1. Ministry of Transportation Update on Provincial Initiatives
Transit Policy Branch
Ontario Transportation Expo
April 10, 2018

2. Overview Moving Ontario Forward - Updates Gas Tax
Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF)
Community Transportation Pilot Grant Program
Hand-Held Devices: Update on Exemption for Two-Way Radios
Urban Rail Safety Oversight

3. Provincial Transit Funding
Since 2003, the Province has invested more than $25.5 billion in public transit in Ontario, including more than $12.3 billion in GO Transit.
The Province’s investments in public transit help residents get to where they need to go faster and more efficiently, create job opportunities, and support a stronger economy.

4. Moving Ontario Forward
Moving Ontario Forward is the Government of Ontario’s 10-year $31.5 billion plan to build an integrated transportation network across the province through investments in priority infrastructure projects to help manage congestion, connect people to jobs, and improve the economy and residents’ quality of life.
Approximately $16 billion for investment in transit in the GTHA; and
Approximately $15 billion for investment in roads, bridges, transit and other critical infrastructure outside the GTHA.
Work is well underway to support the implementation of Moving Ontario Forward.

5. Moving Ontario Forward
Major capital investments in the GTHA include ($2014):
GO Regional Express Rail ($13.5 billion)
Hurontario LRT ($1.4 billion)
Hamilton LRT (~$1 billion)
Planning and procurement are under way on all of these projects.
More detailed updates will be provided in Metrolinx’s presentation.

6. Moving Ontario Forward
Moving Ontario Forward funding will also support ongoing planning, design and engineering work for priority projects in the Next Wave of “The Big Move”. To date, the province has announced funding for Metrolinx to work with its municipal and municipal transit agency partners on the following:
Toronto Relief Subway Line
Yonge North Subway Extension
Proposed BRT route between Oshawa and Scarborough.
The province will continue working with regions, communities, other levels of government, and private partners to design and select the next generation of infrastructure investments.
In June 2016, the province announced:
Agreement-in-Principle with CN Rail to begin planning and technical analysis required for infrastructure works that will allow for two-way, all-day GO Train service along the Kitchener GO corridor.
Extension of GO Transit's Lakeshore East rail corridor to Bowmanville, expected to begin by , subject to final agreement with CP Rail.
New weekday GO rail service to Niagara Region starting in 2021, with service to Niagara Falls by 2023, subject to final agreement with CN Rail.
Over $1 billion towards capital costs for Stage 2 of the City of Ottawa’s LRT project.

7. Update on Major Transit Projects
Eglinton Crosstown LRT
Tunneling work complete; construction under way at all stations.
Estimated to be in service by 2021.
Finch West LRT
Early works began in 2016.
Start of major construction expected in 2017.
York Viva BRT
Over 8 km of rapidways already in service; Maintenance and Storage Facility is complete.
Other segments along Highway 7 in Vaughan are expected to open by the end of 2017.
Estimated completion of all segments is anticipated by 2019.
Union-Pearson (UP) Express
Ridership has more than quadrupled since fares were lowered in March 2016 (averaging 8,500-9,00 per day)
Toronto Union Station Revitalization
$800.7 million initiative supported by investments of $172 million from the Government of Ontario.
Overall project is scheduled to be completed in early 2018, with substantial completion of components in late 2017.

8. Update on Municipal Transit Projects
Ottawa LRT Stage 1
Approx. $2.1 billion capital cost.
Up to $600 million provincial investment, representing approximately 1/3 of capital costs.
Estimated in-service in 2018.
Province committed more than $1 billion toward Stage 2
Waterloo Rapid Transit
Approx. $818 million capital cost.
Up to $300 million provincial investment, approximately 1/3 of capital costs.
aBRT launched Sept and LRT estimated in service in 2018.

9. PRESTO Fare Card Status of PRESTO deployment:
Fully operational on Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay (Mississauga), Oakville Transit, OC Transpo (Ottawa), York Region Transit, GO Transit, and the Union Pearson (UP) Express.
Available across the entire TTC network at the end of 2016, including at all subway stations and on all streetcars and buses (including Wheel-Trans vehicles and contracted taxis).
Milestones:
More than 2.5 million PRESTO cards have been activated across the GTHA and Ottawa.
Between July and December 2016, more than 112 million fare payments worth $360 million were processed.

10. Gas Tax Program
Since 2004, the Province has committed $3.8 billion in Gas Tax funding to Ontario municipalities.
The funding envelope was $334.5 million.
From April 2016 through March 2017, the Province will provide Gas Tax funding to 99 municipal transit systems serving 134 communities across Ontario.
Municipalities can use this funding towards both capital and/or operating expenditures. Municipalities also have the discretion to maintain Gas Tax funding in a municipal reserve account for future use.

11. Gas Tax Program – Increased funding
Ontario has committed to increasing Gas Tax funding from the current 2 cents per litre to:
2.5 cents per litre in 2019/20
3 cents per litre in 2020/21
4 cents per litre in 2021/22
Based on the averages from the past 10 years, it is estimated that gas tax funding will reach approximately $642 million by
This is an increase in the share of funding going to municipal transit.
It is not an increase in what drivers will pay at the pumps. 

12. Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF)
The 2016 Federal Budget included the investment of $11.9 billion in transit infrastructure over five years, including the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) to upgrade and improve public transit systems.
Under PTIF Phase One, Ontario is eligible to receive over $1.48 billion in funding.
MTO is responsible for the administration of PTIF in Ontario, under a Bilateral Agreement with the federal government.
Phase One of PTIF will provide up to 50% of the total eligible project costs incurred from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2018.

13. Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) – Phase One
Out of the 98 municipalities eligible to receive PTIF funding, 83 transit systems (including Metrolinx) made submissions. A total of 661 projects were submitted for approval.
632 projects have been approved to date. Further approvals and announcements are pending.
Applicants approved to receive funding are required to enter into an agreement with MTO. The agreement will follow Ontario`s Transfer Payment Accountability Directive.
PTIF funding to recipients will be managed through Grants Ontario.

14. Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) – Ongoing Work and Next Steps
MTO working to address several issues with Infrastructure Canada
Following federal approvals, MTO and municipalities to execute Transfer Payment Agreements, including all supporting documentation.
Recipients to submit Progress Reports and Recipient Information Forms
Coming soon: PTIF Phase Two!

15. Community Transportation Pilot Grant Program
In November 2014 the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) launched a Community Transportation Pilot Grant Program. The program is providing financial assistance to Ontario municipalities to partner with community organizations to leverage and coordinate existing local transportation services.
Through the pilot MTO is funding 22 projects across the province.
Projects involve partnerships with:
School bus operators;
Local taxi agencies;
Seniors’ organizations;
Social and health service agencies; and
Public transit systems.
The pilot program expired March 31, In early 2017, MTO announced that operating funding for pilot projects would continue in so that communities could continue to provide transportation services.

16. Funded Pilot Projects 9 recipients in Northern Ontario
13 recipients in Southern Ontario 5

17. Handheld devices – Update on exemption for transit drivers
In 2009, Bill 118 amended the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the use of hand-held communication and entertainment devices while driving.
One of the few exceptions was a 3-year exemption for commercial and public transit drivers and public service workers using hand-held, two-way radios in the performance of their duties.
In 2013, the exemption was extended to January 1, 2018.
MTO’s Road User Safety Division will hold consultations in May/June 2017 on the way forward.
The consultation plans will be discussed at the OTE “Regulator’s Roundtable” on Wednesday April 12.

18. Urban Rail Safety Oversight
In light of the anticipated growth in Urban Rail Transit (URT) systems over the coming decade, the Ministry retained a consultant in March 2016 to undertake a comprehensive study on Urban Rail Transit Safety oversight approaches currently in place in Ontario and other jurisdictions.
The Ministry is interested in developing a comprehensive understanding of these approaches in order to inform consideration of whether there is a need for an Ontario Urban Rail Transit Safety Framework.
The consultant has engaged with key stakeholders, including major transit agencies in Ontario. A final report to the Ministry is expected in the spring of 2017.

19. QUESTIONS

20. Tasneem Essaji, Manager Municipal Transit Policy Office
Contact Us
Tasneem Essaji, Manager
Municipal Transit Policy Office
Transit Policy Branch