TTC an industry leader in safety: American Public Transportation Association

Commissioners received the Rail Safety Audit Report prepared by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). A presentation made by APTA’s Director of Safety, Bill Grizard, concluded that the TTC has achieved a significant level of success in developing and implementing its System Safety Program.
He noted that “Although APTA does not promote the comparative ranking of safety among transit systems, we do take great pleasure in acknowledging those transit systems that are fully engaged in their pursuit of safety excellence. Toronto Transit Commission is one system that deserves such recognition, and we are proud to be associated with an organization of your calibre.”

APTA, a non-profit, international association of more than 1,500 public- and private-member organizations in the transportation sector, conducts a Rail Safety Audit at the TTC every three years and examines 24 separate safety elements ranging from employee training to incident management to workplace safety initiatives. The Final Audit Report presented to Commissioners was prepared in September 2008.

Commission approves 2010 TTC, Wheel-Trans Operating Budgets

Commissioners approved the 2010 TTC Operating Budget worth almost $1.4 billion. The majority of the budget is devoted to maintaining and improving service standards (largely unchanged from 2009) and accommodating a ridership projection of 462 million. TTC staff will be working with City staff to develop a multi-year plan to establish a fare/subsidy strategy for the future.

Commissioners also approved the Wheel-Trans Operating Budget worth $83.7 million to accommodate a five-per-cent increase in ridership to 2.5 million.

Environmental Study for Etobicoke-Finch West LRT approved

Commissioners approved the Environmental Assessment study for the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT project.

The study recommends the preferred alignment for the 17.2-km route from Finch Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway to Hwy. 27 (Humber College). The LRT includes 30 stops, including two subway connections.

The report will be sent to the City of Toronto for approval and subsequently to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Full funding for the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT was announced by Premier Dalton McGuinty on April 1.

Unanimous approval for Canadian content

Commissioners unanimously approved that TTC staff establish a requirement for a minimum of 50-per-cent Canadian direct assembly labour for future bus procurements, based on overall Canadian content levels of 30 per cent for 40- and 60-foot hybrids and 35 per cent and 40 per cent for 60-foot and 40-foot diesels respectively, and that TTC staff begin the vendor pre-qualification process. Staff will meet with officials from the City and the Province to review funding implications and report back to the Commission. The TTC already has minimum standards for Canadian content for future bus purchases.

New dates for commission meetings

Commissioners approved a revised meeting schedule at Toronto City Hall for 2010 as follows (new dates are boldfaced): Wednesday, January 20; Wednesday, February 17; Wednesday, March 24; Thursday, May 6; Wednesday, June 2; Wednesday, July 14; Monday, August 23; Thursday, September 30; and Wednesday, December 15.