Toronto — TTC Seeks More Provincial Fundings

Rail Transit Online, October 2009

The Ontario government is being asked to provide about C$417 million in additional funding for the TTC's 204 new Bombardier streetcars to cover a gap created when the federal government decided not to help with the project. The fleet will cost approximately C$1.2 billion and was originally to be paid equally with federal, provincial and local money. But national Transport Minister John Baird ruled the streetcars and a new carbarn "...did not meet the criteria" for stimulus funding. The deficit was filled by the city which deferred several transit capital projects scheduled between 2012 and 2018.

Now, the city is asking Ontario officials pay for a new C$345-million maintenance base, which would allow an equal amount to be put back into the capital program. "We're going to go back and talk to the province, as good as they've been — and they've been very good on funding," TTC Chief General Manager Gary Webster told The Star. "But we still have a shortfall. What we don't want to do is be in a position where we've bought a new fleet of cars and we don't have a car house."