Item - 2025.TTC8.2

The Toronto Transit Commission received the Approved Minutes of the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT) General Monthly Meetings of June 26 and July 31, 2025 for information.

Sophie Petrillo, ACAT Vice-Chair, gave a verbal presentation on this item.

The Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit (ACAT) is forwarding the approved minutes of its General monthly meetings of June 26, 2025 and July 31, 2025 to the September 2025 Board Meeting for information. At the June meeting, ACAT members received information about TTC Bus Transportation’s efforts to enhance bus service accessibility, including holding mobility device workshops at bus divisions, specialized customer service training and conducting securement spot checks to support Operators and ensure safety. Members discussed the need for improved communication between customers and Operators, especially when it comes to customers with vision loss and how they are impacted when audio announcements are off, and encouraged promoting customer use of accessible flashcards that indicate to approaching buses that a ramp needs to be lowered for a customer. Members also discussed feedback received from some Operators at recertification sessions, where some expressed concerns about damaging equipment or injuring passengers.

At the July meeting, TTC’s Racial Equity Office presented information about the Family of Services (FOS) equity analysis project that is ongoing in an effort to assess the equity impacts of FOS trips. ACAT suggested providing information about accessible services during the engagement process and recommended mentioning that alternative formats for surveys are available upon request.

The following is a summary of the main topics discussed at the June and July ACAT Subcommittee Meetings:

Communications Subcommittee
June meeting:

• Communication plan for new Route 406 Community Bus: The subcommittee reviewed designated stops, trip planning tools, feedback collection and referred items for follow up to the Service Planning Subcommittee.
• 10 year Wayfinding Strategy: The subcommittee provided suggestions on signage, compliance and real-time information.
• Wheel-Trans communications and promotion of mobile app.

July meeting:

• Ongoing First On/Last Off and Support Person Assistance Card message wording.
• September 6, 2025 Wheel-Trans 50th Anniversary event and promoting Wheel-Trans self-booking app.

Design Review Subcommittee (no meeting held in June)

• Bus Design Innovation program enhancement of Operator and customer safety: The Subcommittee provided feedback about quiet electric buses, non-slip flooring and communication barriers, which will inform future design discussions.
• Advancing Line 5 Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) implementation and addressing low audio announcements and pre-boarding messaging.

Service Planning Subcommittee
June meeting:

• Transit stops planning and management: The Subcommittee expressed there is a need for consistent standards for audio announcements and accessible infrastructure across neighbourhoods.

July meeting:

• 2026 TTC Annual Network Plan review.
• 2025 Accessibility Plan Status Report overview

Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee

• Interactive Voice Response system upgrade status.
• Electric vehicle pilot testing smaller electric vehicles for Wheel-Trans fleet.

July meeting:

• FOS Equity Analysis project overview.
• Expected 2027 PRESTO upgrade to Wheel-Trans vehicles.