No. H 075/08
For release - March 18, 2008
TORONTO - Subways and their tracks, dedicated streetcar lanes and buses will be improved across Toronto thanks to a $303.5-million contribution agreement signed today by the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
The agreement was signed at the TTC Malvern Bus Division and Garage by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; His Worship Mayor David Miller, City of Toronto; and Adam Giambrone, Chair of the TTC. Also present were the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, and the Honourable Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of Transportation.
"The Government of Canada is committed to improving transit infrastructure for commuters and residents in the Greater Toronto Area," said Minister Cannon. "Our government is pleased to be signing this contribution agreement today."
"This transit funding will help cut commute times, reduce congestion and drive the economy for the benefit of residents of the GTA," said Minister Flaherty.
"I am pleased that we've been able to work collaboratively with our partners in the federal government to secure this funding," said Mayor Miller. "Public transit is the lifeline for many of the city's neighbourhoods and it's also an important part of our strategy to green our city. The more we invest in it, the more we are able to enhance the lives of all Torontonians."
"This year, the TTC is making some of the most significant service improvements in its history," said Councillor Giambrone. "Today's announcement of federal funding will help ensure we have the vehicles and infrastructure in place to provide that service."
The federal contribution will allow for improvements in the following areas:
- Subway infrastructure - Seventy-eight new subway cars are being purchased and repairs or improvements are being made to: tracks and tunnels; escalators and elevators; fire ventilation; and radio systems.
- Streetcar infrastructure - Tracks will be repaired or replaced along numerous routes and dedicated streetcar lanes will be constructed as part of the St. Clair Avenue West Transit Improvement Project.
- Bus infrastructure - New hybrid buses are being purchased, and bus rapid transit links will be constructed from York University to Downsview Station and along Yonge Street from Finch Station to Steeles Avenue.
An additional $46.5 million will be made available to the TTC upon successful completion of a proposal for a fare card for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
"Convenient and reliable public transit is a priority for the Ontario government," said Minister Bradley. "That is why we have matched the federal TTC contribution announced today as part of the $2.3 billion in provincial funding granted since 2003 to help the TTC provide the type of service that will attract riders, reduce congestion and contribute to a healthier environment for GTA residents."
Improvements to the TTC network will help provide a safe and efficient transit system in the GTA and encourage more people to use public transit. This will help alleviate traffic congestion on Toronto's streets and highways, and provide the quality services needed to meet the demands of Toronto-area commuters.
The federal contribution comes from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, which supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further economic growth.
As with all federal contributions, funding is reimbursement-based, and funds are transferred once the contribution agreement has been signed, eligible costs have been incurred and all federal requirements have been satisfied.
The City of Toronto is contributing $350 million and the Province of Ontario provided $303.5 million in funding from 2005 to 2007 for these improvements.
Backgrounders with further information on federal and provincial funding in the GTA and how the City of Toronto uses federal funding are attached.
Contacts:
Karine White
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Chisholm Pothier
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa
613-996-9611
Media Relations
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Nicole Lippa-Gasparro
Press Secretary
Office of the Ontario Minister of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1815
Stuart Green
Deputy Director of Communications
Office of the Mayor, City of Toronto
416-338-7119
Bob Nichols
Communications Branch
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1158
Danny Nicholson
Media Relations
Toronto Transit Commission
416-420-0776
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
FEDERAL TRANSIT FUNDING IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA
The federal funding for these improvements comes from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF). Through the fund, the Government of Canada works with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, to meet strategic infrastructure needs throughout the country. CSIF supports large-scale strategic infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and further economic growth.
A contribution of $46.5 million will be available to the TTC upon successful completion of a proposal for a fare card for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The federal contribution will allow for improvements in the following areas:
- Subway infrastructure - Seventy-eight new subway cars are being purchased and repairs or improvements are being made to tracks and tunnels; escalators and elevators; fire ventilation; and radio systems.
- Streetcar infrastructure - Tracks will be repaired or replaced along numerous routes, and dedicated streetcar lanes will be constructed as part of the St. Clair Avenue West Transit Improvement Project.
- Bus infrastructure - New hybrid buses are being purchased, and bus rapid transit links will be constructed from York University to Downsview Station and along Yonge Street from Finch Station to Steeles Avenue.
In addition to the $350 million the Government of Canada has already committed to the TTC Strategic Capital Projects funding, the federal government is providing almost $1 billion in funding through FLOW, the federal action plan for the GTA. The plan will help reduce congestion, cut commute times, clean our air and improve the flow of goods and people in the GTA. FLOW funding is being allocated to the following projects:
- up to $95 million for the Brampton AcceleRide project;
- up to $83 million for the Mississauga bus rapid transit corridor;
- up to $85 million for the York VIVA Phase II - Stage I project;
- up to $697 million to support the extension of the Toronto-York subway; and
- up to $2.5 million to help the Region of Durham develop a long-term transit strategy.
The Government of Canada is also allocating funds to several other transit projects in the GTA, including:
- $385 million for GO Transit; and
- $50 million for York Region Rapid Transit - VIVA Quick Start.
In addition, through the Gas Tax Fund, the federal government is providing $407.3 million from 2005 to 2009, which will permit the TTC to purchase over 700 clean diesel and hybrid buses, 156 subway cars and 90 Wheel-Trans vehicles.
The funding was increased to $2 billion per year for a further four years from 2010 to 2014. Earlier this year, and in response to ongoing requests for stable, long-term funding, Budget 2008 extended the $2-billion-per-year fund beyond 2014 and made it permanent. This permanent fund will provide municipalities with a reliable source of funding that will help them better plan and finance their infrastructure needs.
THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
The Ontario government is tackling gridlock to build a strong and prosperous economy by getting people onto public transit with record investments and innovation.
The Government of Ontario invested $303.5 million for TTC capital cost projects, including:
- $110.9 million for the purchase of new hybrid vehicles, including subway cars and buses, as well as track repairs and improvements;
- $14.6 million for the construction of dedicated streetcar lanes as part of the St. Clair Avenue West Transit Improvement Project; and
- $13.7 million for the construction of a bus rapid transit corridor from York University to Downsview Station and along Yonge Street from Finch Station to Steeles Avenue.
The McGuinty government has made significant investments to strengthen public transit in Ontario. Since 2003, the government has invested $5.6 billion in public transit, including $2.3 billion for the TTC and $1.8 billion for GO Transit. This funding also includes:
- $670 million in funding for the construction of the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension, which will deliver six new subway stations extending into the Region of York;
- gas tax funding - by 2010, the province will have provided $1.6 billion in gas tax funding to Ontario municipalities; and
- the Ontario Bus Replacement Program that provides $50 million annually to Ontario municipalities to support the replacement of both conventional and specialized municipal transit buses.
The McGuinty government has also introduced the Presto card, launching the pilot phase of an integrated fare collection system that will enable commuters to travel on public transit from Durham to Hamilton using a single transit card. For more information, visit www.prestocard.ca/.
March 2008
HOW THE CITY OF TORONTO USES ALLOCATIONS FROM THE CANADA STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND AND THE GAS TAX FUND
The Government of Canada funding is making significant contributions to the City of Toronto for the renewal, rehabilitation and expansion of Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) infrastructure. These funds include:
- the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), providing up to $350 million for transit from 2007 to 2012; and
- the Federal Gas Tax Transfer (Gas Tax Fund), providing $407.3 million, which is being fully allocated to public transit.
The funding provided by the federal government through these two programs is contributing to:
- the purchase of 1,000 new hybrid and clean diesel buses to replace aging TTCvehicles and provide increased services as part of the Ridership Growth Strategy:
- These buses will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions with improved hybrid and clean diesel technology.
- Increasing the bus fleet with new vehicles will ensure that existing transit riders continue to use public transit and more people will use transit because of the increased service.
- 234 new subway cars;
- 90 new Wheel-Trans vehicles;
- Bus Rapid Transit development at:
- Yonge Street from Finch to Steeles; and
- Downsview Station to York University;
- the St. Clair Avenue West Transit Improvement Project;
- improved accessibility at subway stations; and
- upgrading of subway and streetcar infrastructure.
Transit is a cornerstone in the City of Toronto's Climate Change Plan. Investment in Toronto's transit system improves the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution every time a person leaves his or her car at home and takes transit. It also supports the economy of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by providing an alternative to the car and relieving road congestion.
Visit our website at www.toronto.ca
Toronto Transit Commission facts
- The TTC carries 1.47 million riders every day with over 460 million riders per year.
- The TTC carries 85 per cent of the transit riders in the GTA.
- Twelve per cent of TTC riders live outside the City of Toronto.
- The TTC is the largest transit system in Canada and the third largest in North America, behind New York City and Mexico City.
Orion VII low-floor hybrid bus facts
The TTC hybrid electric fleet is the first in Canada and the second largest in North America, next to that in New York City. By the end of September 2009, 694 new low-floor diesel hybrid accessible buses will be in service at the TTC. CSIF will fund 324 hybrid buses.
Diesel hybrid bus delivery began in 2006 with 150 buses. To date, 270 have been delivered and by year end the fleet will have a total of 564 hybrid buses. The buses are being put into service across the city as they are received and commissioned. The current cost of a low-floor diesel hybrid accessible bus is $734,000, including all taxes.
The hybrid system uses an electric propulsion motor to slow the bus down during the regenerative braking process, capturing the energy and returning it to the battery system mounted on the roof of the bus. The captured electrical energy is then used to assist in powering the bus, using its electric propulsion motor, further adding to the vehicle's efficient use of the small diesel generator on board the bus.
- Seats: 38 (or 32 plus 2 wheelchair positions)
- Length: 40 feet
- Width: 102 inches
- Height: 11 feet (to top of roof-mounted battery compartment)
- Weight: 33,000 lbs
- Engine: 6-cylinder, 5.9 litre Cummins ISB Clean Diesel (260 HP)
Environmental benefits of hybrid bus technology
- 37 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions
- 30-50 per cent less harmful particulates
- 30-50 per cent less nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions
- 40 tons less carbon dioxide (CO2) per bus each year
- Lower noise level (3-5 reduction in decibel level)
- 20-30 per cent less fuel consumption
- smoother and quieter acceleration
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Media contacts
Stuart Green, Office of the Mayor, 416-338-7119
Danny Nicholson, TTC, 416-420-0776
