Message from the Executives
FROM THE CEO: TTC Board Highlights
This was week three for me at the TTC and it was my privilege to introduce Commissioners to two outstanding employees at Tuesday’s Board meeting.
Mount Dennis Operator David Boodram was applauded for his quick actions in a missing child case. After being alerted by one of his 41 Keele riders that a young girl appeared to be travelling alone, David approached the 10-year-old and asked if she was okay. He recognized her from a police notice sent to Operators by Transit Control. David called the control centre right away and police safely reunited the girl with her family.
The Board also congratulated Dainora Gadisauskas for 50 years of dedicated service at the TTC. Dainora is a Forms Co-ordinator and Designer in the Marketing and Customer Experience Department. She began her career in the Print Shop at Hillcrest in 1974, and celebrates her milestone next Monday. Congratulations Dainora from all of us at the TTC!
The meeting was an opportunity to remind everyone that this week is Rail Safety Week across Canada. While the TTC places safety above all else, people need to know that machinery in our industry is unforgiving. Please stay off the tracks, stay alive and stay safe. This is a key message that needs to be repeated constantly.
Keeping our subway tracks in good repair is another important safety matter. We all heard the concerns our customers have about the increased number of restricted speed zones on the system. We hear them and we certainly understand them.
I want to thank Chief Operations and Infrastructure Officer Fort Monaco for his presentation on Restricted Speed Zones. Fort gave a detailed and factual update on the progress his teams are making, the challenges we face, and some of the changes that can be made to deal with the slow orders. We know these are frustrating, but they are preventative and allow us to continue to run safe service.
Please see below for highlights of Commission decisions approved on September 24.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30, the TTC will recognize National Day of Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day. This day was established as a day of mourning for First Nations, Inuit, and Mètis peoples and has become a day for non-Indigenous peoples and Canadians to learn about, reflect on, and commit to supporting Reconciliation. I encourage all employees to wear an orange shirt to honour the survivors of the Indian Residential School System. Operators may wear their own orange shirts instead of their uniform tops.
Hillcrest Complex 100th Open House
Tomorrow, everyone is invited to the Hillcrest Complex Open House. This milestone event welcomes the public to go behind the scenes and take a guided tour of our facility, which is in its centennial year. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to raise money for our United Way campaign. Doors open at 9 a.m.
Greg Percy
Interim Chief Executive Officer
September 27, 2024
TTC Board Highlights
TTC Board Meeting September 24, 2024
Board members commend/congratulate TTC employees
Board members applauded bus Operator David Boodram for his alertness and quick actions in a missing child search. A customer on his 41 Keele bus approached David after noticing a small child on board who appeared to be travelling alone. David approached the girl and asked if she was okay. He recognized her from an earlier Toronto Police alert sent to Operators by Transit Control. David immediately notified the control centre, which contacted the police. They safely reunited the girl with her family. David was commended for actions and engagement typical of the outstanding work TTC employees perform daily.
Commissioners also congratulated Dainora Gadisauskas for 50 years of dedicated service at the TTC. Dainora is a Forms Co-ordinator and Designer in the Marketing and Customer Experience Department. Dainora started her TTC career in the Print Shop at Hillcrest on September 30, 1974.
Recruitment of a Permanent Chief Executive Officer
The TTC Board approved a report to delegate authority to appoint a selection panel responsible for recommending a candidate for the position of permanent CEO, with the following recommendations:
• Delegate to the TTC Chair and Vice-Chair, the recruitment process for the Chief Executive Officer for the Toronto Transit Commission, including:
- Establishing a selection panel to consider candidates;
- Inviting participants to serve on the selection panel, including, but not limited to the Mayor and City Manager;
- Consulting with the appropriate City and TTC Human Resources and Employment Law Officials; and
- Bringing forward the final recommended candidate to a meeting of the TTC Board for consideration and decision.
Commissioners also received a letter from Mayor Olivia Chow on the recruitment of a permanent TTC CEO that reads in part: “Transit is essential. It has to work, it has to work for people. A safe, reliable and affordable transit system is how we get Toronto moving. It’s how we create a more fair and equitable city, where people can access jobs and have more time with family, no matter where they live. It’s how we help tackle congestion and meet our climate targets. In so many ways, it’s the key to unlocking our city’s full potential.
“I know we can get Toronto moving if we work hard, and we work together. As you search for the next CEO, I hope you keep this vision for our public transit system in mind.”
TTC’s Innovation and Sustainability Strategy
Board members approved the TTC’s inaugural Innovation and Sustainability Strategy. The Strategy details the approach and actions that the TTC will undertake over the next five years to embed innovation and environmental sustainability practices organization-wide. Progress on the Strategy will be publicly reported annually, describing successes, failures, and progress toward improved environmental performance.
The 2024-2028 Corporate Plan describes the importance of embedding innovation and environmental sustainability as a key principle underpinning the TTC’s work and a commitment to plan, deliver, and evaluate TTC services by applying innovation and environmental sustainability perspectives to everything the TTC does. The Strategy sets commitments, goals, and sustained actions that are necessary to mitigate the risks of the TTC’s corporate priorities, maximize the benefits of public transit, prevent irreversible climate damage, harden the TTC’s infrastructure against extreme weather events, and secure a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
The Strategy was developed through consultation with TTC employees, applicable City of Toronto personnel, and experts in innovation and environmental sustainability from applicable industries and academic institutions. Benchmarking against other leading transit agencies and private sector innovation and sustainability leaders have also helped inform the Strategy.
Environmental Sustainability at the TTC specifically, aligns with, or exceeds, GHG emission reduction targets set out under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the Province of Ontario’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, the City of Toronto’s TransformTO Net Zero Strategy, and the Sustainable City of Toronto Fleets Plan.
Line 2 Modernization – Next Steps on New Train Procurement and ATC
The TTC Board approved the Line 2 Modernization report with the following recommendations:
• Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to execute any transfer payment and/or contribution agreements required with the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to receive funding for new subway trains subject to terms and conditions satisfactory to the TTC’s General Counsel.
• Direct the Chief Executive Officer to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new subway train procurement upon confirmation of full funding availability, and subject to Confidential Attachment 1, for a base order of 70 trains total, which includes:
- 55 replacement trains for Line 2;
- 15 expansion trains for the Yonge North Subway Extension and Scarborough Subway Extension to be fully funded by the Province of Ontario; and
- Options within the RFP to procure up to 42 future growth trains required for Line 1 and Line 2 to be exercised at a future date subject to additional funding being secured.
• Direct the Chief Executive Officer to issue a Request for Proposals for the delivery of Automatic Train Control (ATC) on Line 2, subject to Confidential Attachment 2, and conditional on the approval and execution of Recommendation 2 above.
• Authorize that the information contained in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 be released publicly upon the issuance of final contracts as set out in Recommendations 2 and 3 above.
• Forward this report to the City of Toronto, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Metrolinx for information.
The current fleet of 61 T1 trains on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth will be 30 years old (end of design life) starting in 2026 and will be approaching 35 years by the time the first new trains are delivered in 2030, if procurement starts now. The current fixed-block signalling system is aged technology and will be approaching 70 years in various segments at the time of expected replacement. Investment in Line 2 is necessary to sustain existing subway services and enable capacity enhancements to meet growth.
Procurement Authorization – Hillcrest Streetcar Maintenance and Storage Facility
Board members approved the award of a contract worth $65,096,334, inclusive of HST, based on the lowest total compliant bid price to Sanscon Construction Ltd. for the construction of Phases 1 and 2 of the Hillcrest Streetcar Maintenance and Storage Facility.
The work of this contract includes removal, upgrades, and modifications to various areas and systems of the Hillcrest Yard and Harvey Shop Building. This contract is expected to be completed in two phases:
• Phase 1: Storage for 25 streetcars and temporary pre-servicing.
• Phase 2: Permanent pre-servicing, including a sand silo system.
Yard work includes replacement of existing tracks for the streetcar storage areas, brake test area, storm water and sanitary systems, fire mains and water mains, overhead catenary system, electrical duct banks and chambers, track lubricator systems, grading, DC power upgrades and improvements to landscaping for the surrounding public realm.
Harvey Shop work includes new platforms on tracks five and six; new sand silo, sand delivery system and associated equipment; windshield washer fluid storage and dispensing system; new State of Good Repair areas on tracks seven and 34; partial rail replacement on tracks seven, eight, 33 and 34; removal of the existing jib cranes for tracks five and six; removal of existing transfer way table equipment and transfer way pit infill; modification of interior Carhouse OCS conductor structural support; and replacement of existing overhead catenary system. In support of the Net Zero mandate, the project will replace existing gas-fired HVAC equipment with electric heating to contribute to the City of Toronto’s initiative for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Capitalizing on the opportunity to undertake other state-of-good-repair work within Harvey Shop and the Hillcrest Yard resulted in additional requirements. This consolidation of improvements and repairs within the same contract leads to a more cost-effective approach to upgrading this 100-year-old infrastructure.
Fare Compliance Action Plan: Response to Member Motions
The TTC Board received for information a follow-up report to the Fare Compliance Action Plan.
At its July 17 meeting, the TTC Board directed staff to provide a follow-up report at its September Board meeting on four strategies identified in the Phase 1 Fare Compliance Action Plan. Additionally, the TTC Board directed staff to report in late 2024/early 2025 with refinements to the TTC’s fare evasion ticketing system and to develop an educational campaign:
The primary goal of this phase is to curb current fare evasion rates and assess the impact the immediate actions have on fare compliance and revenue capture. The results of these initiatives will inform the establishment of an initial revenue target, which will be reported to the TTC Board in December 2024. The development of a broader Fare Compliance Strategy in Phase Two will establish formal revenue targets with the conclusion of this phase of work.
Financial and Major Projects Update for the Period Ended June 29, 2024
Board members received a status update on the TTC’s major capital projects for the period ended June 29, 2024, with the following recommendations:
• Approve the 2024 Capital Budget in-year budget adjustments to offset projects that have had accelerated spending by $20.2 million with projects that have experienced delays and lower spending by $20.2 million with no debt impact.
• Authorize the recommended budget adjustments to the TTC’s 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan in Recommendation 1 above to be included in the TTC’s Capital Variance Report submission to the City of Toronto for the six months ended June 29, 2024, for City Council consideration and approval.
2024 Revenues
At the end of Period 6, total revenue exceeded the planned budget by $15.6 million, primarily driven by higher-than-planned passenger revenue. The increased revenue realized during this timeframe was due to a higher average fare driven by an increase in single ride fares generated from more leisure trips, combined with higher-than-planned Wheel-Trans ridership demand. By year-end, revenue is forecasted to be $36.7 million above budget, with the continued trend of higher Conventional ridership and average fares as well as increased Wheel-Trans demand anticipated to the end of the year.
2024 Expenditures
Operating expenses incurred to the end of Period 6 were $51.1 million net below budget resulting from workforce vacancies currently in the various stages of the recruitment process, lower-than-anticipated pricing as a result of successful negotiation of IT service contracts and delayed implementation of software roll-out, lower spending on materials and vehicle parts, lower uptake of health and dental benefits, and lower average diesel fuel prices.
Public art concept for Keele Station
Commissioners approved the public art concept for the Keele Station Easier Access project. “Transcendence” by Jordan Sook Studios, in collaboration with George Foussias, is a larger-than-life abstract beanstalk sculpture inspired from a place of child-like wonder and roots itself in fantasy from the childhood literary classic Jack and the Beanstalk. Towering amidst the urban landscape, the sculpture serves as an icon of hope urging residents to connect with the natural world in the heart of the city.
Commissioners also approved a motion requesting TTC staff review and report back to the TTC Board, by Q2 2025, on potential amendments to the Art in Public Transit Facilities policy that consider:
• Incorporating the local Councillor into the decision-making process for public art installations in transit facilities in their wards; and
• Delegating approval for public art installations to the Chief Capital Officer, or their designate.
Restricted Speed Zones in the subway system
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 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.
Notice of Motions
Commissioners passed three separate motions on 1) the use of automated streetcar cameras to ticket motorists who fail to stop for open streetcar doors; 2) misleading fossil fuel advertisements on the TTC; and 3) directing TTC staff to report back by the end of December 2024 with a cost benefit analysis of a pilot for free Wi-Fi on bus and streetcar platforms at bays at stations given that public Wi-Fi is both a safety and accessibility issue.
2025 Board meeting schedule
The Board approved the 2025 schedule of meetings at Toronto City Hall as follows (held at 10 a.m. unless otherwise indicated):
Monday, January 27
Monday, February 24
Wednesday, April 16
Wednesday, May 14
Wednesday, June 18
Thursday, July 17
Wednesday, September 10
Monday, October 6
Monday, November 3
Wednesday, December 10
Next meeting of the TTC Board
The next regular scheduled TTC Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, October 29.
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