Transit City Update

TTC staff made a presentation to Commissioners on the Toronto Transit City – Light Rail Plan, and introduced the new five-minute Transit City video, which debuted at www.ttc.ca on Oct. 23. The progress update included a construction schedule:

  • Sheppard East LRT: construction planned: 2009; completion: 2012.
  • Finch West LRT: construction planned: 2010; completion: 2013.
  • Eglinton LRT: construction planned: 2010; completion (first stage): 2016.
  • Don Mills LRT: construction planned: 2012; completion: 2016.
  • Scarborough Malvern LRT: construction planned: 2014; completion: 2018.
  • Waterfront West LRT: construction planned: 2014; completion: 2015.
  • Jane LRT: construction planned: 2013; completion: 2017.

TTC Orders 120 Clean-Diesel Buses

Commissioners approved the award of a contract worth $60 million for the purchase of 120 low-floor, clean-diesel buses for delivery in 2010. Commissioners decided to delay the expansion of the TTC’s hybrid bus fleet as a result of defective lead-acid batteries and chose to go with clean-diesel buses to ensure ridership growth demands are met in the short term. While the 130 hybrid buses scheduled for delivery in 2009 will be equipped with new lithium-ion batteries, the Commission directed that further negotiations be undertaken with respect to potentially altering this contract to diesel buses. The TTC can come back to hybrid vehicles when the next-generation drive technology becomes available.

New Buses for Wheel-Trans in 2009

Commissioners approved the award of a contract worth $33 million for the purchase of 110 low-floor paratransit buses for Wheel-Trans. The first 41 arrive in 2009 with the remaining 69 coming in 2010. The buses will be built by American Bus Products Inc.

Designers for Future Subway Stations Approved

Commissioners awarded three contracts worth $70 million for the design of the six stations on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension. The firms that have been approved to design the stations include local and international architects with proven innovative approaches and world-class experience. The subway extension is being funded by the Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, Regional Municipality of York, and the City of Toronto.