On Friday, January 10, the TTC Board adopted the 2025 Operating Budget, Capital Budget and long-term capital plan.
It increased investment in the TTC by 6.5%, adding 675 positions, without increasing fares. Service hours will increase 5.8% and there is funding to reduce the maintenance backlog by 50% by 2033. There are also new apprenticeship programs that were brought forward by Local 113 and will help make sure that future work is done by qualified, well-trained union members.
This increased investment in the TTC’s 2025 budget is both welcome and long overdue. We know that the only way to get riders back on TTC is to lead with service, and the only way to catch up on maintenance is to fix things before they break. This budget provides funding to do both. We need to make sure we translate the increase in hours into actual, scheduled service so that riders see more frequent and less crowded buses, shorter wait times, and increased reliability.
For years, riders have been forced to wait too long for overcrowded vehicles. The funding in the budget will help return service to pre-pandemic levels and the return of the off-peak crowding standards is an important step. Local 113 will be working with the TTC to make sure the increased funding goes into authentically improve transit service – as riders experience it, not just according to vague performance metrics.
This was the first meeting for the TTC’s new board members City Councillors Alejandra Bravo and Ausma Malik, both of whom are strong advocates for quality public services and friends to workers. With their support Chair Jamaal Myers was able to push through significant changes.
Deep changes are still needed, and we need to hold the TTC accountable.
- There needs to be a complete culture change at the TTC that puts riders first and is open, transparent and collaborative. Right now, service is smoke and mirrors – and riders can tell. Delayed maintenance work is causing slow orders and breakdowns every day. People want and expect scheduled service out there, but already the TTC is planning to run less service than the City is paying for.
Together we can make service better:
- ATU Local 113 is looking forward to working with the TTC and a new CEO to get more service out of our investment. We have information, ideas, and solutions – and will be standing up for transit riders and transit workers, to make sure voices are heard and the TTC delivers on its promises.
- The budget acts on Local 113’s proposals to help attract and retain the people and skills the TTC needs, including strong and effective apprenticeship and training programs, implementing the Anti Racism Strategy, and increasing safety at rail facilities.
- We still need the provincial and federal governments to come to the table with adequate, predictable, and sustainable operating funding.