ontario to secure funding for the full cost of constructing the Busway, and if necessary, identify options to fund the balance of the Busway construction costs to ensure the project’s completion.

The SRT Bus Replacement project is planned to be delivered in two phases. The first phase involved increasing the bus terminal capacities at Scarborough Centre Station and Kennedy Station to be able to accommodate the increase in bus service. It also entailed modifying the bus platform at Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal and building a temporary bus terminal at Kennedy Station.

The second phase involves converting the SRT right-of-way into a Busway. Buses would operate in the converted busway between Ellesmere and Kennedy stations, and would operate on the priority lanes on Ellesmere Road between Ellesmere and Scarborough Centre stations. The design for Phase 2, for the Busway conversion, has progressed to 60 per cent and the estimated construction cost has increased to $67.9 million. Funding is yet to be confirmed to begin construction of the Busway.

Line 6 Finch West – Train Operating and Services Agreement
​Board members approved a staff report authorizing the TTC Chief Executive Officer to enter into and execute the Train Operating and Services Agreement for Line 6 Finch West. The report also directs TTC staff to work with the City and Metrolinx to amend the Line 5 Eglinton Train Operating and Funding Agreement to incorporate the new terms added to the Line 6 Agreement to ensure the Line 5 and Line 6 Agreements are consistent.

Line 6 Finch West, also known as the Finch West Light Rail Transit line, is one of two LRT lines under construction and will operate as a fourth mode of transit in the TTC’s integrated network of subway, streetcar and bus services. It is expected to open for service in 2024, with the official in-service date to be communicated by Metrolinx. Once operational, Line 6 Finch West will allow the TTC to move more customers more reliably along the Finch Avenue West corridor, connecting Humber College to Line 1 at Finch West Station. Line 6 will have multiple connections to the TTC and regional bus network at Humber College, Finch West Station, and multiple north-south corridors along the alignment.

Line 6 Finch West is owned by Metrolinx, maintained by Mosaic Transit Group (Construction and Maintenance consortium) and will be operated by the TTC. As the operator of the Line, the TTC is responsible for operations, revenue protection, customer service and communications, among other important roles.

Line 6 Finch West will run for 11 kilometres at-grade and below-grade on Finch Avenue West, between Finch West Station and Humber College. The line consists of two below-grade stations, including one subway interchange and 16 at-grade stops.

Subway Closures and Streetcar Diversions – 2023 Review and 2024/2025 Forecast
​After receiving a staff presentation, the TTC Board endorsed a report detailing the TTC’s 2024-25 subway closures and streetcar diversions, including the following recommendations:

• Endorse the 2024 Subway Closure and Streetcar Diversion Forecast, and direct staff to report on changes to the Closure/Diversion Forecast through the Chief Executive Officer’s Report.

• Direct staff to forward this report to the General Manager, Transportation Services, City of Toronto for information.

The proposed 2024 Subway Closures Forecast has been scheduled to ensure that projects, such as ECLRT, ATC Line 2 enabling work, the Ontario Line project, the Scarborough Subway Extension project, State of Good Repair works, Easier Access program, and the Station Finishes program are prioritized and executed in as efficient a manner possible to minimize customer disruptions, while permitting modifications, where possible. In addition, the TTC is working with Rogers Communications Inc. to assemble a construction schedule to provide cellular and 5G connectivity throughout the subway system, including tunnels and stations with the intention to ensure both tunnel and station areas will be equipped with cellular and 5G capabilities, including testing and certification of 911 services by the end of 2026.

Procurement Authorization – Elevator Maintenance and Repair Services
​Board members approved the award of a contract worth $10,445,972, (inclusive of applicable taxes) to Selco Elevators Ltd. for elevator maintenance and repair services for a period of three years commencing on/or about May 1, 2024, with extension options for up to two additional one-year terms. The report delegates authority to the TTC CEO to execute the first one-year term extension option valued at $4,122,863 (inclusive of HST) and the second one-year term extension option valued at $4,329,006 (inclusive of HST) for a total contract value of $18,897,841.

Procurement Authorization – Personal Computing Devices and Services
​Board members approved the award of a contract worth $7,650,000 (inclusive of HST) accessories to CompuCom Canada Company for contract for the non-exclusive supply of personal computing devices and services for desktops, laptops, tablets, monitors and other associated accessories until May 15, 2025, with up to two optional one-year extension terms, at the TTC’s sole discretion.

Appointment of Board member to Audit and Risk Management Committee
​The TTC Board approved a staff report to appoint one TTC Board member to the Audit and Risk Management Committee and appoint a Chair to the Committee from among the appointed Committee members. The appointment is required to fill a vacancy on the Board left by the departure of citizen Commissioner Ron Lalonde, effective December 31, 2023. The Board also approved a motion by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers to appoint Commissioner Dianne Saxe to the role of Committee Chair until a successor is appointed.

Notice of Motion – Establishment of a Joint Working Group on Motor-Assisted Micro-Mobility Devices
​That the TTC Board direct staff, in consultation with City of Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Professional Firefighters Association, and TTC Unions and a representative from CycleTO to review and report back on regulations implemented in comparable jurisdictions in Canada and internationally with recommendations on protecting fire safety on public transit in relation to customers’ motor-assisted micro-mobility devices, including e-bikes.

An e-bike caught fire on a Line 1 subway car at Sheppard-Yonge Station on December 31, 2023. Two customers were hospitalized for minor injuries. The train Operator was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Notice of Motion – Board Education and Training Session
​Board members approved a motion by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers to call a special meeting in March for a Board Orientation, Education, Training and Planning Session.

Next meeting of the TTC Board
​The next scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Thursday, February 22.

-30-