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OVERVIEW The TTC operates the third most heavily-used urban mass transit system in . An approximate 2,900 trips are made through this service daily. Colloquially, the streetcars were known as "red rockets"; hence the use of "Ride the Rocket" in advertising material for the TTC (which uses the phrase to advertise the entire system), and the use of the word "Rocket" in the names of some express buses. The entire system is also promoted as "The Better Way". HISTORY Privately operated transit services in Toronto began in 1849. In later years, a few routes were operated by the city, but it was 1921 when the city took over all routes and formed the Toronto Transportation Commission to operate them. During this period service was mainly provided by streetcars. In 1952, the TTC adopted its present name, opened its first subway line, and greatly expanded its service area to cover the newly formed municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (which eventually became the Enlarged City of Toronto). The system has evolved to feature a wide network of bus routes with the subway lines as the backbone. Past names
TRANSIT MODES The TTC currently operates an extensive network of Subways , Streetcar s, and Bus es in Toronto: Subway/RT system (1954-present) See Also: Toronto subway and RT The Toronto subway/RT system consists of the Yonge-University-Spadina Line , a U-shaped line started in 1954 and last extended in 1996; the Bloor-Danforth Line , an east-west line started in 1966 and last extended in 1980; the Scarborough RT , a partly elevated Light Rail line built in 1985 which continues from the Bloor-Danforth Line's eastern terminus; and the Sheppard Line , opened in 2002. The three subway lines use the same technology, while the Scarborough RT has many differences. In the mid-1990s, work began on an Eglinton West Subway line, but the project was cancelled before significant progress was made. Construction of this line is no longer a priority for the TTC. A current focus for the TTC's rapid-transit expansion is a short extension bringing the western branch of the Yonge-University-Spadina Line north to York University , Steeles Avenue and Vaughan Corporate Centre in York Region . The Government of Ontario announced on March 23, 2006, that it will provide $670 million for this extension, about one-third of the expected cost. Another is the eastward extension of the Sheppard Line into Scarborough . Recently, there has also been debate over the fate of the Scarborough RT . A solution is a near top priority as the line is currently overcrowded, and will soon require much investment to keep it running past 2015. Streetcars (1861-present) See Also: Toronto streetcar system Toronto's streetcar system is one of the few in North America still operating along classic lines and has been operating since the mid 19th-Century ( Horsecar service starting in 1861 and electric since 1891). Streetcar service dates back to the Toronto Street Railways horse-drawn cars and continues today with the current electric cars. As new TTC routes since the 1940s have generally been operated by other modes, and the less-busy streetcar routes have also been converted, streetcar routes are now focused on the downtown area, with none running farther north than St. Clair Avenue , about 5 Km from Lake Ontario . The Bombardier Flexity LRV is being considered as a replacement for the ALRV and CLRV once the re-built cars reach the end of their useful life. Buses (1921-present) and trolley coaches (1922-1925, 1947-1993) See Also: Toronto buses and trolley buses Buses are a large part of TTC operations today, but before about 1960, they played a minor role compared to streetcars. After an earlier experiment, Trolley Bus es were used on a number of routes starting in 1947, but all trolley bus routes were converted to bus operation between 1991 and 1993. The TTC always used the term trolley coach to refer to its trackless electric vehicles. Gray Coach (1927-1989) See Also: Gray Coach Gray Coach Lines was a suburban and regional inter-city bus operator founded in 1927 by the TTC. Gray Coach used inter-urban coaches to link Toronto to points throughout Southern Ontario. In addition, Gray Coach operated tour buses in association with Gray Line Tours . The main terminal was the Metropolitan Toronto Bus Terminal on Elizabeth Street, downtown. In 1954, Gray Coach expanded further when it acquired suburban routes from independent bus operators not merged with the TTC as it expanded to cover Metro Toronto. By the 1980s, Gray Coach faced fierce competition in the inter-urban service in the GTA, and the TTC was forced to sell it. Wheelchair-accessible services (1975-present) 9277 on a regularly scheduled stop at Dufferin Mall in Toronto, Ontario.]] See Also: WheelTrans The TTC also runs WheelTrans , a para-transit service for the physically disabled with special buses designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Since the 1990s, the TTC has focused in providing accessible services on buses, RT and subway operations. Ferry service (1927-1962) See Also: Toronto Island Ferry Services The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks And Recreation . OPERATIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION Most TTC operations are based either at the William McBrien building at 1900 Yonge Street (over Davisville subway station), or at the Hillcrest complex at Bathurst and Davenport Streets. Terminals Most TTC surface routes terminate at loops, side streets or subway station complexes. The TTC system is one of the few mass transit systems in the world where many surface routes can be accessed inside a paid-fare zone common to other routes or subway lines. This feature reduces the usage of paper transfers and the need of operators to check for proof-of-payment. There are some routes ending at terminal buildings other than subway stations:
Fares See Also: Toronto Transit Commission fares The TTC fare system accepts cash, tickets, tokens, and transit passes. Single tickets are priced as of April 1, 2006 as: Adults, $2.75; students/seniors, $1.85; children, 70ยข. (CAD). The provincial Minister of Transportation has announced plans to introduce the GTA Farecard , a unified Smartcard -based payment system for the entire Greater Toronto Area similar to the Octopus Card used in Hong Kong . Schedules and information Before the use of the TTC website ( {Link without Title} ), TTC patrons were able to obtain route information from various sources:
Transit Information Centres:
Additional TTC information are circulated by:
Shelters The shelters used by the systems are split between Viacom Media (with ads) and Toronto Transportation . A total of 4,100 shelters are managed by Toronto Transportation and most from the former transportation departments of the municipalities that made up Metropolitan Toronto . Advertising Advertising is commonplace and prominent in all TTC vehicles and locations. In fact, some subway stops are periodically entirely "repainted" on the inside using large plastic decals, to the wishes of a paying corporate advertiser; this is also done with individual buses and all cars in a particular subway train. In 2005, the TTC began installing video screens in subway stations to display advertising, news, weather, and safety information. This project is run by Toronto based ONESTOP Media Group. The agency contracted to post ads on the TTC is Viacom Outdoor . However, the amount of money the TTC receives for allowing advertising on its property is very small. For the year ending 2003, the TTC received 2.3% of its revenue from advertising, or almost $17 million. Critics claim that all advertising could be removed from all TTC property for one year in exchange for a one-day addition of just over ten cents to each rider's fare. Communications The TTC also employs a tracking and communications system called CIS (Communications And Information System) . A transmitter is added to the roof of the vehicle and a receiver on the right hand side of the driver. A pilot of CIS was introduced in the late 1970s and fully deployed in 1991. For an official list of TTC PA Codes, see {Link without Title} . Safety systems Safety features provided by the TTC include:
Auctions Each year the TTC auctions off items left on vehicles and not claimed. They are sold in lots, rather than individually. In 2005, the TTC launched an online auction via e-Bay Canada and Rite Auction Services. PERSONNEL Most of the Toronto Transit Commission's staff are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113. Total membership (2005) is approximately 8,000 members. Unionized transit workers in Toronto began with:
Other than drivers and supervisor, the TTC also employs support staff to keep the system running:
Uniforms All TTC staff wear uniforms consisting of a light blue shirt with TTC crest (long and short sleeves) and grey slacks. Other garments include maroon jackets with grey accents, dark navy sweater vests, and golf-style shirts, worn according to weather. Hats are generally worn by senior staff, namely inspectors. Some vehicle operators wear a blue baseball cap with white lettering "TTC". Maintenance staff wear dark blue or green coveralls with TTC crest. Prior to the current design, the uniform consisted of a light brown shirt and medium brown slacks/blazers. Honour Guards The TTC Honour Guards represent the TTC during city ceremonies and police funerals. The guards wear caps, white shirts, blue blazers with Honour Guard crests and grey pants. The unit was formed in 1995 and is currently made up of twelve members. Special Constables A contingent of 76 Special Constables patrol TTC properties. They have the same powers as the Toronto Police Service to enforce:
In addition, they can issue fines to persons in violation of TTC By-Law 1. Special Constable services are organized as follows:
Patrol Division constables wear distinct uniforms (which significantly differ from the standard TTC uniform) from the other units. Uniformed special constables wear black jackets and blue shirts with TTC Special Constables crest on both shoulders. They are unarmed and carry radios and pads to issue tickets to violators. The constables patrol within Toronto and areas beyond Toronto served by the TTC. The TTC Special Constables patrol in white unmarked and marked crusiers (blue stripes with crest) Ford Crown Victorias and Chevrolet Impalas , similar to the ones used by the Toronto Police Service. REFERENCES
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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