TTC capital plan (still) includes streetcars
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Toronto Transit Commission’s Board of Directors Wednesday received TTC’s proposed 2011-2015 Capital Program, which includes a commitment to building and expanding the agency’s streetcar maintenance facilities.
The plan presumes a new storage and maintenance facility will be needed by 2013 to accommodate delivery of 204 Flexity replacement streetcars from Bombardier Transportation, costing about C$434 million.
Such presumption runs counter to efforts by Toronto Mayor Robert Ford to scuttle much of TTC’s “Transit City” program designed to expand the city’s light rail/streetcar system. Ford, who assumed the mayoralty Dec. 1, seeks more subway construction and bus use, `and has vowed to end a supposed “war on the car” he claims has been advanced by transit supporters.
The budget also outlines modifications estimated at C$72 million for three existing carhouses, eyed for maintenance and some storage requirements for the new fleet.
