Ontario, Toronto agree to work better to improve the area's transit network

The province of Ontario and city of Toronto on Tuesday announced they agreed on terms to guide a discussion about how to best align transit responsibilities between the two parties.

The province and city have maintained a longstanding partnership to jointly advance public transit initiatives, and both acknowledge that the Toronto Transit Commission's subway system is a vial component of an integrated transit network in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, officials from both organizations said in a press release.

They also share a number of objectives, including the accelerated implementation of priority expansion projects; integration of transit services across all modes and agencies, including Metrolinx; modernization, enhancement and maintenance of the subway system; continuity of safe and reliable transit services; and a long-term sustainable and predictable funding model for the area's transit system.

Toronto's city council has directed City Manager Chris Murray to proceed with the agreed-upon terms and to report back to the council later in the first quarter with a progress report.

Provincial leaders have committed to a deliberate, fact-based conversation with city officials on a transit plan, including the building and maintenance of new and existing subway lines, said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The terms will enable the province to cut through red tape to help start new transit projects and hasten their construction, he added.
 
"Necessary maintenance and investment in the subway system has been put off for too long," Ford said. "It's time to take action and speed things up."