TTC not out of Metrolinx driver’s seat

Transit officials back at table discussing future role with LRT

The TTC could still be driving the city’s new provincially owned LRTs when they hit the tracks in eight or nine years, after all.

Metrolinx publicly confirmed about two weeks ago it would be awarding the maintenance and operation of the new light rail lines to a private operator, cutting the TTC out of Toronto transit for the first time in nearly 100 years.

Behind the scenes, however, the two sides are still talking about how to keep the TTC in the picture.

City officials are optimistic that the master agreement — the document the city, TTC and Metrolinx are negotiating that sets out who controls which aspects of the construction, maintenance, financing, operation and design of the lines — will include an operating role for the TTC.

Councillor Joe Mihevc said Mon- day he’s pulling his motion off this week’s city council agenda that would have urged Toronto to take a hard line on the operation of the LRTs. “I understand that good discussions are happening between Metrolinx and TTC staff. It is important for them to have a chance to basically fix it,” said Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul’s). Although he insisted the province hasn’t changed its position, a Metrolinx spokesman confirmed the two sides are still talking. “We’re still discussing the whole concept of finalizing the master agreement so continued discussions are underway,” said Jamie Robinson, director of communications and community relations for Metrolinx. Although Ontario Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli says riders don’t care who runs the trains, Mihevc, a former long-serving transit commissioner, believes it would be a critical error to set up privately operated transit lines in Toronto. He’s not alone. “Having more than one operator of local transit can only lead to con- fusion, incompatibility and higher, not lower, costs of ongoing service,” said Jim Mars, professor emeritus in urban planning and development at Ryerson University. “What happens when the LRT is out of service? Who will manage the website on which customers figure out their route? Who will make changes when schedules are disrupted and provide alternative modes? Two operators or more for local transit is madness,” he wrote in an email to the Toronto Star.

TTC chair Karen Stintz refused to comment on Monday.