Mayor says city budget contains $80M in new money for cash-strapped TTC

Toronto Mayor John Tory said the city will allocate an additional $80 millionto the cash-strapped Toronto Transit Commission in its 2017 budget.

• 'Sluggish' ridership in 2016 cost TTC $46M, but CEO says this year will be different

Tory, who made the announcement at Broadview station on Monday,said the new moneymeans the city will spend more on the TTC than it ever has in the transit system'shistory.

"The number one priority for Toronto residents continues to be help that we can give them moving aboutthe city more easily," Tory said at the start of morning rush hour.

"It's essential to ourway of life, itconnects people to opportunity, and it's something that we have to focus on after decades of neglect."

TTC budget pegged at $1.95B

Tory said he wanted to ensure thatriders knowthe budget, which will be voted on by council on Wednesday, actually increases funding for the transit system.

According to theTTC's chief financial and administration officer Vincent Rodo,the money is the "largest single year increase"in TTChistory.

The TTC and its Wheel-Trans service will have an operating budget of $1.95 billion if approved by council.

Tory said the new money is welcome news for the transit system. He handed out flyers at the station and talked to commuters to promote the increase in funding.

2.6% budget cut not implemented

Tory saidthe new moneymeans fundingone million more Wheel-Trans rides, finishing therollout of the Presto system, opening the subway extension to York University, and continuing work on the one-stop Scarborough subway expansion.

It also means running 800 subway cars, 200 streetcars and 1,900 buses to carry544 million riders this year, buying 783 new buses and upgrading signals on Line 1 to ensure subway trains on that line can run more frequently and with fewer stoppages.

And it means continuingto openthe subway earlier on Sundays and continuing to allowchildren 12 and under to ride free on the TTC.

• TTC overcrowded or delayed? Call the mayor, say transit advocates

Tory acknowledged that he asked the TTC last year, along with every other city department,to find 2.6 per cent in savings in its budget. But he said the savings were "proposals" and not implemented in the TTC's case.

"We realized, when we saw the list, that sure, there were things that youcould do but we chose not to do them," Tory said.

TorontoCoun.JoshColle, TTC chair andwho accompanied Tory toBroadviewstation, said the new money should begoodnews for theTTC's"very patient and loyal" customers.

"As you know, the TTC is under serious transformation right now," Collesaid.

"Itwill make the system look like a new one to all of us,with a new Presto system, revitalized stations that are accessible, expansion of Wheels-Trans, 70 new streetcars, opening of a new subway, the first since 2002, which is good news for all riders," he said.

"With these improvements, the customer experience should improve for everyoneand that's the goal of all this."