TTC Board orders a study to speed up the College (506) streetcar, and it turns into an election-flavoured fight
Commissioner Saxe, seconded by Chair Myers, moved to direct TTC staff to report back in Q1 2027 with recommendations to speed up and make more reliable the 506 College/Carlton streetcar. Seven residents deputed in support, with several urging dedicated lanes and faster action; Saxe cross-examined advocate Gabriel Leblanc at length over his roughly $1M cost claim, and staff put much larger figures on the record. The motion was adopted, but Commissioner Bravo voted against it despite College serving her ward, arguing the board should stick to its existing system-wide plan rather than single out one line.
Who did what
- Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11) movedMoved the motion to direct staff to study speeding up the 506; then cross-examined deputant Leblanc over his cost claims and elicited large staff cost estimates
- Councillor Jamaal Myers (Ward 23) secondedSeconded the motion and chaired; questioned deputants on scope and jurisdiction
- Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9) voted againstVoted no despite College serving her ward, arguing against singling out one line over a system-wide approach
- A citizen commissioner questioned staffQuestioned whether College is the 'most burning priority' and how it fits the Q1 2027 network study; pressed staff on cost-benefit prioritization
From the floor
“Even though college serves my community, I can't support a motion that is only addressing one street carline.”Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Ward 9)
“Traffic congestion will be a top issue in the municipal election... If you don't support transit priority, we voters will vote for candidates who do.”A deputant
“If you've done everything in your power already to speed up street cars, why move this motion now?”Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11)
“I am working with a team of planners and experts, but nonetheless, I don't have the resources of a city council.”A deputant
“At $1 million we don't see how you could take the entire 14 kilometer route and 60 stops of direction and make it more reliable.”City staff
Also in this item
• Staff put costs on the record: roughly $200M+ to raise ~655 streetcar stops plus $50M for vehicle self-leveling for level boarding, and about $160M for double-point switches network-wide.
• A sitting commissioner (Saxe) used most of the debate to cross-examine a citizen advocate whose competing plan was released to media eight days before her motion, unusual treatment of a deputant.
• Staff confirmed a TTC streetcar network strategy with early findings due Q1 2027 is already underway, plus a 'surface transit toolkit', the study largely duplicates directions already given.
• A declared Ward 11 council candidate deputed on the item, and multiple deputants explicitly tied transit priority to the October 2026 election.
The journey
What happens next
Staff report back is expected in early 2027; a companion motion sits at the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on city-controlled measures. Residents on the corridor can push for the consultation channel deputants requested and watch for the streetcar network strategy findings (Q1 2027).
Decision
Motion adopted directing TTC staff to report back (early 2027) on measures within TTC control to improve the speed and reliability of the 506 streetcar. Commissioner Bravo opposed; not unanimous.
Watch it happen
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