Board Meeting - February 27, 2001

B. Ashton (Chair), M. Silva (Vice-Chair), D. Miller, J. Mihevc, H. Moscoe, S. Shaw, B. Disero and G. Altobello (Commissioners), R. Ducharme (Chief General Manager), V. Rodo (General Manager - Executive & General Secretary), G. Webster (General Manager – Operations), J. Sepulis (General Manager - Engineering & Construction), L. Hilborn (Deputy General Manager - Corporate), B. Leck (General Counsel), M. Walker (Chief Security Officer), A. Chocorlan (Manager - Materials & Procurement), M. Roche (Chief Financial Officer), S. Blakey (Manager - Human Resources), R. Hughes (Chief Marketing Officer), M. Stambler (Manager - Service Planning), W. Buffett (Assistant General Secretary), and A. Patrone (Administrative Coordinator) were present.

B. Ashton was in the Chair.

R. Thacker, General Superintendent, Wheel-Trans was present for Item #5.

D. Leger, General Superintendent, Subway - Plant Maintenance was present for Item #15.

Nil

On Motion Of Commissioner Moscoe, The Commission Approved The Minutes From Meeting Nos. 1793 And 1794 And Authorized The Chair And General Secretary To Sign The Same.

Nil

Nil

a) Report No. 18 - Proposed Automatic Entrance Harlandale Entrance Sheppard Subway

Beatrice Janikun
(Submitted brief. Also read communication from Dr. Ruth Hammond)

Jack Ward
(Submitted brief)

Cy Janikun

Alex Baldor

The Commission Received The Deputations.

(See Report No. 18 For Minute)

b) Report No. 19c) - Potential for Historical Vehicles

Robert King

The Commission Received The Deputation And Requested Mr. King To Submit His Comments In Writing For Further Review By The Commission.

(Also See Minute For Item #19C)

CC-1 Commissioner Moscoe - Exclusive Streetcar Service

Commissioner Moscoe submitted his communication dated January 29, 2001 entitled, "Exclusive Streetcar Service."

The Commission Referred Commissioner Moscoe's Communication To Staff For Report On The Feasibility Of Establishing An Exclusive Streetcar Lane, 24 Hours Per Day, On Queen Street From Simcoe To Victoria.

CC-2 Chair Ashton - TTC's 80th Anniversary

Chair Ashton submitted his communication dated February 7, 2001 entitled, "TTC's 80th Anniversary.

The Commission Approved A Motion By Chair Ashton To Strike A Commission Sub-Committee Comprising Of Chair Ashton, Vice-Chair Silva, Commissioner Mihevc, Commissioner Moscoe And Commissioner Miller To Look For Innovative Ways To Mark The Occasion Of The Commission's 80th Anniversary.

CC-3 Commissioner Moscoe - Parking at TTC Lots

Commissioner Moscoe submitted his communication dated February 26, 2001 entitled, "Parking at TTC Lots."

The Commission Referred Commissioner Moscoe's Communication To Staff For Report.

1. Award of Merit - Operator Frank Fay & Route Supervisory Paul Lefler

Chair Ashton introduced Operator Frank Fay who on December 13, 2000 observed a customer on his streetcar suffering from a seizure. Operator Fay immediately notified CIS and then went to the assistance of the customer who had stopped breathing. Route Supervisor Paul Lefler later attended and both employees performed CPR on the customer. Emergency personnel later attended and continued with emergency care and then transported the customer to hospital with vital signs now present.

On behalf of the Commission, Chair Ashton presented Operator Fay and Route Supervisor Lefler with Awards of Merit in recognition of their courageous actions.

2. Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal

M. Walker, Chief Security Officer advised that in recognition of the service of Canadian military with the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the Government of Canada had struck a Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. In this regard, he noted that The Minister of National Defence recently authorized the award of this medal to two currently serving members of the TTC's Corporate Security Department.

M. Walker, Chief Security Officer then introduced Staff Sergeant Mike Comeau and Transit Security Officer Fern Taillefer.

On behalf of the National Defence Department, Chair Ashton presented Staff Sergeant Comeau and Transit Security Officer Taillefer with their Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal.

3. United Way

O. Kobylansky, Superintendent of Greenwood Carhouse and P. McLaughlin, Executive Vice-President of Local 113, Co-Chairs for this years United Way campaign advised that at a recent United Way Celebration 2000 Dinner, the Commission was awarded with two United Way Spirit Awards.

Messrs. Kobylansky and McLaughlin then presented the following awards to Chair Ashton:

• Public Awareness Campaign of the Year

• Labour Participation - Public Sector

4. Procurement Process

The Commission Received This Matter.

5. 2001 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget

R. Thacker, General Superintendent, Wheel-Trans gave an overhead slide presentation with respect to this matter.

After Hearing The Presentation, The Commission Approved The Recommendation Contained In The Report, As Listed Below:

"It Is Recommended That The Commission Approve:

1. The 2001 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget Of $42.8m Provided For In This Report And Companion Documents Which Includes $42.0m For Service And $3.0m For Bus Fleet Replacement Partially Offset By Revenues Of $2.2m; And

2. The Wheel-Trans Service Plan Which Encompasses The Following Key Factors:

Trip Demand Increasing To 1,503,800;

Unaccommodated Rate Returns To 2%;

56% Of Trips Carried By Buses; 44% Of Trips Handled By Contracted Taxi Service;

85% Of Trips Provided By Accessible Vehicles Comprised Of 132 Buses And 62 Accessible Taxis;

Overall Vehicle Productivity Improvement To 5.1 Passengers Per Hour Through Major Initiatives Such As:

Introduction Of A Trial Express Bus Service From Scarborough Town Centre To The Downtown Core;

• Expanded Areas Covered By Zone Service;
• Increased Integration With Conventional TTC Accessible Services;
• Efforts Directed At Reducing Trip Cancellations.
• Overall Service Quality Improvement As Measured By 'On-Time' Delivery Of Service To 95% Through Major Initiatives Such As:
• Implementation Of A 25 Bus Tracking Trial Directed At Improving 'Same Day' Service Delivery;
• Introduction Of An Automated 'Call-Back' Feature To Update Customers On Trip Status;
• Updates To The Computer Scheduling System (WTIS);
• Continue To Accommodate Original Requested Trip Times Within +30 Minutes At 96%;
• Improved Specialized Transit Service Co-Ordination With Greater Toronto Area;
• New Overland Economical Low-Floor (Elf) Buses Available For Service Increase To 104 Improving Vehicle Reliability And Reducing Maintenance Costs;
• No Increase In Workforce; And

3. Consider This Report In Concert With The Following:

A) The 2001 TTC Operating Budget; And

B) 2001-2005 TTC Capital Program Which Includes $7.2m For Wheel-Trans Of Which $6.3m Is Allocated To The Orion Bus Replacement Program For The Purchase Of 30 Low-Floor Elf Buses, And $0.9m For Improved Scheduling And Service Continuity; And

4. Forward This Report To The City Of Toronto Council For Approval And To The TTC'S Advisory Committee On Accessible Transportation For Information."

6. Procurement Authorization - Supply and Off-Loading of Concrete

It is recommended that the Commission approve the award of the contract to Malton Concrete and Ready Mix in the amount of $1,500,000 for the supply and off-loading of concrete for the three-year period commencing May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2004.

Approved

7. Procurement Authorization for the Supply of Lumber

It is recommended that the Commission approve the issuance of a purchase order to Weston Forest Corporation in the total upset limit of $750,000 for the supply of lumber for the three year period April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2004.

Approved

8. Procurement Authorization - Purchase Order Amendment for the Supply of Metal

It is recommended that the Commission approve the issuance of a Purchase Order Amendment in the upset limit amount of $300,000 to Solway Metal Sales increasing the total contract to $2,700,000 for the supply of metal for the period of August 1, 1998 to July 31, 2001.

Approved

9. Procurement Authorization - Supply of Currency Packaging Material for Revenue Operations

It is recommended that the Commission approve the issuance of a Purchase Order to Corporate Express Canada Inc. for the supply of currency packaging material for Revenue Operations in the total upset limit of $320,000 for the two year period from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2003.

Approved

10. Procurement Authorization for Alternate Award Birchmount Bus Garage - Outdoor Bus Storage Contract E3-15

Commissioner Moscoe Moved Adoption Of The Recommendation Contained In The Report, As Listed Below:

"It Is Recommended That The Commission Authorize The Acceptance Of The Tender Submitted By Ashbridge Construction Incorporated (Ashbridge) In The Total Amount of $5,245,000.00 For Contract E3-15, Birchmount Bus Garage - Outdoor Bus Storage. The Contract Was Initially Awarded To Gottardo Construction Limited (Gottardo). However, Gottardo Has Subsequently Indicated That They Will Not Proceed With The Contract."

Chair Ashton, Commissioner Moscoe, Commissioner Mihevc, Commissioner Miller And Commissioner Altobello Voted In Favour. Commissioner Disero, Vice-Chair Silva And Commissioner Shaw Were Opposed. The Motion Therefore Carried On A 5 - 3 Vote.

11. Purchase of Bus Parts - Bus Rebuild Program

It is recommended that the Commission:

1. Authorize funds for the supply of bus parts for the 6/12/18 year Bus Rebuild Program during the period of March 2001 to December 2003 with an upset limit of $13 million.

2. Delegate authority to the Chief General Manager to authorize contracts with a value in excess of $200,000 for this project.

3. Delegate authority to the Manager - Materials and Procurement to authorize contracts with a value of $200,000 or less for this project.

Approved

12. Purchase of New Flyer Parts

It is recommended that the Commission authorize the award of a three year contract for supply of New Flyer bus parts for inventory for the period from March 2001 to February 2004 to New Flyer Parts for an upset limit of $3,800,000 including applicable taxes.

Approved

13. Supply of Diesel Fuel for the Period of April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002

It is recommended that the Commission approve the acceptance of the tender submitted by Sunoco Inc. and the award of a contract for the supply of up to 58 million litres of diesel fuel for a one year period from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002 in the total upset limit of $35 million, including all applicable taxes.

Approved

14. Confirmation of Approval to Purchase NP4 Girder Rail

It is recommended that the Commission confirm the approval of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Chief General Manager for the purchase for inventory of 325 lengths of NP4 girder rail from Corus CIC Inc. in the total amount of $401,781.25, including applicable taxes.

Confirmed

15. Subway Garbage Disposal

It is recommended that the Commission receive this report on subway garbage disposal and recycling and note the following:

1. At the end of the Miller Waste contract March 31, 2001, Commission forces will take responsibility for garbage and newspaper removal on the street as it is deemed most cost effective. This method of operation will result in an annualized savings of approximately $250,000. This savings will be partially offset by the requirement to procure garbage bins for street level storage at an estimated cost of up to $50,000.

2. A garbage content audit has revealed that newspapers represent almost 46%, by weight of our garbage and therefore, it is recommended that newspapers become the main focus of recycling in the subway system.

3. Staff will reconfigure the number, mix and location of TTC garbage cans and newspaper recycling boxes that are currently located in 29 subway stations to maximize the newspaper diversion rate by the end of 2001.

4. A plan is being developed to meet the City's recycling objective of 30% diversion rate. This will include equipping more subway stations with newspaper recycling boxes and working with the City to investigate the installation of up to 70 additional OMG recycling containers outside of our subway stations.

Received

Commissioner Moscoe Moved That Staff Be Requested To Explore And Report Back On The Feasibility Of Installing Newspaper-Recycling Racks In Subway Cars.

The Commission Approved Commissioner Moscoe's Motion.

Commissioner Mihevc Moved:

1. That Staff Be Requested To Report Back On A More Aggressive Diversion Strategy For Waste That Is Greater Than The 30% Target Outlined In The Report.

2. That Staff Be Requested To Provide Bi-Annual Status Reports Concerning This Matter.

The Commission Approved Commissioner Mihevc's Motions.

16. Summary of Authorized Expenditures for the Period November 26, 2000 to December 31, 2000

It is recommended that the Commission receive this report for information. It lists expenditures ($100,000.00 up to $200,000.00) for the period November 26, 2000 to December 31, 2000, which were approved by Senior Management.

Received

17. Resource Implications of the Environmental Plan

It is recommended that the Commission receive this report for information.

Received

18. Proposed Automatic Entrance Harlandale Entrance Sheppard Subway

After Hearing The Deputations, The Commission Received The Report For Information.

Commissioner Moscoe Moved:

1. That Staff In Cooperation With The Board Of The Atrium Condominium Undertake A Survey Of Residents Of The Atrium To Ascertain Current Transit Usage.

2. That Staff Be Requested To Report Back On A Pilot Project That Would Evaluate The Issuance Of Transferable Passes To The Board Of The Atrium Condominium For The Use Of Their Residents.

3. That Staff Undertake Periodic Reviews Of Transit Use By Atrium Residents.

The Commission Approved Commissioner Moscoe's Motions.

(Also See Deputation 'A')

a) Suzanne Molina - Deputation

The Commission had before it a memorandum dated January 25, 2001 from R. Ducharme, Chief General Manager entitled, "Staff Response to Commission Inquiry - Suzanne Molina Deputation."

The Commission Deferred Consideration Of This Matter Until Its Next Meeting.

(Also See Correspondence C-3)

b) Employee Parking on Side Streets - Hillcrest Complex - Additional Information

The Commission had before it a memorandum dated February 27, 2001 from R. Ducharme, Chief General Manager entitled, "Staff Response to Commission Inquiry - Employee Parking on Side Streets - Hillcrest Complex - Additional Information."

The Commission Received The Memorandum For Information.

c) Potential for Historical Vehicles

The Commission had before it a memorandum dated February 27, 2001 from R. Ducharme, Chief General Manager entitled, "Potential for Historical Vehicles."

After Hearing The Deputation, The Commission Received The Memorandum, Pending Receipt Of Mr. King's written comments.

(Also See Deputation 'B')

C-1 David Kaufman, General Manager - Transportation Services, City of Toronto, dated January 26, 2001, advising that funding for the Construction Season Twin Pass is no longer included in the Chief Administrative Officer's recommended 2001-2005 Capital Works Program for Transportation Services.

The Commission Received The Communication.

C-2 Jan Rush, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, dated February 1, 2001, responding to a letter from R. Ducharme, Chief General Manager regarding the Capital Subsidy Agreement.

The Commission Received The Communication.

C-3 Suzanne Molina, dated February 19, 2001, thanking members of the Commission and staff for their response with respect to the concerns raised in her deputation on November 14, 2000 concerning customer service.

The Commission Deferred Consideration Of This Communication Until Its Next Meeting.

(Also See Item #19A)

C-4 Vincent Rodo, General Secretary, TTC, dated February 26, 2001, forwarding decisions made by the City Budget Advisory Committee at its meeting on February 23, 2001 regarding the TTC's 2001 Operating Budget.

The Commission Received The Communication.

Commissioner Moscoe Moved That Staff Be Requested To Report Back On The Implications Of Mothballing The Sheppard Subway.

Vice-Chair Silva Moved That Staff Be Requested To Report Back On How Much The TTC Spends On Consultants And Outside Legal Counsel.

Commissioner Miller Moved That The Commission Request The City Budget Advisory Committee To Separately Fund The 'Carless Sunday' Proposal, And That Any Subsidy Required Be Separate From The TTC Budget.

Commissioner Miller Moved That The Commission Communicate To The City Budget Advisory Committee That The Commission's 2001 Budget Is Based On Council's Previous Direction Of An 80/20 Operating Subsidy For The Toronto Transit Commission.

Commissioner Miller Moved That TTC Staff Be Requested To Work With The City Planning Department And Report Back Through The Commission On The Densities That Would Be Required Along Sheppard To Support The Sheppard Subway At A Breakeven Operating Cost.

Commissioner Miller Moved That TTC Staff Be Requested, In Consultation With The City Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, To Report Back To The Commission For Forwarding To The City Budget Advisory Committee, A Report On The 1% Dedicated Tax That Metro Council Approved With Respect To The Sheppard Subway.

Chair Ashton Moved That The Commission Establish A Budget Sub-Committee Comprising Of Chair Ashton, Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Shaw And Commissioner Moscoe.

Chair Ashton Moved That The Communication Received From The Rocket Riders Regarding Fare Increase Scenarios Be Referred To The Commission's Budget Sub-Committee For Consideration.

Commissioner Mihevc Moved That In Conjunction With Their Review Of Fare Scenarios, The Commission's Budget Sub-Committee Also Include The Following:

1. Post High School Student Rates; And

2. Bulk Rates Where Employee/Student Monthly Passes Are A) Optional And B) Non-Optional.

The Commission Approved The Foregoing Motions, Unanimously.

C-5 Gord Perks, Rocket Riders, requesting the Commission to prepare a report for consideration at the April Commission meeting regarding possible fare scenarios.

(See C-4 For Minute)

a) Committee of the Whole Resolution

The Commission Approved A Resolution By Vice-Chair Silva To Meet As The Committee Of The Whole On Wednesday, March 21, 2001 To Deal With Litigation Or Potential Litigation Matters, Labour Relations Or Employee Negotiations And To Receive Advice Which Is Subject To Solicitor-Client Privilege.

b) World Youth Day Conference & Papal Visit - 2002

Vice-Chair Silva Moved That Staff Be Requested To Provide A Status Report Concerning The World Youth Day Conference/Papal Visit Which Will Be Hosted By Toronto In 2002.

The Commission Approved Vice-Chair Silva's Motion.

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. 

Nil