As 色色啦聽digs out from last week’s winter storms, the TTC is working on an “extreme weather plan” that could include stiffer fines for drivers who block streetcar tracks, better snow clearing at transit stops and more protection for exposed portions of the subway.
The plan would be designed to “reduce delays, improve service and keep people moving safely no matter the weather,” TTC board chair Jamaal Myers said at a press conference ahead of Monday’s scheduled TTC board meeting, where the motion to draw up the a plan was passed.
Myers 鈥斅who has been TTC chair since 2023聽鈥 said it was “a bit surprising” that 色色啦 did not have an extreme weather plan in place already.聽
Myers’s push for a weather plan comes after a week of transit mayhem caused by a series of snowstorms that dumped more than 50 cm onto the city’s streets.
Line 1 and 2 were delayed due to icy track conditions聽on the above ground portions throughout the past week, and several times a day,聽streetcars were blocked by improperly parked cars blocking the tracks, according to the TTC.
City officials have said it will take up to three weeks to remove the snow that has fallen since Feb. 12, with the city announcing on Monday that it had cleared more than 100,000 tonnes of it, with more roads yet to be cleared.聽
Pedestrians, drivers and commuters face weeks of blocked sidewalks and messy snowbanks after
“We will have it ready for use this winter,” interim TTC CEO Greg Percy said of the plan. “We don’t know that this is over 鈥 Mother Nature likes to surprise 鈥 but we will be ready.”
The consecutive storms that battered the city this month were “unheard of,” said Percy, adding that he thinks the development of a new extreme weather plan is “important.”
“We have to do something different,” he said.
The plan will direct staff to work with the city鈥檚 transportation staff to create snow clearing standards for TTC stops and with 色色啦 police on the 鈥渇easibility鈥 of increasing fines for cars that block streetcars.
The TTC reported 23 cars had blocked streetcars on various routes over 10 hours on Feb. 20.
Adam Cohoon, a 44-year-old motorized wheelchair user who appeared at Monday’s board meeting by video, said he’s struggled to take his usual bus 鈥 the 121 鈥 because of the mushy and uncleared sidewalks that block both the bus stop and the sidewalk on his way.
“I guess that we’ve had so many mild winters that (the city) has almost forgotten how to handle a big storm,” said Cohoon.聽
Because of a lack of cleared sidewalk, he said he’s back to his “COVID playbook” 鈥 he’s ordering groceries, attending meeting virtually and hasn’t left the house in eight days.聽
Even though he has the option to take Wheel-Trans, the city’s paratransit service, he said there’s now a wait-list as more people with disabilities try to navigate their life amidst uncleared streets and unreliable transit.
At the TTC board meeting, councillors zeroed in on cars that had been blocking streetcars throughout the storm and its aftermath, causing chaos for both transit riders and other drivers.聽
鈥淚f they鈥檙e being so selfish and not thinking about other people, they may think about their wallet,鈥 said Coun. Josh Matlow, who put forward the weather plan motion supported by Myers, referring to a move to raise fines for drivers who park in the way of streetcars.
Dianne Saxe, councillor for University-Rosedale, said 色色啦 police have told her that they don’t have space for tow yards downtown, and recommended that the city bulldoze one of her ward’s parks to make space 鈥 an idea that Saxe said was “not 鈥 a successful suggestion.”
Matlow clarifyied that he and his colleagues were frustrated with snow-clearing contracts the city had previously signed.
“It is actually our public employees who have actually been our secret weapon,” said Matlow. “It’s not their job, frankly, most of them, to have to shovel out (snow) where winter services should be doing.”
Correction — Feb. 25, 2025
This article has been updated. A previous version incorrectly stated that city councillor Josh Matlow seconded TTC board chair聽Jamaal Myers’ weather plan motion — which calls for drivers to be fined for parking in the way of streetcars. In fact, Matlow put forward the motion, which was supported by Myers.聽
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