Toronto, Ontario, November 15, 2012 – The Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) unveiled Toronto's new streetcar today.
Three streetcars will be tested in TTC facilities and on city streets to ensure safety and reliability. The new fleet of 204 streetcars is expected to begin regular service in early 2014, replacing the current fleet of streetcars that currently carries an average of 250,000 riders each weekday on 11 routes comprising more than 300 kilometres of track.
The new low-floor vehicles are larger, fully accessible and air conditioned, and can comfortably accommodate 68 more passengers than current streetcars. They are also more energy efficient and boast numerous safety and performance improvements.
The new fleet will also be equipped with PRESTO fare card readers, allowing commuters to travel seamlessly and more conveniently within the TTC and across PRESTO-enabled transit systems in the Great Toronto and Hamilton Area. PRESTO will operate on all streetcar lines once the new fleet is in full service.
"These new streetcars will connect workers with jobs, help our economy remain competitive and make it easier for people to get where they need to go on time,"
said Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for York–Simcoe. "The Government of Canada is proud to have invested in this important initiative, which will support long-term economic growth and help move people across the GTA faster and more comfortably."
"Our government's unprecedented public transit investments continue to make taking transit a better choice for commuters, reducing congestion on our roads and contributing to a better quality of life for Toronto families,"
said Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation. "These new streetcars are easier to access for riders, can accommodate more passengers and will accept PRESTO."
"Since 1977, the TTC's current fleet of streetcars has been well-maintained by TTC employees to ensure they still work for our customers, but the time for new vehicles has arrived,"
said Karen Stintz, TTC Chair and Toronto City Councillor (Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence). "Provided by our governments with taxpayer dollars, our new low-floor streetcars are a greatly needed arrival for Toronto. This amazing vehicle will finally meet the needs of more than 250,000 daily TTC streetcar customers, from St. Clair to Lake Ontario and from the Beach to Brown's Line."
The Government of Canada is contributing up to $108 million towards this project through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF). The Province of Ontario is contributing up to $416.3 million. The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission together are providing $662 million to this project.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 focuses on job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity. Strengthening infrastructure across the country is an important part of this plan. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 824,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Find out more about the opportunities in Economic Action Plan 2012 at www.budget.gc.ca/2012/home-accueil-eng.html.
Since 2003, the Ontario government has committed more than $4 billion to help improve and expand transit in Toronto, including over $1.175 billion in gas tax funding for transit, up to $172 million for the revitalization of Union Station, and up to $416.3 million towards the new streetcars. The province is also investing $8.4 billion in Metrolinx LRT projects in Toronto.
The new streetcars form part of the City of Toronto's strategy to ensure its infrastructure keeps pace with growth, reduces the cost of congestion and addresses commute times. The City is currently developing a long-term transportation plan that will include broad public consultation in late 2012 and early 2013.
For further information on Canada's infrastructure investments in Ontario and to stay up-to-date with Infrastructure Canada Web feeds visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For more information about the streetcars, visit: newstreetcars.ttc.ca
Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Press Secretary
Office of Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
David Salter
Office of the Minister of Transportation
416-327-1815
Bob Nichols
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
416-327-1158
Danny Nicholson
Toronto Transit Commission
416-393-3898
Deborah Blackstone
City of Toronto
416-392-7377
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Or toll-free 1-877-250-7154
