TTC Stakeholder Update Edition 3, January 2021
Access the January Stakeholder Update for info on Fighting COVID-19 at the TTC, PPE on the TTC, major construction initiatives and more.
TTC will be continuing its subway maintenance program in 2021. See below for this month’s subway related closures.
Line 1: Finch to Eglinton nightly early closures January 18 to 21
Line 1: Finch to St Clair full weekend closure January 23 and 24
Line 1: Finch to Eglinton nightly early closures January 25 to 28
Any updates or changes to the schedule will be posted online: http://www.ttc.ca/Service_Advisories/Subway_closures/index.jsp
TTC Stakeholder Update Edition 2, November 2020
Safety on the TTC
Since January, the TTC has been performing significant additional cleaning and disinfection of all public spaces with a focus on touch and grab points, such as buttons, railings, handles and straps. Other efforts the TTC has taken to ensure our customers and employees stay safe include:
- Cleaning all vehicles at least twice a day with hospital-grade disinfectant;
- Continuing to stock hand sanitizer in every station and on every streetcar and Wheel-Trans vehicle;
- Implementing demand-responsive bus service in addition to scheduled service; and
- The continued use of seat barriers and physical distancing signage in stations to allow customers to continue to practice safe physical distancing while travelling on the TTC.
For more information about staying safe on the TTC, check out our website.
One million masks campaign
In June, the TTC partnered with the City of Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy Office to distribute one million masks to TTC customers across the city. Masks were distributed at subway stations and busy bus stops, in neighbourhood improvement areas and to community organizations identified by the Poverty Reduction Strategy Office. The TTC is pleased to announce that it has reached its target of distributing one million masks, and will continue giving masks to customers across Toronto! TTC ambassadors will be distributing masks over the next few weeks along 25 busy bus routes and at subway stations.
TTC Connects
Women as Transit Operators
The TTC is hosting TTC Connects: Women as Transit Operators, a virtual event on November 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., via WebEx. Participants must register here to receive the WebEx link. Participants will also be able to send in questions ahead of time or type their questions into the chat. More details on the information session are available here.
If you know a woman looking for a new career or if you have ever wondered what it is like to be TTC Transit Operator, join us for TTC Connects: Women as Transit Operators. Everyone is welcome to register for this public event.
Infrastructure upgrades
Construction during subway closures
The November 7-8 closure on Line 1 allowed our crews to replace over 100 metres of rail between St George and Museum stations. Crews also installed 410 new plates, which are pieces of steel that affix the rail to the ties, between St George and Spadina stations. TTC signal crews were also able to complete old signal equipment removals at six locations between Osgoode and Queen’s Park stations. Newly installed ATC signals are now in place.
Maintenance work took place between Museum and Spadina stations and included work on switches at our St George, Spadina and Museum track crossovers. Various inspections between Osgoode to Queen’s Park and Dupont to St Clair West stations were also conducted.
Nightly early closures from November 2-5 helped our Structure Maintenance team continue the ATC Phase 5 preparation and work on other repairs. Thank you for your continued patience as we work to make the TTC safer, faster and more reliable! Information about upcoming subway closures can be found here.
Accessibility on the TTC
The TTC is working hard to make the entire network accessible and as of January 2020, all TTC vehicles are accessible. To date, 49 of 75 subway stations are accessible and construction work continues across the network to make all subway stations accessible by 2025. Station accessibility construction is well underway at Bay, Sherbourne, Yorkdale, Wilson, Runnymede, Keele and Lansdowne stations. Work at College Station begins November 23, and at Donlands Station later this year. For more information, please visit ttc.ca.
New online Self-Serve Portal
Wheel-Trans has introduced a new online Self-Serve Portal. This gives applicants and customers who are required to re-register a convenient way to submit their application. The application can be filled out online and sent into Wheel-Trans staff through the online portal, eliminating the need to email, fax or mail any paper documents. To visit the new Self-Serve Portal, please visit the website.
PRESTO March/April pass credits
PRESTO card customers who purchased a March and April monthly pass, and are eligible for a pro-rated credit, must tap their PRESTO card before the end of November to load the credit onto their card. More information about eligibility can be found here.
TTC Updates – October 2020
Customer communication updates
High school students – Identification on the TTC
For the 2020-2021 school year, students aged 16 to 19 will need to carry one of the following forms of photo identification as proof of age on the TTC:
High school photo ID for 2020-2021 or 2019-2020 school year
Driver’s license or Ontario Photo card
This temporary change is being made as a result of COVID-19 and the fact that some schools may not be allowing photographers in the school to take high school ID photos. The TTC no longer provides photo ID for youth or seniors at the TTC Photo Identification Centre. Learn more on our website here.
The TTC now has the largest fleet of electric buses in North America
The TTC now has 60 battery-electric buses in service. In addition to having the largest fleet of eBuses in North America, the TTC is the only agency with vehicles from all three builders of long-range electric buses — BYD Canada, New Flyer Industries and Proterra. Learn more here.
Major construction project updates
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while ridership has been well below typical levels, the TTC has accelerated capital construction to provide long term service improvements. More information about construction during upcoming subway closures can be found here.
Service changes and improvements
Launch of RapidTO
In our 5-Year Service Plan & 10-Year Outlook, the TTC outlined a proposal to explore priority bus-only lanes and other service-enhancing measures on five of our busiest corridors. You can read more about the five RapidTO corridors here.
Crews painted red priority bus lanes along the Eglinton East corridor as part of the #RapidTO program. The lanes went into service on Oct. 11 and run 8.5km along Eglinton Ave E from Brimley Rd to Ellesmere Rd and Morningside Dr.
More information including, ridership data, graphics and maps can be found in the Bus Lane Implementation Plan report or the Eglinton East Corridor – Priority Bus Lanes report.
TTC Website links and resources
The safety of our customers and employees is our first priority. Our website, TTC.ca, provides guidance for riding the TTC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick links
COVID-19: Staying safe on public transit
Latest news on COVID-19
Keeping the TTC safe and clean
TTC’s Restart Action Plan
Face masks and face coverings
TTC COVID-19 case updateCOVID-19 FAQs
Service on key bus routes being monitored
Automated shuttle trial
The City of Toronto has signed an agreement with Local Motors Industries to provide the City’s planned Automated Shuttle Trial service to begin operating Spring 2021. The six- to 12-month trial was scheduled to begin this month but was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Local Motors Industries, in partnership with Pacific Western Transportation, will be providing this service using an Olli shuttle, which is a state-of-the-art low-speed, electric vehicle with a seating capacity of up to eight passengers. An on-board human operator will oversee vehicle operations and can manually take control of the vehicle when required.
Additional details are available on the project site by visiting the Automated Shuttle Trial Page.
Wheel-Trans begins mobile app pilot
Wheel-Trans is excited to announce that they have launched a pilot for a new mobile app. The future mobile app will give customers another option to book and track their trips. One of the app features includes, “Where’s My Ride”.
This feature will allow customers to track their ride on a map ten minutes prior to their trip. The feature currently tracks only Wheel-Trans buses but will also include contracted vehicles later in 2021. The current phase of the mobile app pilot started October 1, 2020 and is open to a limited number of Wheel-Trans customers. Email [email protected] or call 416-393-4111 if you wish to be considered for the pilot.
Lost Articles Office – open to the public
The TTC Lost Articles Office is open to the public with modified hours of operation.
If you have lost something on the TTC, please call us between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday at 416-393-4100. If we have your item, please come and pick it up from our office at Bay Station between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please avoid visiting the Lost Articles Office at Bay Station unless you have called and confirmed that we have your item.
Thank you for doing your part
Mask audits have indicated that 97% of customers are wearing masks, however in the most recent audit, only 86% of riders are wearing them properly. Face masks need to cover your mouth and nose to be effective. Therefore, the TTC will continue with its communication and education campaign to increase compliance of proper mask use. Thank you for your support for a safe TTC.
Previous TTC Releases
Back to school – COVID-19 safety measures in place across the TTC
Safety Measures on the TTC – Sept 15 2020
View the September 2020 Stakeholder Update
TTC Stakeholder Update – September 2020
The link below provides an update is attached on TTC matters including an overview of measures they are taking to provide safe and accessible transit for customers. Includes info on mask distribution, priority bus lanes, station accessibility, accelerating infrastructure upgrades, upcoming scheduled subway closures and Bathurst Station Photo ID Centre.
TTC COVID-19 Update – July 31 2020
Additional safety and COVID-19 related information is posted online: http://www.ttc.ca/COVID-19/index.jsp.
Please support safe transit in Toronto.