TTC Begins Construction of Storage for New Streetcars

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has begun construction at its Hillcrest complex to upgrade the facility for storing and maintaining approximately 25 new streetcars. The upgrades are being funded by contributions from the federal government and the City of Toronto.

TTC is currently receiving 60 new streetcars, which are jointly funded by C$568 million in contributions from the federal government, the Ontario government, and the City of Toronto.

“Investments in transit strengthen communities and improve quality of life, helping more people get to where they need to go,” said the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities of Canada. “Our government believes in public transit and this investment will support the growing population of transit users in Toronto.”

The Hillcrest Complex construction project will be undertaken in two phases and is expected to take approximately five years to complete. In addition to the upgrades for streetcar storage and maintenance, the project will include much-needed maintenance work and landscaping improvements.

“Expanding Hillcrest will allow us to modernize our facilities and future-proof our operations, and it is also the closest maintenance facility to the routes that the new streetcars are expected to serve: 512 St Clair and potentially 511 Bathurst,” said TTC CEO Greg Percy. “It also means we can save on some costs by modifying existing infrastructure, rather than building a new facility.”

Currently, TTC’s existing streetcar facilities can accommodate approximately 239 streetcars. The upgrades to Hillcrest will allow for a total fleet size of 264 vehicles. Since 2020, TTC has operated only low-floor, high-capacity, fully accessible streetcars on its network.

“Torontonians can expect six-minute or better service for the Dundas, Bathurst, and St. Clair streetcars,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “Today’s announcement will get Toronto moving by expanding Hillcrest Yard to service the city’s newly expanded streetcar fleet. We are making TTC the better way to travel so people spend less time waiting and get to their destination faster.”