TTC Green Initiatives
Environmental sustainability at the TTC is the pursuit of impactful action towards the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the increase in operational resiliency to extreme climate events, the responsible consumption of limited resources and enhancing biodiversity, all while maximizing service reliability for our customers.
While the TTC continues to modernize our service, introducing additional green initiatives is essential in the process. To start, we have set goals to attain a zero-emissions fleet that will continue to deliver safe and reliable service, while decarbonizing our facilities and operations for a greener future.
The TTC’s bus fleet is comprised of three different eco-friendly technologies: clean diesel, hybrid electric and battery electric. The TTC will be receiving its last hybrid bus in mid-May 2024. Hybrid buses will account for almost 40per cent of our bus fleet. After that, all new buses we procure will be battery electric only, as we work toward our goal to be 50 per cent zero emissions by 2030 and 100 per cent zero emissions by 2040. This is just one way we are modernizing our service, innovating for the long term and planning for climate change. We will continue to deliver safe, reliable service to our customers with the new, more environmentally friendly fleet.
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Electric Buses
Our eBuses operate on truly green technology with the potential for zero emissions. Zero emission buses have no tailpipe emissions. With our existing 60 eBuses, the TTC has one of the largest mini-fleets of electric buses in North America. An additional340 new eBuses have been procured and will be delivered in 2024-2025, with the first ones expected to arrive in May 2024.. This means customers will see more eBuses operating on routes like 35 Jane, 32 Eglinton and 45 Kipling, reducing air pollution and offering quieter rides.
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Electric bus charging
Charge points are installed ahead of eBus deliveries to ensure we continue to provide customers with reliable service. Currently, there are 80 charge points in service at Arrow Garage, Birchmount Garage, Eglinton Garage and Mount Dennis Garage. There will be 318 charge points installed by the end of 2025 across seven bus garages. This means the TTC can charge up to 400 eBuses by the end of next year.
Charger technology is quickly improving and we are implementing advanced control systems to minimize our power draw. The chargers that will be installed next year will have twice the power output as the ones installed in 2019 in the same sized package.
Fast Fact!
A TTC bus can be charged in three hours but we have the ability to turn down the power output to charge slower while the buses are stored overnight. This minimizes our impact on the grid and means there's more power to share with our neighbours. -
Hybrid Buses
TTC’s hybrid buses incorporate series technology and run off power generated on-board. As opposed to an electric bus that is plugged in to charge, our hybrid buses use on-board generators that are powered by diesel engines. Though these vehicles are still using fuel to produce energy, they use a lot less than the average vehicle. Hybrid buses also incorporate the recovery of braking energy, meaning that energy produced when descending a hill or during braking is fed back to the energy storage system to reuse for propulsion, resulting in approximately 25 per cent fuel reduction and in turn, reduced tailpipe emissions.
The TTC is approaching its last delivery of hybrid electric buses. A total of 336 hybrid electric buses were -procured from New Flyer and NOVA. The first bus was delivered in April 2023 and the last bus is expected to be delivered in May 2024. These buses are being operated out of Mount Dennis and Wilson garages. With this order, the TTC bus fleet will consist of almost 40 per cent hybrid electric buses. All future bus deliveries will be battery electric buses.
Fast Fact!
TTC’s new hybrid buses can operate in electric vehicle mode when they enter a station or garage, reducing both air and noise pollution. -
Streetcars
The TTC is currently growing the existing Streetcar fleet by 30%, which is 60 new streetcars by the end of 2025, to support existing ridership demand and attract new ridership, while significantly reducing city-wide emissions from higher carbon transportation options.
A larger fleet will support an expanded streetcar network, bringing lower-carbon mobility choices into additional parts of the city through the development of new, more sustainable neighbourhoods.
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Electric Wheel-Trans fleet
The TTC will evaluate using battery electric alternatives for Wheel-Trans vehicles by procuring and testing up to 10 all-electric Wheel-Trans (eWT) vehicles from multiple vendors. The competitive procurement process will begin in 2024, with vehicles expected to be in service for testing in 2025. In preparation, electric charging infrastructure will be installed at TTC’s Lakeshore Garage prior to vehicle deliveries. The goal is to have a fully electric Wheel-Trans fleet by 2035.
Through this energy transition, our primary goal remains to provide a fully accessible vehicle that meets the needs of our customers. As such, the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit will be a key evaluator for new eWT buses.
Fast Fact!
Our last ‘friendly’ diesel bus was decommissioned in 2023. As the fleet transitions from diesel to gasoline to battery electric, the total GHG emissions intensity decreases. With an electric Wheel-Trans (eWT) fleet, the GHG emissions intensity is anticipated to be 50g/km, approximately a quarter of the emissions of an average personal vehicle with an internal combustion engine. -
Green Roofs
Green roofs are roofs of buildings that are covered either partially or completely with a thin layer of vegetation. They are a major sustainable retrofit option that offers benefits such as air purification, stormwater runoff control, energy load reduction from improved insulation, and habitat creation.
The TTC’s first green roof was installed at Eglinton West Station, which contains a 1,085-square-metre garden. Since then, the TTC has implemented green roofs at 11 of its facilities including:
- Downsview Park Station
- Finch West Station
- York University Station
- Pioneer Village StationVaughan Metropolitan Centre Station
- Victoria Park Station
- Dufferin Station
- McNicoll Bus Garage
- Leslie Barns Carhouse
- Roncesvalles Carhouse
- Wilson Carhouse
- Hillcrest Complex’s Streetcar Way Building
Notably, the one-of-a-kind rooftop at Leslie Barns Carhouse is a low maintenance green roof that can sustain sedums, grasses and other low herbaceous vegetation, while also providing a habitat for insects and birds.
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Green Spaces
The TTC plans to maximize the benefits of the green spaces we maintain to support local biodiversity.
More than 10 years ago, the TTC partnered with LEAF to support five Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens. They are located outside High Park, Bathurst , Old Mill , St Clair , and Spadina stations. These gardens are comprisd of native plant species that enhance our communities and biodiversity, and are maintained by generous volunteers.
The TTC will continue to assess all green spaces to identify opportunities to maximize native plants and biodiversity.
LED lighting retrofit at subway stations and platforms
By the end of 2024, all TTC subway stations and platforms will be retrofitted with energy efficient LED bulbs.
Fast Fact!
Between 2019 and 2023, more than 55 thousand bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs. This means saving almost six million kilowatt hours annually, equivalent to powering 600 homes every year.