13 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Toronto Transit Commission website has this information, including detailed travel of an infected person on several subway and streetcar lines for 3 days in a row earlier this month.

[KevinKorell]

Daily Hive, 4/23/20:

 

  Man allegedly "mumbling" about coronavirus assaults passenger on TTC streetcar    

 

 

A man who boarded a TTC streetcar is wanted by police after allegedly “mumbling” about coronavirus and then assaulting another passenger on the vehicle.

 

Story

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 5/27/20

 

Toronto Transit Commission lays off 450 workers

 

 

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) late last week temporarily laid off 450 employees as part of a cost-cutting measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

The pandemic has resulted in an 80 percent drop in ridership and a loss of $90 million in monthly revenue — money that was essential to sustain operations, TTC officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Bloomberg, 6/28/20:

 

   As the City Explodes, Toronto Transit Feels the Financial Strain  

 

 

 

Streetcar equipment that’s almost 100 years old. Asbestos-lined subway tunnels. Computer systems from decades ago. Before the coronavirus hit, Toronto’s public transit agency needed billions of dollars to fix and expand lines and meet the demands of the city’s explosive growth.

 

Article

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading,9/1/20

 

TTC recalls 150 laid off operators

 

 

To better handle an anticipated ridership bump as schools begin to reopen, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) recalled 150 of 450 train and bus operators who were temporarily laid off in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The TTC’s daily ridership now is 35 percent to 40 percent of pre-pandemic levels and is steadily increasing as the city of Toronto and region enter new phases of recovery, TTC officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 10/19/20

 

TTC to recall remaining laid off employees next month

 

 

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in November will recall the remaining 179 employees who the agency furloughed in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

TTC is recalling the employees to better meet service demands due to increased ridership as schools and businesses reopen in Toronto, TTC officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

TTC news release

 

TTC recalling remaining employees in first week of November

 

October 15, 2020

 

 

In order to meet service demands brought about by changing ridership patterns, a major planned capital project and a new cohort of high school students returning to class, the TTC will recall the remaining 179 furloughed front-line employees, including 97 bus operators, in the first week of November.

 

"Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to monitor ridership in real time and adjust service to meet demand," said TTC CEO Rick Leary. "We've also been looking for opportunities to take advantage of the reduced ridership to advance major capital work at a time it would inconvenience the fewest customers."

 

In making the decision to recall the remaining employees, the TTC took the following factors into consideration:

• As schools and more businesses re-opened over the past two months, the TTC has seen ridership on the bus network increase faster than on other modes. Daily boardings on buses are now at 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and holding. As well, ridership patterns have changed from the traditional peak periods with customer trips more evenly spread throughout the day.
• In a report going to the TTC Board tomorrow, the TTC is seeking approval to advance a major asbestos removal program by one full year by closing Line 1 between Finch and Sheppard for 10 days in December, with shuttle buses running instead.
• On Nov. 12, a new cohort of high school students return to in-class learning, some of whom will rely on the TTC to get to and from school.

 

As well, the TTC projects there will be operator retirements in late 2020. A plan to recruit and train new operators in 2021 is underway.

Recalling the employees is part of the TTC's continuing commitment to providing safe and reliable service for the hundreds of thousands of customers still relying on public transit during the pandemic. Other initiatives already underway include:

• Communicating with school boards to determine hot spots, student volumes and start and dismissal times.
• Maintaining service flexibility and implementing demand-responsive bus service to supplement scheduled service.
• Continuing distribution of free masks in subway stations and on Wheel-Trans to help ensure customers are not travelling without one.
• Making masks mandatory for all TTC staff on TTC property.
• Continuing enhanced cleaning and disinfection of all public places and vehicles with a focus on touch and grab points, such as buttons, railings, handles and straps.
• Continuing to stock hand sanitizer in every station and on every streetcar and Wheel-Trans vehicle.

 

Running a demand-responsive service will, at times, mean that additional TTC vehicles deployed in real time will not appear on schedules or transit apps.

 

For more information about the TTC's pandemic safety plans, visit here.

 

[KevinKorell]

CP24, 12/9/20:

 

    TTC to retrain some streetcar and subway operators as it seeks to reduce crowding on bus routes in hotspot neighbourhoods  

 

 

The TTC is retraining some subway and streetcar operators to drive buses as part of a wider effort to shift resources from downtown routes that have seen their ridership plummet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Full story

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 9/15/21

 

Toronto transit agency mandates COVID-19 vaccine

 

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has issued a new mandatory vaccination policy for all its employees, contractors and students.

 

All employees are required to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by Oct. 30.

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Toronto, ON Sun, 9/29/21:

 

 

   TTC union does abrupt about-face on vaccination position    

 

 

Opposition to the TTC’s vaccination policy by its largest union amounts to illegal job action, the Toronto Transit Commission alleges.

 

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