Board Meeting - November 15, 2002

B. Disero (Chair), S. Shaw (Vice-Chair), H. Moscoe, B. Ashton, D. Shiner, D. Miller, P. Li Preti, J. Flint and N. Kelly (Commissioners), R. Ducharme (Chief General Manager), V. Rodo (General Manager - Executive & General Secretary), G. Webster (General Manager – Operations), J. Sepulis (General Manager - Engineering & Construction), B. Leck (General Counsel), A. Chocorlan (Manager - Materials & Procurement), M. Roche (Chief Financial Officer), K. Watson (Senior Director - Employee Relations), M. Stambler (Manager – Service Planning), R. Hughes (Chief Marketing Officer), J. Cannon (Chief Information Officer), W. Buffett (Assistant General Secretary), and F. Stanois (Coordinator - Secretariat Services) were present.

B. Disero was in the Chair.

Nil

Nil

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a) Report No. 3 - 2003 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget

Carol Anne Monet

Chair, TTC Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation

Roger Roberts

The Commission Received The Deputations.

(See Report No. 3 For Minute)

b) Report No. 1 - 2003 TTC Operating Budget

Marjorie Nichol

Hamish Wilson

(Submitted brief)

Barry Minshull

Gina LeFave

(Not present)

Myles Trbovic

(Submitted brief)

Joel Sterling

Nancy MacDougall

Albert Koehl

Jenny Cook

Lela Gary

(Submitted brief)

Susan Green

(Submitted brief)

Rhona Swarbrick

Janice Etter

(Submitted brief)

Karen Harrison

(Submitted brief)

Charlotte Morgan

Diana De Maxted

(Not present)

David J. Scott

Anson Field

(Not present)

David McElroy

Gord Perks

Mark Brose

President - Transportation Action Now

Pat Finlay

Councillor David Soknacki

City of Toronto

The Commission Received The Deputations.

(See Report No. 1 For Minute)

Nil

Nil

1. 2003 TTC Operating Budget

After Hearing The Deputations, Commissioner Shiner Moved Adoption Of The Recommendations Contained In The Staff Report, Subject To Striking Out Recommendation No. 4 And Replacing In Lieu Thereof The Following Recommendations From The TTC Budget Sub-Committee To Address The $78.2 Million Operating Budget Shortfall For The 2003 TTC Operating Budget:

(A) Eliminate Free Parking After 3:00 p.m. (Previously Approved By The Commission);

(B) $3.7 Million In Expenditure Cuts Already Identified;

(C) A Further $5.8 Million In Unspecified Expenditure Reductions;

(D) A 10 Cent Fare Increase Effective January 2003 As Shown In Appendix B Of Report #1 Entitled, "2003 TTC Operating Budget;

(E) Increased Operating Subsidy Of $30 Million, Bringing The 2003 TTC Operating Subsidy To $182,162,000;

(F) That $17.0 Million In 2003 Be Financed From Retained Earnings With The Proviso That The City Of Toronto Hold The Commisson Harmless From Any Financial Consequences As A Result Of This; And

(G) That Staff Report Back Through The CGM Report On The Status Of These Items.

Commissioner Miller Moved The Following Motions:

1. That recommendation no. 5 contained in the staff report be amended by adding the words "of $182.162 million".

2. That The Fare Hike, If Approved, Be Applied To The Adult Metropass On A 51 Multiple, Not 52 As Currently Done.

Commissioner Flint Moved That Recommendation No. 5 Contained In The Staff Report Be Amended By Deleting The Word "city's".

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Flint's Motion.

The Motion By Commissioner Flint Carried.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Miller's Motions.

The Motions By Commissioner Miller Lost.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Shiner's Motion.

Chair Disero, Commissioner Shiner, Commissioner Flint, Commissioner Kelly, Commissioner Li Preti And Commissioner Ashton Voted In Favour. Vice-Chair Shaw, Commissioner Miller And Commissioner Moscoe Were Opposed. The motion carried on a 6 - 3 vote.

Commissioner Miller Moved The Following Motions:

1. Staff Include In The Forthcoming Ridership Growth Strategy, If Possible, And In A Separate Report If Not: (I) A Strategy For The Stable Funding Of The TTC Operating Budget, Assuming Provincial And/Or Federal Government Funding At Traditional Levels; (Ii) A Strategy For The Stable Funding Of The TTC Operating Budget, Assuming No Provincial And/Or Federal Operating Funding, But With Recommendations Of Potential Alternative Sources Of Revenue; (Iii) A Marketing Strategy To Counteract The Extensive Marketing Undertaken By Other Forms Of Transportation Such As Automobiles.

2. Staff Be Requested To Meet With Transportation Action Now To Review Their Concerns And Discuss Possible Remedies.

The Motions By Commissioner Miller Carried.

Commissioner Kelly Moved That Staff Be Requested To Report At The February 2003 Commission Meeting On The Potential Introduction Of Franchises To Provide Jitney Services In Suburban Areas Of The City.

The Motion By Commissioner Kelly Carried.

2. 2003-2007 Capital Program and 10-Year Capital Forecast

Commissioner Shiner Moved Adoption Of The Recommendations Contained In The Staff Report, Subject To The Following:

(A) Agreement From B.C. Transit By December 6, 2002, To Sell Used Mark I Cars To The TTC;

(B) A Reduction Of $1.0 Million In Project 7.2 - Intelligent Transportation & Technical Systems;

(C) That An Application Be Made To The City Of Toronto Energy Initiative Fund For Funds In The Amount Of $665,000 To Fund The Overhead Speed Doors And Overhead Sensor Replacement Projects;

(D) An Unspecified Reduction Of $2.0 Million;

(E) Actual Cash Flow Expenditures For 2003 Be Commensurate With The Budgeted Amount Of Debentured Interest By The City Of Toronto; And

(F) That Staff Report Back Through The CGM Report On The Status Of These Items.

Commissioner Li Preti Moved The Following Motion:

Whereas The Provision Of High Quality Public Transit Is Vital To Attracting More Travelers Away From The Automobile;

And Whereas The Extension Of Rapid Transit Service North From The Downsview Station To Steeles Avenue Was Identified As One Of Two Priorities For The TTC In The Recent Rapid Transit Expansion Study;

And Whereas The Region Of York Has Also Identified Such An Expansion As A Priority In Its Transportation Master Plan;

And Whereas The Region Of York Has Initiated The Environmental Assessment Process To Establish The Long And Short Term Rapid Transit Solutions In The Spadina Corridor, From Steeles Avenue To The Vaughan Corporate Centre;

And Whereas The Government Of Ontario Has Provided The City Of Toronto With A Funding Contribution Through The Golden Horseshoe Transit Investment Partnerships Program (GTIP) Towards The Completion Of A Study To Evaluate Roadway And Service Improvements For A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service From The Spadina Subway To York University/Steeles Avenue.

Now Therefore It Is Hereby Resolved That:

1. The Toronto Transit Commission Approve, In Principle, The Undertaking Of The Necessary Environmental Assessment Studies To Determine The Preferred Subway Alignment Between Downsview Station And Steeles Avenue And The Preferred Alignment For An Interim Bus Rapid Transit Service, Which Would Act As A Precursor To The Subway Extension;

2. The Toronto Transit Commission Demonstrate Its Commitment To These Studies By Moving The Applicable Costs Of The Two Projects In The 2003-2007 Capital Program, Entitled, "Environmental Assessment For Subway Extensions" And "Bus Rapid Transit From Spadina Subway To York University/Steeles Avenue" Estimated At $3.0 Million And $500,000.00 Respectively, From "Below The Line" Into The Expansion Category Of The TTC'S 2003-2007 Base Capital Program, Subject To These Costs Being Equitably Shared By The TTC, The Government Of Ontario And The Government Of Canada;

3. The Toronto Transit Commission Formally Request That These Funding Partners Commit To The Sharing Of The Cost Of These Studies On An Equitable Basis; And

4. TTC Staff Enter Into Discussions With The Region Of York And York University To Develop Strategies: To Reduce The Cost Of The Environmental Assessments Through The Coordination Of Studies And The Sharing Of Information And Resources; To Obtain The Necessary Funding For The City Of Toronto Projects; And To Secure The Facilities That May Ultimately Be Required To Implement The Results Of The EA'S (e.g. Rights of way, terminals, parking).

Commissioner Kelly Moved An Amendment To Recommendation No. 1 contained In Commissioner Li Preti's Motion By Adding The Words "And Don Mills Station To Scarborough" So Such Recommendation Reads As Follows:

"1. The Toronto Transit Commission Approve, In Principle, The Undertaking Of The Necessary Environmental Assessment Studies To Determine The Preferred Subway Alignment Between Downsview Station And Steeles Avenue And Don Mills Station To Scarborough And The Preferred Alignment For An Interim Bus Rapid Transit Service, Which Would Act As A Precursor To The Subway Extension."

Commissioner Kelly Moved An Amendment To Recommendation No. 2 Contained In Commissioner Li Preti's Motion By Increasing The Estimated Cost To Conduct The Environmental Assessments For The Subway Extensions From $3.0 Million To $5.0 Million To Accommodate The Addition Of The Sheppard Subway Extension.

Commissioner Ashton Moved That Recommendation No. 2 Contained In Commissioner Li Preti's Motion Be Amended To Read As Follows:

"2. The Toronto Transit Commission Demonstrate Its Commitment To These Studies By Moving The Applicable Costs Of The Projects In The 2003-2007 Capital Program, Entitled, "Environmental Assessment For Subway Extension" Estimated At $3.0 Million, From "Below The Line" Into The Expansion Category Of The TTC'S 2003-2007 Base Capital Program, Subject To These Costs Being Equitably Shared By The TTC, The Government Of Ontario And The Government Of Canada."

Commissioner Ashton Moved An Amendment To Commissioner Shiner's Motion By Directing That $500,000.00 Be Included In The 2003 Capital Budget To Ensure That A Full Environmental Assessment Is Carried Out On The Bus Rapid Transit Line Between Downsview Station And Steeles Avenue; And Further That Staff Be Encouraged To Optimize Funding Through Gtip.

Commissioner Miller Moved An Amendment To Clause (E) Of Commissioner Shiner's Motion By Adding The Words "On The Understanding That This Clause Does Not Entitle The City To Limit Expenditures Approved In The 2003 Ttc Capital Budget", So Such Clause Reads As Follows:

"(E) Actual Cash Flow Expenditures For 2003 Be Commensurate With The Budgeted Amount Of Debentured Interest By The City Of Toronto; And, On The Understanding That This Clause Does Not Entitle The City To Limit Expenditures Approved In The 2003 TTC Capital Budget."

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Miller's Motion.

The Motion By Commissioner Miller Carried.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Ashton's Motions.

The Motions By Commissioner Ashton Carried.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Kelly's Motions.

The Motions By Commissioner Kelly Carried.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Li Preti's Motion, As Amended.

The Motion By Commissioner Li Preti, As Amended, Carried.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Shiner's Motion, As Amended.

The Motion By Commissioner Shiner, As Amended, Carried.

Commissioner Miller Moved That Staff Report Publicly On The Cost And Potential Possibilities For Conversion Of The SRT To Streetcar Technology.

Commissioner Flint Moved That Staff Be Requested To Report On The Feasibility Of All City Tax Income From New Development Along The Sheppard Corridor Being Accrued And Directed To The TTC Until Such Time As Construction Costs Incurred By The TTC And City Are Fully Recovered.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Miller's Motion.

The Motion By Commissioner Miller Carried.

Vice-Chair Shaw Noted Her Opposition.

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Flint's Motion.

The Motion By Commission Flint Carried.

3. 2003 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget

After Hearing The Deputations And Noting The Recommendation Of The Ttc Budget Sub-Committee, Commissioner Moscoe Moved Adoption Of The Recommendations Contained In The Staff Report, As Listed Below:

"It Is Recommended That The Commission Approve:

1. The 2003 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget Of $45.7m Provided For In This Report And Companion Documents Which Includes $48.2m For Service Partially Offset Through Revenues Of $2.5m, Resulting In A Subsidy Increase Of $1.2m Over The Approved 2002 Budget; And

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

• Eligibility Criteria And Application Process Remain Unchanged;

• Registrant Base Increases By 10.7% TO 30,100;

• Trip Demand Increasing By 5% TO 1,658,600;

• Unaccommodated Rate Remains At 2%;

• Trips Provided By Accessible Vehicles Increase From 85% to 88%;

• Workforce Increases By Two;

• On-Time Delivery Of Service Improved From 96% TO 97%;

3. Consider This Report In Concert With The Following:

A) The 2003 TTC Operating Budget; And

B) 2003-2007 TTC Capital Program Which Includes In 2003 $5.4m For The Purchase Of 12 Elf Buses ($3.3m) As Well As Facility Improvements And Scheduling Enhancements ($2.1m); And

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

Chair Disero Called For A Vote On Commissioner Moscoe's Motion.

The Motion By Commissioner Moscoe Carried.

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.