TTC
TTC on Jan. 13 celebrated its 60th new LRV entering service, completing delivery of the Alstom Flexity low-floor vehicles ordered in 2021. The fleet expansion was jointly funded by the government of Canada and the province of Ontario, which committed up to C$180 million each, with the city of Toronto providing the remaining C$208 million.
The addition of these 60 vehicles brings the TTC’s LRV fleet to 264, an increase of 30%, which the agency said is “a major step in modernizing Toronto’s transit system and delivering more reliable, accessible service across the city.”
“Close to 400 highly skilled Canadian Alstom employees worked to ensure the flawless execution of this project,” Alstom reported. “The 60 LRVs have been delivered to the TTC and progressively put into service from November 2023 to the end of 2025 and allowed Alstom to create and maintain Canadian jobs and expertise, particularly at its site in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which assembled and tested the vehicles. The project was supported by Alstom sites in St-Bruno and La Pocatière, Quebec, which provided project management and component sub-assembly respectively. Dozens of Canadian suppliers were involved in the delivery of these LRVs. Globally, more than 5,000 Alstom’s Flexity LRVs have been ordered or are in successful revenue service.”
According to TTC, its expanded LRV fleet will support six-minute or better service on streetcar routes, as recommended in TTC’s 5-Year Service and Customer Experience Action Plan. Implementation of this service before 7 p.m. began on 505 Dundas, 511 Bathurst, and 512 St Clair this fall. In the future, this fleet will also support any proposed expansion of TTC’s streetcar network, including east along Queen’s Quay.
“Building up our streetcar fleet has been a key step to increasing service and reliability for our customers,” TTC Chair Jamaal Myers said. “The procurement of these 60 new [LRVs] is another great example of the transit improvements that are possible when all three levels of government come together to deliver for Torontonians.”
“We thank all our funding partners for their continued investment in the TTC,” added Mandeep S. Lali, who became TTC CEO in July 2025. “Without support for new vehicles, better facilities, and state-of-good-repair, we would not be able to deliver the kind of effective, reliable transit that Torontonians deserve and expect.”
“Toronto is the country’s most important economic centre, and we are proud that the city’s iconic red streetcars continue to be built in Canada, by Canadians, for Canadians,” said Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. “Our continued partnership with the TTC not only delivers safe, accessible, state-of-the-art transportation for the Torontonians who rely on it every day—it also supports hundreds Canadian jobs, strengthens our local supply chain, and drives long‑term economic value for Canada.”
“These made-in-Ontario streetcars are providing fast, reliable service to commuters in Toronto, connecting communities and transforming the way people move across the city,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation.
Added Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow: “These additional streetcars mean shorter waits, more reliable trips and better connections across the city. Expanding and modernizing transit helps everyone get where they need to go. We are working to deliver a more affordable, safe and caring city for Torontonians.”
In addition to the procurement of 60 LRVs, the government of Canada’s C$180 million contribution is also being used to support upgrades at Hillcrest Complex to accommodate storage and maintenance for the new vehicles. Construction at Hillcrest is currently under way after a ground-breaking ceremony held March 6, 2025.
Further Reading:
- TTC Board OKs 2026 Operating, Capital Budgets
- Eglinton Crosstown ‘Substantially Complete’
- Finch West LRT Opens
LACMTA
LACMTA on Jan. 12 reported that its Department of Public Safety (DPS) launched a Care-Based Services Division that brings together the Metro (LACMTA) Ambassador, Homeless Outreach Management and Engagement (HOME), and Community Intervention Specialist programs.
The new division will work in coordination with the DPS’s other divisions that oversee law enforcement, code of conduct enforcement, physical security, and emergency management, “resulting in enhanced coordination and improved response times to ensure all riders and employees feel safe and are safe,” according to LACMTA, which carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines.
The Care-Based Services Division will also work to build new Crisis Response Teams. According to LACMTA, these teams will respond to behavioral health–related incidents on the rail and busway system, using clinicians, peer specialists, and, when appropriate, trained DPS officers. Deployed through a zone-based model, Crisis Response Teams will “emphasize rapid response, stabilization, and connection to supportive resources, helping resolve incidents in ways that reduce reliance on traditional law enforcement while reinforcing system-wide safety,” LACMTA said.
Craig Joyce will lead the Care-Based Services Division. A senior executive officer with more than 15 years’ experience as a social worker, he will report directly to William Scott, LACMTA’s Chief of Police and Emergency Management. Joyce joined the transit agency in 2023 and has led its homeless outreach initiative, which has resulted in a 38% year-over-year reduction in homeless individuals seeking shelter on the system, according to LACMTA.
“Today marks a significant step forward in Metro’s [LACMTA’s] promise to deliver a holistic public safety model that includes mental health support, crisis intervention, outreach to vulnerable populations on our transit system alongside law enforcement,” said Fernando Dutra, LACMTA Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member.
“Now we are bringing together the care-based groups that Metro has piloted, and we know are effective, under one strong, unified vision,” LACMTA CEO Stephanie Wiggins said. “This collaborative approach reflects a growing recognition of the importance of integrating mental health expertise into public safety responses and promoting trauma-informed approaches to crisis intervention.”
