‘Difficult’ for province to take over subways

TTC head writes memo refuting Metrolinx CEO’s claim rail takeover is ‘straightforward’

The head of the TTC is pushing back against his provincial counterpart’s suggestion that it would be easy to upload the city’s subway network to the Ontario government.

In a memo sent to all of the Toronto transit agency’s employees Monday, TTC chief executive officer Rick Leary described the rail network as “a valuable and complex asset” that couldn’t simply be flipped to the province.

“The suggestion that its rolling stock, yards, carhouses, tunnels, signals, stations, ventilation, electrical, drainage and all other interdependent systems can somehow be easily transferred or uploaded is simply not the case,” Leary states in the memo.

The letter is an apparent response to comments made last week by the CEO of Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency responsible for the GTHA.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Metrolinx board Friday, Phil Verster asserted it would be “quite straightforward” to implement the Ontario PC government’s controversial proposal to have the province take ownership of the subway network.

“This is not difficult to see how this can be done,” Verster said.

He noted the $5.3-billion Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which is currently under construction, will be owned by the province but operated by the TTC.

“It’s exactly the same model that will be required for the TTC upload,” Verster said.

Premier Doug Ford has said his government intends to take ownership of Toronto’s rail lines, while allowing the TTC to continue operating the subway and collecting the fare revenue. The TTC would also retain ownership of the bus and streetcar fleet.

City councillors, transit advocates and the opposition NDP have all criticized the proposal to split ownership of the TTC system as impossibly complex and potentially damaging to transit service. The largest TTC workers union claims the province intends to privatize work on the subway lines. Metrolinx is the likeliest organization to take ownership of the subway in event of an upload. The TTC values the subway network, including trains, at $3.9 billion.

TTC officials have so far been reluctant to weigh in on the politically sensitive plan, and have referred reporters’ questions on the topic to councillors serving on the transit agency’s board.

Although Leary’s memo didn’t mention Verster by name or specifically reference his remarks, the document represents the TTC chief’s strongest comments on the upload to date, and appears intended as a public defence of his employees’ role in operating and maintaining the subway network.

“The daily miracle we all contribute to each day to ready our service and embark on safely moving our daily 1.8 million riders across the city is incredibly complex, requiring thousands of dedicated women and men,” he said.

“I will work with the city to help the province fully understand and appreciate precisely how the subway network is maintained, managed and funded. I will also share with the province how our expansion plans are managed, reminding everyone of the depths of skill and expertise that resides within the TTC.”

Metrolinx declined to answer questions Monday about whether Verster stood by his remarks, or if Leary’s memo is a sign of a serious rift between the two agencies.

In August, the Conservative government appointed Michael Lindsay, a former vicepresident at Infrastructure Ontario, as special adviser on the upload plan.

His initial term is for one year, although an extension is possible. He’ll work with a panel of up to three experts to make recommendations on the proposal.

According to TTC spokesperson Brad Ross, Leary and Lindsay are in the process of arranging their first meeting.

“Moving our daily 1.8 million riders across the city is incredibly complex.”

RICK LEARY

TTC CHIEF EXECUTIVE