Investing in the Future of Toronto's Transit System
Councillor Robinson speaking at Bloor-Yonge Station, April 2019
With an additional 35 million riders expected by 2024, the TTC requires significant capital investment to continue providing transit service to the residents of Toronto. As Chair, Councillor Robinson recognizes the urgent need to purchase new transit vehicles, maintain our infrastructure, and upgrade our existing network to provide enhanced capacity and reliability. The TTC Board must take bold action now to ensure that our system is prepared to meet future ridership demand.
While the Councillor was unable to chair this year's TTC Budget meeting due to her ongoing treatment, she submitted a motion to the Board by letter directing staff to report back with an accelerated vehicle procurement plan to help meet growing ridership projections. Councillor Robinson's letter specifically highlighted the urgency of dedicating capital funds for investment in key transit improvement projects and new vehicle purchases.
The TTC Board voted unanimously to adopt Councillor Robinson's motion and submit a request to City Council for the capital funds required to execute priority vehicle purchases. As a result, the City has dedicated more than $4 billion to the TTC's capital budget over the next ten years for critical state of good repair projects, infrastructure improvements, and new vehicle procurements.
Of this total amount, approximately $1 billion will be specifically allocated to purchase new buses, streetcars, and subway trains. On January 27, the TTC Board officially approved an accelerated vehicle procurement plan as requested by Councillor Robinson. You can review the report in full, here.
This new capital investment in our transit system is significant, but not sufficient. The TTC's capital needs over the next decade total well over $20 billion, and that's without factoring in the costs associated with operating and maintaining new transit lines. In the coming years, the TTC will require additional funding from the Provincial and Federal governments to meet the long-term, regional needs of the Greater Toronto Area. This is a challenge that the City of Toronto cannot meet alone.
While there is no doubt that transit expansion will continue to be a high-profile issue across Toronto, we must also invest in the needs of our current system. As TTC Chair, Councillor Robinson is committed to improving the capacity and reliability of our existing transit network. She will continue to champion long-term, strategic investments in Toronto's transit infrastructure to keep our system running in a safe and efficient manner.
