CEO's Report: October Commentary

The TTC’s United Way campaign is well underway. Late last month, TTC employees gave members of the public a behind-the-scenes look into the day-to-day operations at Hillcrest Complex in celebration of our facility’s 100th anniversary. The special event attracted a record-breaking 2,100 visitors who toured the complex, learned about its grand history, and helped to support the TTC’s United Way fundraising campaign. Thank-you to all our volunteer staff and everyone who attended our open house.

Later this month, the TTC invites everyone to experience the spooky, but family-friendly Halloween Fest at Bay Lower. Halloween Fest takes place on Saturday, October 26 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 27 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). There will be plenty of fun photos to take, free giveaways and everyone can explore the haunted train in the station – if they dare! Tickets at the door are $5 per entry, and kids two and under are free. All proceeds from this signature annual event go to United Way Greater Toronto.

The TTC will continue to be front and centre in November. I am pleased to advise the Board that the TTC is hosting the 2024 Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Annual Conference and Transit Show in Toronto next month. The conference runs from November 17 to 20. It is a great honour to welcome hundreds of transit delegates from across the country. The TTC is one of the most visible and vital public service organizations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

The TTC will be conducting several technical tours of our facilities as well as have our staff and executives speaking on a range of topics, such as eliminating barriers to access; safety, security and well-being on public transit; and modernizing LRTs through apprenticeships.

We are a huge organization that provides an essential service in Toronto and its neighbouring areas. We serve one of the most diverse cities in the world. The CUTA conference provides us the opportunity to showcase all the great work our talented workforce is doing to keep Toronto and the region moving forward.

Ridership update
​For the week ending October 11, the overall weekday boardings stood at 2.7 million per day, similar to levels observed throughout September 2024. Overall demand was four per cent higher compared to the same week in 2023. Weekday boardings by mode continue to be highest on the bus network at 1.3 million, whereas streetcar and subway boardings were at 231,000 and 1.1 million, respectively. Compared to the same week a year ago, subway demand increased by 10 per cent, whereas bus and streetcar demand remained at similar levels. As customers settled into their commute patterns after returning to school and work, the overall customer demand is anticipated to remain at this level for the rest of the calendar year.

People and Culture Group

Celebrating Latin American Heritage and Women’s History
​As part of the TTC’s 10-Point Action Plan on Diversity and Inclusion, we have been committed to building an inclusive transit system and a workplace where everyone belongs and feels welcome.

This October, the TTC is recognizing Latin American Heritage Month. This recognition could not be truly personal without the participation of people from across our work groups. Thank you to all employees for stepping forward and sharing your stories and experiences.

October is also Women’s History Month. This year’s theme, Looking Back to Move Forward, celebrates the progressive history of women in Canada. At the TTC, we celebrate women who positively impacted our history.

This month’s employee lunch-and-learn event includes a panel discussion featuring women in leadership positions recounting the challenges in a male-dominated industry, and how they found a way to move upwards within the TTC. The session also provides an opportunity for women to strengthen their professional network.

We are proud to support women in the workforce with ongoing efforts to promote the hiring of women through various targeted recruitment events and hiring initiatives. These are important ways the TTC continues to become a more inclusive organization.

Strategy and Customer Experience Group

Talk TTC event at Kennedy Station
​I want to invite our customers to the first Talk TTC event at Kennedy Station on Tuesday, October 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Talk TTC provides an opportunity for riders to meet face-to-face with members of the TTC Executive and subject matter experts from across the company and share their feedback about their experiences on the TTC.

These Talk TTC events will be held every quarter similar to our previous Meet the Managers that were conducted in stations, which were put on hold during the pandemic. The TTC welcomes all feedback, which will be addressed by staff on-site or shared with the appropriate teams for information and action. Please visit ttc.ca for future dates planned.

Get your poppy on TTC
I want to remind our customers and employees that veterans will be in the subway system conducting their annual poppy sales later this month. The TTC encourages all riders to make a contribution and take a moment to thank the veterans present on the system until Remembrance Day.

The Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poppy campaign is important for many reasons: it commemorates the women and men who have served and sacrificed for our country, it raises money to assist ex-service personnel and their dependents, and it reminds us to never forget those who lost their lives during war and peacekeeping missions.

On Monday, November 11, at 11 a.m., all TTC vehicles will stop and stay for two minutes to remember the thousands of men and women who have served our nation so valiantly. Every Remembrance Day, all current members of the Canadian Armed Forces in uniform, war and peacekeeping veterans, and one companion, ride free of charge.

TTC to end tokens/tickets use in 2024
​In October, the TTC began informing customers that December 31, 2024 will be the last day they could pay their fare with a TTC token, youth/senior ticket, or day pass. After this date, TTC tokens, tickets, and day passes will no longer be accepted across the system.

We encourage customers to use up their remaining tokens, tickets and day passes by December 31, 2024, as refunds or exchanges will not be provided.

Customers can still pay their fare with cash, physical or digital PRESTO card, PRESTO Ticket, debit or credit card, including those in their Apple or Google Wallet.

Less than one per cent of riders today pay their fare with tokens, youth/senior tickets or day passes.

Transportation and Vehicles Group

Service improvements introduced in October
​Starting October 6, the TTC increased service on several subway and surface routes.

In response to ridership demand, the TTC increased weekday subway service on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth. In addition to improved service frequencies, more trains provide a demand-responsive service throughout the day to address crowding and shorten wait times.

Service was also increased at select times on the 501 Queen and 301 Queen Night, 303 Kingston Rd Night, and 305 Dundas Night streetcar routes. Bus routes with increased service include 72 Pape (south of Carlaw at Eastern), 102 Markham Rd, 129 McCowan North, and 941 Keele Express.

During this service board period, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service was restored between Union Station and Spadina Avenue. At the same time, a modified branch of 510 Spadina replacement buses was extended west to serve stops between Spadina Avenue and Exhibition Place as we continue with overhead upgrades until early 2025.

Operations and Infrastructure Group

504 King service restored ahead of schedule
​I want to thank everyone who played a part in the early completion of track renewal on King Street West. On October 6, we restored 504 King Streetcar service between Shaw and Dufferin following the completion of track renewal work months ahead of schedule.

The trackwork along King West through Liberty Village was part of a larger infrastructure project that also involved replacing an aging water main by the City.

The TTC is committed to investing in the maintenance and improvement of our transit system and will continue to work closely with the City of Toronto and other partners to ensure that necessary upgrades are completed efficiently, with minimal disruption to customers and the community.

Update on Reduced Speed Zones
​At last month’s Board meeting, Commissioners received a TTC staff presentation on the purpose of Restricted Speed Zones in the subway system. A Restricted Speed Zone is a proactive strategy used to safely prolong the life of aging track infrastructure. It is a safety precaution and does not indicate that a track is unsafe to operate on. Since last May, the TTC has cleared 65 of 85 Restricted Speed Zones in operation in the subway system. Regular inspections continue to identify new or existing defects that require a restricted speed zone to be installed.

Engineering, Construction and Expansion Group

Glencairn Station becomes accessible
​We continue to make the subway system more accessible for all customers, regardless of their level of mobility. Earlier this month, we launched two elevators into service at Glencairn Station on Line 1. The TTC now has a total of 56 of 70 subway stations that are accessible, making it easier to get around for people using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, other mobility devices or baby strollers. Glencairn also received upgrades to its signage, security cameras, and entrance lighting.

On October 16, we celebrated Donlands Station becoming accessible with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Joining us were Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin, TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, and ACAT Co-Vice-Chair Betty Rivington-Law.

This month, TTC also opened elevators at Castle Frank Station. Work is underway to install new sliding doors by year-end, with temporary measures implemented in the meantime to provide full accessibility in advance of sliding door completion.

SRT Update
​Effective October 4, the SRT Right-of-Way under the Eglinton overpass and to the north end of the Ellesmere Station platform were turned over to the constructor (EllisDon) to complete demolition works. This is one of the first steps to delivering the Busway. As noted in this month’s hot topics section, the scope of the work includes the removal of track and signals from the SRT corridor and is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2024.

Innovation and Sustainability Program

New eBuses join fleet
​It was a privilege to welcome Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mayor Olivia Chow and elected officials to Birchmount Garage on September 27 to officially unveil our newest pair of battery-electric buses.

These eBuses are the first of 340 vehicles to be received thanks to a joint investment of $700 million from the Federal Government and the City of Toronto. Once all eBuses are received by the end of 2026, the TTC will have 400 battery-electric buses – the largest fleet of zero-emission buses in North America.

The new eBuses have a 30-per-cent increase in battery capacity over the first generation eBuses, without any increase in weight. They also offer a better driving experience for our Operators, a better ride for our customers, and improved reliability, availability, and maintenance.

Safety and Environment Group

Workplace safety begins with Safety Moments
​Safety is the cornerstone of operations at the TTC. As part of this work, we are strengthening our collective commitment to safety in our workplaces by improving upon our Safety Moments, a time at the start of each meeting to promote a positive safety culture and reinforce everyone’s knowledge of safety. The Safety Moment now includes location-specific safety and emergency procedures, as well as a review of current safety topics related to workplace or personal safety. The next scheduled TTC Board meeting will be on Tuesday, October 29. The public meeting will be live-streamed on the Official TTC YouTube Channel.

Greg Percy
​Interim Chief Executive Officer
​October 2024