Trouble for the TTC

The Toronto Star is reporting this morning that the purchase of light rail vehicles by the TTC is in jeopardy, as the federal government hedges on the $300 million request by the city for infrastructure funds to help pay for the purchase.

As I noted earlier (here and here), it appeared that the city was playing a game of chicken with both the feds and the province, and it now appears that this strategy may have backfired. As the Star article notes

Federal Transportation Minister John Baird's expletive-stained rejection this week of Toronto's single application for a share of $4 billion in stimulus funding has political observers wondering if the TTC's deal with Bombardier is effectively dead even in light of Baird's apologies yesterday.

Miller's strategy of "essentially trying to hold the funders over a barrel" doesn't appear to be working, said Jim Mars, who teaches transportation and urban planning at Ryerson University.

"The mayor seems distracted by trivial things and on one of the biggest issues he faces he basically goes to (Casino) Rama and throws down a bet and it doesn't look like he's going to win," he said.

It seems odd, as the article also notes, that the city would announce this purchase prior to securing funding, particularly if, as Minister Baird argues, there are problems with the request by the city. With a deadline of June 27 looming, and with worked slated to begin on the new lines, which will require these vehicles, it is unclear what the fate of the TTC's plans will be

Spacey New Street Cars for the TTC

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) announced plans yesterday to replace its fleet of more than two hundred street cars by 2018. The award went to Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, and was for about $1.2 billion over the life of the contract.

Though the cars lack the nostalgic visual appeal of the existing "red rocket" they are larger, more accessible and air-conditioned. And they will not only be used on existing lines, but on the extensive new lines to be built north of the downtown over the next several years. As someone who lives on an existing line (the 506 car), I will miss the familiar sights and sounds, but I look forward to easier access, extended use of the proof of payment system and the ease of access these new vehicles will represent.