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On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will receive nearly $1.2 billion over the next decade through the new Canada Public Transit Fund, including $758 million for a new fleet of subway cars on Line 2.
“We know how important the TTC is. We know that Toronto is growing, and we need to have public transit that grows with the needs of our growing city,” Freeland told reporters.
The current 30-year-old Line 2 trains are nearing the end of their expected life, which the province says would significantly increase costs to maintain safety if they continue to operate.
The City of Toronto will use the funding to support 55 new subway cars on the transit line, which will be manufactured in Thunder Bay.
Here’s what the next generation of TTC subway trains will look like https://t.co/95qscMz0za
— blogTO (@blogTO) July 15, 2024
“It’s nearly 12 months to the day that the Government of Ontario reached a historic deal with the City of Toronto to help ensure the city’s long-term financial stability,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.
“Toronto is the economic hub of Canada, and we need all levels of government working together to ensure the city has the critical transit infrastructure it needs to grow for the future. After months of uncertainty, we are pleased to see the federal government step up.”
Transit advocacy organization TTCriders celebrated Friday’s announcement, noting that the TTC would need to spend an additional $1.6 billion to extend the life of the aging trains.
“Transit riders have been asking for investments in a more reliable subway system,” said TTCriders spokesperson Nigel Morton. “The hundreds of thousands of subway riders who use Line 2 are thrilled that the federal government has listened and chipped in their share of funding for new trains.”
The organization says the federal funding will help tackle subway slow zones or “Reduced Speed Zones,” which are implemented to make way for repairs and new equipment.
“This is an excellent day for TTC riders and the result of months of negotiations across all governments,” added Mayor Olivia Chow.
“The New Deal with the province and today’s announcement of federal funding unlocks a key commitment from Ontario to get 55 new subway cars ordered and prepare Line 2 to welcome future riders”
The New Deal for Toronto includes up to $1.2 billion in provincial support for public transit, including $330 million over three years in operating funding for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Finch West LRT, and $300 million in one-time funding for subways and transit safety, recovery and sustainability.
The Canada Public Transit Fund is the largest public transit investment in Canadian history, with $3 billion in annual federal funding for cities across the country.
