Board Meeting - March 26, 2014

M. Augimeri (Chair), M. Adamson (Vice-Chair), R. Cho, J. Colle, G. De Baeremaeker, A. Heisey, P. Milczyn, J. Parker and K. Stintz (Board Members), A. Byford (Chief Executive Officer), J. Taylor (Chief of Staff), S. Ghaly (Chief Capital Officer), V. Rodo (Chief Financial & Administration Officer), G. Shortt (Chief Operating Officer), C. Upfold (Chief Customer Officer and Acting Chief Service Officer), B. Leck (Head of Legal & General Counsel), M. Stambler (Head of Strategy & Service Planning), B. Ross (Executive Director of Corporate Communications), J. Lee (Head of Materials & Procurement), A. Pace (Head of Strategic Partnerships), R. Wong (Head of Bus Maintenance), S. Reed Tanaka (Head of Engineering), M. MacKay (Project Manager – Construction Department), K. Lee (Head of Commission Services) and D. McDonald (Co-ordinator – Corporate Secretariat Services) were present.

M. Augimeri was in the Chair.

Nil

Commissioner Colle moved that the Board approve the minutes from Meeting No. 1969 and that the Chair and Chief Financial & Administration Officer be authorized to sign the same.

The motion by Commissioner Colle carried.

a) Report 7(b) – Improving Pedestrian Safety and Customer Journey Times: Transit Stops

Chair Augimeri advised that staff will be presenting the requested report (deferred from the January 28, 2014 meeting) to the Board at the April meeting as additional time is required in order to consult with affected Councillors and ACAT.

b) New Business Item 9(a) – Transit Priority at Surface Vehicle Entrances and Exits to Subway Stations

Chair Augimeri advised that staff will be presenting the report (Item 9(a) from the January 28, 2014 meeting) to the Board at the April meeting as additional time is required for consultation with the City of Toronto.

Nil

Nil

a) Future Proofing our Way-Finding System (Item 10/C3 from the February 24, 2014 meeting)

Alan Yule

The Board received the deputation for information.

b) Chief Executive Officer’s Report – March 2014 Update

Alan Yule

The Board received the deputation for information.

(See Item 3(a) for minute).

c) Community Bus Services

Councillor Paul Ainslie
City of Toronto
(submitted petition)

Alan Yule

Wayne Gratton
(submitted brief)

Dr. Michael Fair
President, Residents’ Association of Masarykpark Homes in Scarborough

Carol Armstrong
Residents Rising Advisor – KGO Community

Iva Jecmen

The Board received the deputations for information.
(See Item 7(a) for minute).

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

1. Reports with Confidential Attachments (Committee of the Whole)

a) Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension – Pioneer Village (Steeles West) Station – Contract A31-1

1. The Board approved the confidential recommendations outlined in the confidential attachment; and

2. Noted that the confidential information provided in the confidential attachment remains confidential in its entirety as it contains information that is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

2. Presentations

Union Precinct Status Report – Update on Construction

M. MacKay, Project Manager, Construction Department, provided a PowerPoint presentation on this item.

The Board received the presentation for information.

3. Budget Matters

Budget Matters

a) Chief Executive Officer’s Report – March 2014 Update

Commissioner Heisey moved the following motion:

“Whereas the Toronto Port Authority has requested $100 million for infrastructure to permit the expansion of the Toronto Island Airport; and

Whereas the TTC has need for more funding from senior levels of government;

Be it resolved that TTC staff report back to the next Board meeting with what unfunded capital projects the TTC could fund with $100 million and list those projects on a priority basis”.

Commissioner Parker moved that the foregoing motion be amended to delete the two “whereas” statements and that the Board vote on the operative clause only.

The motion by Commission Parker carried.

Chair Augimeri moved adoption of the item, as amended.

The motion by Chair Augimeri carried.

4. Procurement Authorizations

a) Procurement Authorization – Supply of Rail for Up to a Three-Year Term

It is recommended the Board authorize the award of contracts for the supply of rail parts to commence upon notification of award as follows:

1. M.F. Wirth Rail Corporation for $8,526,400 CND ($8,000,000 USD) for a 3 year term;

2. M.F. Wirth Rail Corporation for $5,355,645 CND ($5,025,000 USD) for a 1 year term;

3. M.F. Wirth Rail Corporation for $865,000 CND for a 1 year term; and

4. Voestalpine Nortrak Inc. for $723,678.20 CDN (679,000 USD) for a 3-year term.

Approved

b) Purchase Authorization – Information Technology Placement Firms for Technical Service Assistance

It is recommended that the Board:

1. Authorize the award of contracts to the following fourteen Information Technology Placement firms for the provision of technical services assistance on the basis of highest total weighted score responses, for the period from Notification of Award to December 31, 2016, in the upset limit amounts (inclusive of all applicable taxes) as indicated below:

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP $8,200,000
T.E.S. Contract Services Inc. $8,200,000

Eagle Professional Resources Inc. $5,500,000
Procom Consultants Group Ltd. $5,500,000
ADGA IT Systems Inc. $5,500,000
Calian Ltd. $5,500,000
Ian Martin IT Inc. $2,700,000
Altis Human Resources Inc. $2,700,000
Veritaaq Technology House Inc. $2,700,000
Bevertec CST Inc. $2,700,000
Imex Systems Inc. $2,700,000
KMPG LLP $2,700,000
Proex $2,700,000
Si Systems Partnership $2,700,000

Total Upset Limit Amount all Contracts $60,000,000

Approved

5. Procurement Authorization Amendments

a) Procurement Authorization Amendment to Purchase 10 Additional Toronto Rocket Train Sets – Purchase Order No. C31PD05761

It is recommended that the Board authorize:

1. Staff to proceed with a Purchase Order Amendment to the Toronto Rocket (TR) Subway Train Contract with Bombardier Transportation Canada Inc. (Bombardier) no later than April 1, 2014; the Amendment is for the purchase of 10 additional six-car subway train sets in the amount of $176,567,020.00 CDN, inclusive of all applicable taxes.

2. The expenditure of funds up to a total allowance amount of $40,221,850.00 CDN, inclusive of all applicable taxes, with respect to the 10 train sets, for Inflationary Escalation Adjustment, Contract Security, Foreign Exchange Adjustment, and Potential Contract Changes, resulting in a total authorized expenditure of up to $216,788,870.00 CDN. Net project costs will include tax recoveries under HST from this contract authorized amount. Refer to Appendix 1 for further information.

Approved

6. Notice of Awards

Nil

7. Service Matters

a) Community Bus Services

Commissioner De Baeremaeker moved that the report be referred back to staff for further information on the number of outstanding requests for Community Bus services (including the request in Ward 43); how these requests are evaluated; and with a requirement of staff to meet with the affected local Councillors and communities.

The motion by Commissioner De Baeremaker lost.

Chair Augimeri moved that staff be requested to consider the deputations provided at the March 26, 2014 meeting when developing the report on the integration of the Wheel-Trans and conventional services scheduled for early 2015.

The motion by Chair Augimeri carried.

Chair Augimeri moved adoption of the item, as amended.

The motion by Chair Augimeri carried.

8. Other Business

a) TTC Corporate Policy Update – Video Recording in Public Areas

It is recommended that the Board:

1. Approve the updated TTC Corporate Policy entitled “Video Recording in Public Areas”, as attached.

Approved

b) TTC Sick Benefit Association Bylaw Amendments

It is recommended that the TTC Board sanction the attached amendments to the bylaws of the TTC Sick Benefit Association (SBA), as approved by its Board of Directors on January 31, 2014.

Approved

c) Davisville Yard – Co-Generation

The Board deferred this item to the next meeting of the Board to permit discussion.

d) TTC Community Relations Annual Report

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

Received

e) Kennedy Interchange Station: Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project – Preliminary Concept Design Approval

It is recommended that the Board:

a) Approve the preliminary concept design for Kennedy interchange station presented in this report as it adequately addresses the TTC’s fundamental requirements that:

• customers can transfer between transit modes in a direct, convenient way with no backtracking or circuitous movements, and enjoy fast and easy inter-modal transfers which are the hallmark of the TTC system; and

• the new Light Rail Transit station not negatively affect the existing subway station and TTC system operating performance.

b) Note that:

• to reduce future cost for TTC upgrades to the fire ventilation system and for the expansion of the TTC electrical substation at Kennedy station, $65 Million ($2017) may be included in future Capital Budget requests;

• the selected Bidder of the Metrolinx Alternative Financing and Procurement process may bring forward alternative designs that are significantly different from the preliminary designs presented in this report;

• a minimum of 500 commuter parking spaces will be provided at Kennedy station during the construction period with a total of 1,100 spaces at the completion of construction, with incorporation of the Toronto Green Standard requirements;

• 600 commuter parking spaces will remain available for use during the construction period at Warden North commuter parking lot;

• the station will require excavation under the existing Scarborough Rapid Transit structure and bus transfer area, and may require weekend closures which have not yet been identified;

• the constructability analysis, cost and schedule are not included in this report as they have not been established for the station modifications in sufficient detail;

• an update on the status of the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project is included in this report; and

• future design and construction staging recommendations will be brought forward to the Board for approval including: final designs for Eglinton West, Eglinton and Kennedy interchange subway stations; the number and duration of subway closures required; and any material or significant change to the concepts presented in this report.

Approved

f) Islington Station – Temporary Bus Terminal

Commissioner Milczyn moved that the TTC confirm to the City’s Chief Corporate Officer that the Commission has no interest in the southern portion of the former Legion lands located at 3226 Bloor Street West, currently owned by the City, to a lot depth of 20 metres (sketch attached) and that the TTC has no objection to the transfer or lease of these lands to Build Toronto.

The motion by Commissioner Milczyn carried.

Chair Augimeri moved adoption of the item, as amended.

The motion by Chair Augimeri carried.

g) Bill 69 – Prompt Payment Act

It is recommended that the Board approve submission of the proposed amendments to Bill 69 consistent with those attached to this Report as Schedule “A”, along with supporting reasons, to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills.

Approved

9. New Business

a) Express Bus Service in Toronto

In accordance with Section 41(b) of the By-law to Govern Commission Proceedings the following item was added to the agenda by way of a majority vote of the members present.

Submitted by Commissioner Colle:

Recommendations:

In an effort to reduce congestion and provide more rapid, reliable, and reasonably priced transit options for transit riders It is recommended that the Board:

1. Direct Staff to report back on the feasibility of implementing additional express bus routes in the City of Toronto; and,

2. That the report considers the following items and issues:

a) The projected costs and revenues associated with existing express routes
b) An analysis of instituting peak period express service on the TTC's top 10 busiest bus routes
c) An analysis of possible new "rocket" express routes that would directly link two nodes (i.e. Kipling Station & Toronto Pearson)
d) The benefits of using articulated buses on existing and/or proposed express routes
e) A cost / benefit analysis of different fare structures for express bus route services
f) Any potential alleviation of bunching of buses and short-turns on routes being considered for express bus service
g) The implementation of queue jump lanes, priority signalling, and dedicated lanes as ways to improve speed and reliability on existing and proposed new express routes
h) A review of other comparable municipalities or transit systems that are successfully employing the use of express bus service

Background

The TTC offers three types of express bus service: 11 rush-hour only express routes that generally operate along east-west roads far away from the downtown core, 6 all day express "rocket" buses, and 5 Downtown Express routes. All of the services operate during the peak periods from Monday to Friday, and some of the services also operate at off-peak times. Five of the routes are premium-fare Downtown Express routes; customers travelling on these routes pay a premium fare which is approximately double the regular TTC fare. All other express and rocket routes charge regular TTC fares.

In an effort to provide more rapid, reliable, and reasonably priced transit options for transit riders it is recommended that the TTC consider implementing new express bus service on routes where the demand or projected demand during peak hours warrants this service.

Given increasing wait times and crowded conditions on many regular TTC bus routes, the implementation of new express routes along major arterial roads, such as Bathurst Street and Dufferin Street, during the peak periods could provide an excellent option for riders for a fraction of the cost of building new transit infrastructure. The more rapid and reliable service offered by an express route could also address our City's congestion issues, attract more riders to the system and act as a bridge solution while more capital intensive transit solutions are developed.

Any existing regularly scheduled buses with more frequent stops would continue to operate and serve more local needs, but they would operate in tandem with clearly marked express buses with less frequent stops.

TTC Express Bus Services
http://www.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Express_services_2010_10_12.pdf

Approved

10. Correspondence

C1 – Councillor Mary Fragedakis, City of Toronto, requesting TTC consider providing more service to Evergreen Brick Works.

The Board received the communication for information and referred the correspondence to staff for appropriate action.

C2 – Susan Davidson, ACAT Chair forwarding the approved minutes of the January 30, 2014 General Monthly meeting of the ACAT Advisory Committee.

The Board received the communication for information.

C3 – 36 letters from residents of Ward 43 in support of establishing a Community Bus service.

The Board received the communications for information.
(See Item No. 7(a) for minute).

C4 – 2 letters from residents of Ward 43 opposed to establishing a Community Bus service.

The Board received the communications for information.
(See Item No. 7(a) for minute).

C5 – Joe Clark regarding the use of video images on Wheel-Trans buses.

The Board received the communication for information.
(See Item No. 8(a) for minute).

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Nil

TTC Chair Maria Augimeri began the TTC Board Meeting by wishing the original Yonge subway line – Canada’s First Subway – a happy 60th birthday. The Yonge line opened on March 30, 1954. It was Canada’s first subway, and the first post-war subway to be built in North America.

The Board approved a motion by Commissioner Josh Colle directing TTC staff to report back on the feasibility of implementing additional express bus routes in the city of Toronto. In an effort to reduce congestion and provide more rapid, reliable and reasonably priced transit options, the report is to consider a number of issues, including: projected costs and revenues associated with existing express routes; an analysis of instituting peak-period express service on the top 10 busiest bus routes; and the implementation of queue jump lanes, priority signalling and dedicated lanes as ways to improve speed and reliability on existing and proposed new express routes.

The Board received a presentation on the status of the Union Precinct construction project, with an emphasis on the Union subway station second platform and concourse improvements. Union subway station has a centre platform – the narrowest platform in the system. The TTC is constructing a second platform to double the station capacity, to reconfigure the concourse level and to add a new automatic entrance. The TTC is planning to open the new platform this summer, with the rehabilitation of the centre platform happening through the summer and fall. Total project completion is scheduled for early next year in advance of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

The Board approved a contract amendment worth $176.5 million with Bombardier Transportation Canada Ltd. for the purchase of 10 additional six-car subway train sets.

To meet existing service standards for ridership and reduce crowding on Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina), five trains are required for service on the line upon completion of the Automatic Train Control project. An additional five train sets are also needed to meet future ridership growth on Line 1 until the next subway train set purchase in 2025.

After hearing numerous deputations from east-end residents for a new Community Bus route, Board Members approved a report recommending a hold on any routing changes or new service additions to the network pending the completion of TTC staff’s plan to more effectively integrate Wheel-Trans and conventional TTC services. The plan is scheduled to be presented in early 2015.

In December 2012, the City of Toronto Auditor General provided a report to the Board that included a recommendation “that the Commission request the Chief Executive Officer to re-assess the need for the existing Wheel-Trans Community Bus routes, and cancel or develop alternate routes to ensure the services are cost-effective.”

Community Buses carry 30 to 60 riders each day, or a total of about 230 passengers daily on all five routes.

The Board received for information the TTC Community Relations Annual Report. Community relations efforts in 2013 focused on pro-active outreach for major capital projects including: Leslie Barns, New Second Exits Expert Advisory Panel, Coxwell Station Easier Access, Woodbine Station Easier Access, Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, Pape Station Modernization, Dufferin Station Modernization, Ossington Station Easier Access, Lawrence Station Fire Vents and other projects that are in the planning phase.

The community outreach on major TTC construction projects has ensured that community questions, concerns and recommendations are clearly identified, evaluated and responded to throughout planning, design and construction. The TTC Community Relations team is a bridge between communities, TTC construction staff and contractors.