Safer Subways: Making Public Safety a Priority and Restoring Confidence to Toronto Transit Commission Riders Across Toronto - by Councillor Brad Bradford, seconded by Councillor James Pasternak

Toronto's subway system should be a place where residents and visitors can travel without fear, day or night. It should also be a place where Toronto Transit Commission workers feel safe from harassment and violence, not just in principle, but in practice as well. City Hall must demonstrate a true commitment to improving public safety and restoring public confidence across the subway system. This motion proposes comprehensive and immediate action to address serious gaps in existing services, including developing a plan with Toronto Police Services to deploy police officers in all subway stations; a firm commitment to beginning the installation of platform edge doors at priority stations, which would improve reliability and safety; improved station cleanliness and lighting standards and public compliance reporting to ensure accountability; safety design audits for all subway stations across the network; and zero tolerance for the harassment of Toronto Transit Commission drivers and other staff members.

3. City Council declare its commitment to beginning construction of platform edge doors across the Toronto Transit Commission subway system, with a mandate to commence construction on a multi-station pilot project no later than the fourth quarter in 2027. 4. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, in partnership with the City Manager, to develop a funded plan covering the first 10 years of implementation of platform edge doors (including a multi-station pilot, Line 1 high-priority stations and the Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements project), and report back to City Council as part of the 2027 budget process. 5. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission to publish updated cleanliness standards for all subway stations and publicly report on station-level performance, no later than the first quarter in 2027. 6. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission to report on a single network-wide lighting standard for vehicles, entrances, stairways, concourses, and platforms, including clear maintenance response standards. 7. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, in consultation with the local City Councillors, Toronto Police Service, local Business Improvement Areas and residents associations, to undertake safety design audits of all subway stations that evaluate the physical environment, including lighting conditions, from the perspective of both crime prevention and public perceptions of safety, and report back to City Council no later than the third quarter in 2027. 8. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission board to direct the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, in consultation with the City Manager and the City Solicitor, to review the implications of implementing a one-year ban on any riders that harass or assault Toronto Transit Commission drivers and other staff members, and report back no later than the first quarter in 2027.