Toronto Transit Commission incidents

• On March 27, 1963, a six-car Gloucester-series subway train was completely destroyed by fire. This occurred on a spare track near Union station, after the few remaining passengers were evacuated.[1]
• On November 7, 1975, 16-year-old schoolgirl Mariam Debra Peters was murdered in St. Patrick station. This led to sections of the respective platforms of St. Patrick and Queen's Park stations being sealed off from the public, along with the installation of "prison" bars at the south end of Museum station to allow for ventilation and storage.[2]
• On December 12, 1975, a TTC bus travelling east on St. Clair Avenue collided with a westbound GO Transit train at the level crossing between Danforth Road and Midland Avenue just north of the Scarborough GO Train Station. Nine people were killed and 20 others injured. This was the worst accident in terms of loss of life in the history of both the TTC and GO Transit systems. The level crossing was replaced by an overpass a few years later. This also led to the Ontario-wide law that all public buses and school buses must come to a stop at level rail crossings prior to proceeding.[3]
• On October 15, 1976, arson destroyed a train and caused significant damage to Christie station. There is evidence today with the odd-coloured trim tiles on the top of the station walls on the centre of the platforms.[4][5] A section of the line was closed for two days.
• On June 1, 1982, electrician Reynold Achong was killed by a train while working on the tracks at Summerhill station.[6][7]
• On August 11, 1995, the Russell Hill subway accident resulted in the deaths of three passengers and injuries to 30 others. There were an additional 100 passengers who filed injury-related claims from the accident.
• In late 1995, TTC employee Jimmy Trajceski was killed during a robbery at Victoria Park station. Adrian Kinkead was arrested four months later for the crime and was found to be responsible for two other murders. He was convicted of all three crimes and sentenced to life in prison.[8]
• On September 27, 1997, 23-year-old Charlene Minkowski was killed when she was pushed in front of a southbound train at Dundas station. Herbert Cheong, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was convicted of second-degree murder[9] and sentenced life in prison with no possibility of parole for 15 years.[10]
• Between January 2 and 4, 1999, an exceptionally large snowstorm paralyzed parts of central Ontario and the American Midwest. As a result, the city and the transit system ground to a halt. In the following days, major interruptions and delays were incurred and policies to handle snow at the Commission were changed.[11]

• On December 8, 2000, a garbage train caught fire while en route through Old Mill station. The train was completely destroyed and the station remained closed for two days. Since the incident, the TTC has stopped the practice of using garbage trains and maintains a fleet of surface garbage trucks to collect refuse.[12]
• On August 14, 2003, at around 4:15 p.m. EDT, the Northeast Blackout affected parts of Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The city of Toronto, like many other cities involved, effectively ground to a halt. Subway service was suspended and 18 trains were stuck in tunnels between stations, unable to move with no power. However, all other trains were able to coast without power to the nearest station to be evacuated.[13] Streetcars remained stationary where they were, and buses fought to get through gridlocked traffic, hampered by the lack of traffic signals. The subway did not reopen until August 18. This was the longest complete interruption in subway service in the history of the TTC. The incident led to an extensive review of TTC emergency procedures.
• On February 6, 2006, Mary Kim was born on a subway train at Wellesley station. TTC officials later promised Mary Kim lifetime access to the TTC's service.[14]
• On April 23, 2007, a TTC asbestos removal crew employee, Tony Almeida, was killed and several others were injured at the end of a night shift when the work car they were operating snagged on some cabling and dislodged a work platform. The TTC was fined $250,000 ($299,103 in 2018 dollars) for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act.[15][16] It was later found that Almeida was under the influence of cannabis.[17]

• On May 13, 2011, two TTC buses collided head-on at a ramp on the lower bus level at Wilson station.
• On August 30, 2011, a woman was killed when a TTC bus rear-ended a flatbed truck carrying a crane at around 2:30 p.m. on Lawrence Avenue between Victoria Park Avenue and Don Mills Road.[18] At least 13 other people were injured in the crash.[19][20][21] The bus driver was charged with criminal negligence causing death and possession of cannabis, as the drug was found in his belongings at the time of the accident.[22][23][24]
• On July 22, 2012, two people were injured when a bus crashed into a building on Queen Street West at Peter Street. The bus hit a car and then a taxicab before slamming into the building.[25][26]
• On August 10, 2012, a man was chased through the Lawrence East station and gunned-down against a fence. He survived with critical injuries and was identified as one of the emerging leaders of the Galloway Boys street gang.[27][28]
• On September 14, 2012, before the start of service TTC employee, Peter Pavlovski was killed and another TTC employee was seriously injured after being struck by a subway maintenance train north of Yorkdale station. Subway service was affected for the morning rush hour during the investigation because the incident left many trains stranded in the Wilson Subway Yard.[29]
• On July 27, 2013, 18-year-old Sammy Yatim was shot dead by police aboard the 505 Dundas streetcar. The police officer who shot Yatim dead was later charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder and was found guilty of the latter.[30]
• On August 13, 2013, a cube truck crashed head-on into an idle TTC bus near Middlefield Road and Steeles Avenue East at 11:30 a.m. The accident killed one person and injured 12 people.[31]
• On December 13, 2013, the Toronto Police were called at Queen station after gunshots were fired. The station was closed and subway service was suspended in the affected area during the investigation between December 13 and 14, 2013.
• Between December 21 and 22, 2013, a violent ice storm affected the City of Toronto (which also affected much of Eastern Canada, the Central Great Plains and the Northeastern United States). On December 22, the TTC suspended all streetcar services for most of the day after a number of streetcars were stranded due to the thick ice on the overhead wires. The storm also affected much of the TTC's subway network. Between December 22 and 23, all of Line 3 Scarborough was shut down by fallen tree limbs caused by the freezing rain and by other power-related issues. Line 4 Sheppard was closed between December 22 and 24 due to power-related issues, a number of service disruptions were also reported on TTC's other major subway lines, including Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth, where some stations were closed due to power outages for several hours.[32]
• On January 29, 2015, a brawl occurred at the concourse level of Union station just after a Toronto Maple Leafs game. Two intoxicated men were resisting arrest, and fighting with Transit Special Constables. During the arrest, two TTC Transit Enforcement Unit officers punched one man in the face several times and another man in the ribs during the arrest. Toronto Police arrived and charged the two men. A cell phone video was later posted on Facebook, causing public scrutiny and backlash against the TTC. An independent review of the incident later deemed the arrest and subsequent use of force to be lawful.[33][34] Two years later, the victims filed a $4 million lawsuit against the TTC and the two enforcement officers.[35]
• On June 8, 2015, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., the entire subway network was shut down due to "major communication issues" between TTC subway trains and the TTC's transit control centre. Hundreds of thousands of commuters were stranded during the shutdown since no shuttle buses were provided to replace subway service. TTC officials believed the incident was caused by a defective switch that drained the battery for the backup power supply.[36]
• On June 18, 2018, a man believed to be in his mid-50s to early 60s was pushed onto the eastbound Line 2 Bloor–Danforth tracks at Bloor–Yonge station and died when struck by an incoming subway train. A first-degree murder charge was laid against the man accused of the attack.[37]

By late March 2020, TTC ridership had dropped by 70 to 72 percent due to measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Ridership had dropped 80 percent on the subway, 76 percent on streetcars, 62 percent on buses and 75 percent on Wheel-Trans. The TTC estimated its weekly fare revenue dropped from $25 million to $7 million. By late March, the TTC was operating 80 percent of its normal service with reduced ridership and lower staffing levels.[38]

Because of the reduced ridership, the TTC cut a number of services starting March 23. All downtown express bus routes (141–145) and all but 3 of the 900-series express bus routes were suspended. Streetcar route 508 Lake Shore was suspended and route 503 Kingston Rd was shortened to run only along its namesake street.[39]

By late April 2020, TTC ridership had fallen to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and the TTC was losing $90 million per month. On April 23, the TTC announced it would temporarily lay off 1000 operators (after the 30 days' notice required by their union contract) plus 200 non-unionized staff. The TTC still intended to operate between 70 and 80 percent of its pre-pandemic service.[40]

In early May 2020, the TTC announced a further 15 percent reduction in service starting May 10. Rush-hour services on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth would be reduced to match midday and early evening frequency.[41] Service would be cut on 120 bus and streetcar routes.[42] All seasonal bus route extensions (such as to Toronto Zoo, Cherry Beach, Bluffer's Park, Ontario Place, Harbourfront and Woodbine Beach) would be deferred.[41] The remainder of the 503 Kingston Rd route was replaced full-time by the 22A Coxwell bus.[43][44] These service reductions were expected to last at least until the end of August 2020.[42]

On May 24, 2020, due to reduced ridership and fare revenue, the TTC temporarily laid off 450 employees as a cost-saving measure.[45]

In December 2020, the TTC decided to take advantage of low ridership resulting from the pandemic and temporarily closed a portion of Line 1 Yonge–University for nine full contiguous days in order to do maintenance. The TTC closed Line 1 between Sheppard–Yonge and Finch stations from 11 pm on December 4 through to 6 am on December 14, 2020, replacing train service with shuttle buses. Maintenance included installing automatic train control, replacing asbestos tunnel linings, track remediation and station cleaning. The closure will avoid over two years of early nightly closures and provide cost savings.[46][47]

Seat restricted sign used in the Toronto Transit Commission's vehicles

To maintain physical distancing from bus operators, boarding and fare payment procedures were changed on buses by late March. All passengers who did not require the wheelchair ramp had to board by the rear door of the bus. By April 8, 2020, the TTC was installing thick vinyl barriers on buses to separate the front of the bus from the passenger seating area; the barriers were collapsible to allow access for ramp users from the front door. The TTC stopped accepting cash, tokens and older tickets to pay fares on buses and bus operators stopped handing out paper transfers. However, the TTC allowed riders without a Presto card or Presto ticket to board buses, but asked that they pay the fare later if transferring to a streetcar or the subway. The TTC suspended fare inspections. The TTC permitted operators to wear masks on the job.[39]

Despite the drop in ridership, there was still crowding on several bus routes, preventing physical distancing of the recommended 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) among riders. Crowding occurred when workers from manufacturing areas were boarding at a shift change. To address crowding, the TTC deployed extra buses on affected routes by April 1 and recommended that riders try to travel after 8 a.m. Crowding was not observed to be a problem on subways and streetcars.[48]

Washroom breaks became a problem for some bus and streetcar operators. While most surface routes connect with a subway station equipped with washrooms, some routes may take up to two hours to return to a subway station. Thus operators, who had informal agreements with private businesses to use their washrooms, found those facilities closed during the pandemic. Lack of washroom facilities became a health and safety issue as operators could be hurried and distracted. To remedy the problem, the TTC placed portable washrooms for employee use along some routes.[49]

In January 2020, the TTC began performing extra cleaning and disinfection of vehicles and stations with a focus on touch and grab points. By mid-April 2020, the TTC was installing hand sanitizer dispensers at subway stations, aiming to complete installation at main entrances by April and secondary entrances by May. Dispensers are located just inside the paid area, and staff monitor them for customer usability. In late April, the TTC blocked off seats on buses, streetcars and subway trains to promote physical distancing among passengers; the TTC used caution tape initially to block seats until more formal seat coverings and signage became available. Starting May 4, bus operators were allowed to designate their bus as "drop off only" and display those words on the LED sign on the front of the bus. "Drop off only" meant that no additional passengers would be allowed to board. This change was to maintain physical distancing and prevent overloading the bus.[50]

The TTC closed its Customer Service Centre above Davisville station on March 17, and its Lost Articles Office and Photo ID Facility effective March 19. In late March, the TTC allowed Presto card holders on the 12-month pass plan to cancel the plan without penalty. The cancellation was effective from April onwards, and lasted until card holders set up a new auto-renew subscription.[39]

The TTC has assigned Wheel-Trans vehicles for the transfer of Toronto Community Housing residents with COVID-19 symptoms to healthcare facilities. The TTC operators for such trips are equipped with personal protective equipment, and the vehicles are given an intense cleaning after use.[51] All Wheel-Trans vehicles are restricted to carrying only one passenger at a time during the pandemic.[52]

In late April 2020, the TTC, working with Toronto Paramedic Services, converted five decommissioned TTC buses into ambulances to transport COVID-19 patients. Each bus can carry 3 stretcher patients, 8–10 ambulatory patients, 3 paramedics to attend to patients, and a TTC driver. These buses may be used to transfer patients between health facilities, to handle large incidents, and to provide shelter for facility evacuations.[53] They have also been used to shuttle homeless people from shelters and campsites to medical and cooling facilities.[54]

Initially, the TTC supplied masks only to Wheel-Trans operators and maintenance workers dealing with hazardous substances. By mid-April, the TTC changed its policy after pressure from its union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113. Subsequently, each bus operator received two masks along with gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes. The TTC later provided the same equipment to streetcar operators.[52][55]

On May 19, 2020, the TTC strongly recommended that all passengers wear a mask and keep two metres (6 ft 7 in) away from employees and other passengers.[39] Effective July 2, 2020, passengers were required, with few exceptions, to wear masks when riding on the TTC. Despite a potential fine of $195, the TTC stated that it would not be enforcing this requirement. Instead, the TTC decided to use 100 "COVID-19 ambassadors" to encourage passengers to wear a mask. The goal was to have 90 percent of passengers wearing masks,[56][57] and by July 10, the TTC observed that 89 percent of all riders were wearing masks despite the lack of enforcement. Prior to the mask policy, only half of riders were wearing masks.[58] By August, 95 percent of riders were wearing masks according to the TTC CEO's Report for that month.[59] By September, compliance was at 97 percent.[60]

By August 2020, the TTC had purchased 600 foot-activated hand sanitizer dispensers from Canadian Mill Nettclean Supply Inc. and distributed them throughout the system.[59]

Effective September 17, 2020, and lasting until at least December 31 of the same year, the TTC ordered that all TTC employees that could come into contact with other individuals wear masks. Previously, masks were optional for TTC employees. Exceptions include subway and streetcar operators who work alone in closed cabs. The TTC had observed in August 2020 that employees were gathering in groups on TTC property without masks and physical distancing.[60]

By mid-November 2020, the TTC was having 11 vending machines installed at 10 subway stations where customers could purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, sanitizer and wipes. This was addition to TTC staff handing out free single-use masks at some subway stations.[61]

On May 19, 2020, the Lost Articles Office reopened, with only one person at a time being allowed in its vestibule. The office had been closed since March 20 because of the city lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Similarly, the TTC reopened its Customer Service Centre on May 25, allowing only two customers at a time in the office.[39] On June 22, the TTC restored full service on route 503 Kingston Rd that had been partly suspended on March 24 due to reduced ridership.[62]

By late June 2020, although subway and streetcar ridership remained at 18 percent of pre-pandemic levels, bus ridership had reached 37 percent as compared to 14 percent in late April. By this time physical distancing was becoming difficult with 18 percent of bus trips exceeding the maximum of 15 passengers per bus.[56]

In June 2020, the TTC resumed fare inspections but only to advise and encourage passengers to pay their fates. On July 2, all-door boarding was implemented on buses. Passengers could pay cash, tokens and senior and youth tickets and obtain a transfer at the front door of a bus; this reversed a change made in early April.

On August 12, 2020, the Province of Ontario promised $404 million for TTC operations to compensate for reduced ridership and revenue loss during the pandemic, with more funding to come later. The TTC projected a shortfall of $700 million in 2020. At the time, ridership was at 35 percent of pre-pandemic levels; it was increasing more on buses than on other modes. When ridership increases to 50 percent, the TTC will start restoring more services, which have been operating at 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.[63] As a condition of funding, the provincial government is requiring transit agencies, including the TTC, to consider using privately operated microtransit such as Uber's ride-sharing services to replace low-volume bus routes. Innisfil in Ontario conducted a pilot of such an approach, which was popular with participants but was criticized for costing more than a public transit bus service and contributing to congestion.[64]

On August 27, 2020, the TTC announced a recall of 150 of the 450 TTC employees who were laid off in late May. This was to handle school reopenings in September. By late August, ridership had increased from its lowest point of 15–20 per cent to 35-40 per cent of pre-pandemic ridership.[65] On September 17, the TTC announced the recall of an additional 132 laid-off union employees to return to work starting October 4. The TTC will recall the remaining 168 laid-off employees when ridership reaches 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels.[66]

On October 15, 2020, the TTC announced the recall of the last 180 laid-off front-line workers, including 97 operators. The recall would allow the TTC to restore full service to the system. At that time, ridership had risen to 36 percent of pre-pandemic levels; by mode, bus ridership was at about 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels versus 32 and 36 percent for subway and streetcar usage respectively. The TTC was responding to complaints of overcrowding (given the requirements for physical distancing) on buses even though the bus system was already at 95 percent capacity. The recall would also allow the TTC to staff shuttle buses during a scheduled 10-day shutdown of Line 1 Yonge–University in December 2020 between Finch and Sheppard–Yonge stations for asbestos removal. The TTC planned to recruit new drivers to replace those retiring.[67]

As part of a project dubbed RapidTO, the TTC opened priority bus lanes on Eglinton Avenue East on October 11, 2020.[68] The COVID-19 pandemic provided the impetus for the RapidTO project. The lanes were created to improve TTC service in lower-income neighbourhoods, which house employees performing essential services during the pandemic. By allowing buses to move faster, there would be less crowding and better physical distancing.[69] Two express bus routes (905 Eglinton East Express and 986 Scarborough Express) that were suspended in mid-March 2020 were restored to operate along the new bus lanes.[68] Effective November 23, 2020, eight additional 900-series express bus routes were restored elsewhere in the city for Monday-to-Friday service.[70]

On March 19, 2020, the TTC temporarily closed the Duncan garage at the Hillcrest Complex after a mechanic tested as positive for COVID-19. The TTC sent 170 co-workers home to self-isolate for two weeks and had the garage disinfected. The mechanic testing positive had worked one shift on March 11 before being sent home after feeling ill. Since the garage was used for major overhauls and rebuilds, its temporary closure had no impact on daily bus operations.[71]

On April 23, 2020, the TTC sent 70 staff at the Queensway garage home to self-isolate for two weeks after 5 co-workers tested positive for COVID-19. The TTC had the garage disinfected. The garage was not closed; some managerial staff were assigned maintenance work, and the TTC intended to reassign some maintenance work to other garages.[72]

By June 2020, there had not been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 being spread by passengers riding on public transit. This observation contradicted predictions at the beginning of the crisis that public transit would be a major venue for the spread of virus. 65 out of 15,000 TTC employees contracted COVID-19, but it is unknown whether they contracted it on or off the job. Toronto Public Health (TPH) did not trace any of the 13,500 COVID-19 cases to public transit. TPH spokesperson Dr. Vinita Dubey warned that this did not mean the virus was being transmitted on public transit as the long 14-day incubation period makes it difficult to determine where and when infection occurred.[73]

The below statistics are the subway suicide incidents and attempts from 1998 through 2016:[80]

Note: Data obtained from Toronto Transit Commission report that does not distinguish between attempted and completed suicides.