The TTC is proposing some new measures to boost safety on Toronto’s transit system, including adding more frontline staff, and helping those seeking shelter with the colder months ahead.
A new TTC report, which will be discussed at its board meeting next week, recommends hiring 178 new frontline staff to “deter, and respond to, safety and security incidents on the system.”null
Some of the recommendations include:
- Hiring 161 new customer-facing personnel — this includes 130 new customer service agents and one clerk to assist in subway stations and at secondary entrances, and 30 new supervisors in stations and on bus and streetcar routes
- Adding 50 additional Special Constables by the end of the year, “providing high visibility patrols and rapid response to security incidents”
- Six additional dispatchers to “maintain all-day coverage of the Transit Control Security Desk”
Mayor Olivia Chow is backing the plan, saying having staff at stations will help deter security incidents and improve response times.
“We all know the roots of violence are complicated. There are many social and economic factors at play, but TTC riders, we want you back – we don’t want you to feel anxious. So I am making the transit system safer for you and reducing your sense of anxiety,” Chow said on Wednesday.
Transit safety was a top issue during the mayoral election in June, with several violent incidents that occurred on TTC vehicles and on its property over several months.
“We do know that major crime indicators are trending down, according to the dashboard at the City, but we do not take that for granted. These high-profile incidents that have occurred over the last 18 months, they are a concern for all of us, and that’s why we proposed the TTC report that we did,” TTC CEO Rick Leary said.
TTC officials are also looking to add six new bus operators to help those who need to get to a shelter.
“With the board’s approval, we will also be deploying special transport and temporary shelter buses. These will be driven by TTC operators, to assist individuals sheltering in subway stations to get out of the cold and into proper shelter beds,” Leary said.
As TTC is also proposing hiring a program manager to oversee a Five-Year Community Safety and Well-being Plan, which will include a review of the transit system’s security operations.
According to the TTC report, officials recommend using $10.3 million of its projected 2023 savings to implement the proposals.
“We are using the savings from not operating the Eglinton and Finch LRT, which is late in opening, and that’s why we’re able to invest in hiring more staff,” Chow said.
The report also proposes extending contracts for temporary security guards and outreach workers.
The TTC’s board meeting takes place at 10 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the Scarborough Civic Centre.
With files from CityNews’ Kaitlin Lee, and The Canadian Press
