The TTC needs more buses, streetcars, and subway cars

Transit riders need more service to fix overcrowding. The City of Toronto will be bringing back laid-off bus operators in November, but it could run even more service now using its spare buses.

To increase service in the long-term, the TTC needs to order more vehicles soon. The TTC Board is voting Thursday October 22 to order more buses, streetcars, and subway cars. But the TTC needs Premier Ford and Prime Minister Trudeau to chip in to fully fund more vehicles. 

Send a message now to the TTC Board, Provincial Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, and Federal Minister of Infrastructure Catherine McKenna. To get more involved in TTCriders campaigns, sign up to volunteer.

Send a message to the Mayor & Ministers: 

Send email to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected][email protected][email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Subject ideas: Fully fund TTC vehicles! // The TTC needs more buses, streetcars, and subways

Dear TTC Board members, Hon. Caroline Mulroney, and Hon. Catherine McKenna,

Toronto needed more transit vehicles before the pandemic. Now we need additional service more than ever. As more people take transit, riders have been experiencing crowding.  

I urge you to fully fund the buses, streetcars, and subway cars we need to increase service, and to provide permanent transit operating funding. The TTC must also run as much service as possible. There are spare TTC buses that could be brought into service right now.

If MPs and MPPs don’t provide transit funding we need now, in 2022 there will not be enough streetcars and buses to maintain current service levels. That will mean more delays and overcrowding, and not enough shuttle buses during subway or SRT shut downs.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME, YOUR POSTAL CODE]

What is the TTC's plan for more transit vehicles? 

new report being debated on October 22, 2020 outlines the TTC's plans to order more vehicles. Read our notes below about what's in the plan, or watch our interview on Global News

You can also read a detailed analysis by Steve Munro here.  

The TTC’s 15-year Capital Investment Plan warned that maintaining the TTC’s current fleet size requires “purchasing between 120 and 160 buses every year to replace retiring vehicles, but there is currently limited bus funding in 2021 and 2022 and no funding thereafter.” If more funding is not approved, the TTC’s “contingency plan” is to “forego service improvements for growth,” or even cut service, if they do not have enough streetcars and buses.

60 streetcars

The TTC needs *at least* 60 streetcars.  The TTC wants to order 13 streetcars now to be delivered between 2023 and 2025, paid for by the City of Toronto (cost: $140 million). If the province and federal government chip in for the whole order of 60 streetcars, each car will be cheaper. The order is being made with Bombardier, because a report from TTC staff found that any other manufacturer would cost more and cause delays. 

Hundreds of buses

The TTC has spare buses that it could use to increase service now. But the TTC also needs more buses for the future because part of the fleet is nearing the end of its life.  

The TTC will order 300 hybrid-electric buses now (cost: $390 million), for delivery between 2022 and 2023. They'll order an additional 300 all-electric buses for delivery between 2023-25, after they assess the results of the ongoing electric bus comparison.

The TTC needs a funding commitment of $1.17 billion from Trudeau and Ford for the remaining 822 all-electric buses for 2025-29. The commitment must be made by the second quarter of 2021 so the order can be made.

Electric buses need new infrastructure and garage space to store them. The TTC needs to secure $442 million in additional funding for systems like charging stations. The TTC has also identified the need for a 9th bus garage. 

80 subway cars

The TTC needs Premier Ford and Prime Minister Trudeau to commit to buy 80 new subway cars now (cost: $1.61 billion). Otherwise, the TTC will soon need to sink funds into maintaining existing subway cars, when they will need to be replaced eventually. 

70 Wheel Trans vehicles 

Of the $206 million estimated cost for the procurement of 512 Wheel-Trans buses and $50 million for related charging systems from 2020 through 2029, approximately $52 million (20%) is funded.

Autonomous Vehicles

This "autonomous" vehicle pilot will actually have two staff people on board at all times. The pilot will be free to use now, but will it become a private, premium service in wealthy neighbourhoods in the future? The pilot will connect the West Rouge Neighbourhood with the Rouge Hill GO Station, not connect to the local TTC network.

The City has signed an agreement with Local Motors, in partnership with Pacific Western Transportation, to deliver the planned Automated Shuttle Trial. Quick facts about the AV pilot:

  • The pilot will operate in the spring of 2021
  • The seating capacity will be up to 8 passengers
  • The vehicle will be equipped with accessibility ramps and wheelchair securement system
  • Also equipped with audio and visual announcements
  • 2 staff members, a certified operator from the Pacific Western Transportation and a service ambassador from Metrolinx or TTC will be aboard for each trip
  • Will connect Rouge Hill GO Station and the surrounding West Rouge neighbourhood
  • Passengers would ride for free
  • No details about physical distancing with 8 passengers and two staff aboard the small vehicle
Read more here: https://www.toronto.ca/news/city-of-toronto-signs-agreement-to-deliver-automated-shuttle-trial-planned-for-spring-2021

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