People Movers

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations of the Budget Committee contained in the following transmittal letter (October13,1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Budget Committee on October 13, 1998 recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council that:

(1)the report (September 22, 1998) from the Interim General Manager, Exhibition Place, be received as information;

(2)the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, the Board of Directors for the Toronto Zoo and the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to examine the feasibility of purchasing vehicles which could be utilized at the Canadian National Exhibition, the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Islands;

(3)in the event that the five-year capital plan includes the purchase of replacement vehicles; it be ensured that the said vehicles have the capability of operating at any and all of the three identified sites;

(4)the Fleet Manager be instructed to coordinate the purchase of vehicles so that the said vehicles can be utilized at all City-owned facilities; and

(5)in the event that Toronto Zoo requests the use of additional vehicles on a temporary basis from the City's Parks Division; i.e. Centre Island, that every effort be made by staff to comply with any such request.

Mr. Cal White, the General Manager of the Toronto Zoo appeared before the Committee in connection with this matter.

Background:

The Budget Committee on October 13, 1998, had before it a memorandum (September 22, 1998) addressed to the Toronto Budget Committee from the Interim General Manager, Exhibition Place regarding "People Movers".

--------

(Memorandum dated September 22, 1998 addressed to the

Toronto Budget Committee from the

Interim General Manager, Exhibition Place)

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Background:

At the Budget Committee Meeting of March 9, 1998, the Committee directed Exhibition Place to meet with the City of Toronto Zoo and the City of Toronto Parks & Recreation Department to exchange information on the "People Movers" owned by Exhibition Place and report back on a possible standard type of train that could be purchased in the future in order that the equipment could be better utilized among all City departments and agencies. This request arose because of a need for the Toronto Zoo to have additional trains on its site during the summer season.

Discussion:

Exhibition Place staff met with representatives of the City of Toronto Zoo and the Parks & Recreation Division and have exchanged information on the train equipment utilized by each. Generally, there are four areas where trains are or were used: High Park, Toronto Islands, Toronto Zoo, and Exhibition Place.

Presently Exhibition Place owns five "People Movers". Each unit is driven by a diesel-powered tractor shrouded by a Plexiglas casing. The shrouded tractor pulls two Plexiglas covered coaches which can accommodate two physically challenged people and approximately thirty persons per coach. The units were purchased in 1989 and are primarily used during the eighteen days of the Canadian National Exhibition, mid August to Labour Day, and then placed in storage. Exhibition Place does not require additional "People Movers" at this time nor does it intend to replace the existing "People Movers" for several years. The design of Exhibition Place "People Movers" with a low level floor base and low ground clearance restricts their use for sharing with other departments as they do not travel well and cannot be used on inclines.

The former City of Toronto did not own the trains used in High Park, rather, through the City of Toronto Purchasing Department they tendered with a private contractor to provide this service and are presently under contract with Carla Construction until October 30, 1998. The requirements in High Park are for three power units with two coaches per unit which accommodate approximately fifty people. The units are used from April to October. There is no intention of purchasing any train units for this site but the City intends to continue to contract out this service.

The former Municipality of Metro Toronto purchased six power trains and fifteen coaches for use on the Toronto Islands in 1985. These trains are handicapped-equipped and carry approximately thirty people per coach. All units are in very good condition and there is no need for any additional units. These units were usually utilized on the Islands from May 15 to Labour Day by the concessionaire pursuant to an agreement with the former Metro Toronto. However, this concessionaire agreement was terminated in 1998 and the trains from the Toronto Islands were transferred to the Toronto Zoo.

The Toronto Zoo has two power units and two coaches purchased in 1981. They are handicapped-equipped and each coach carries approximately seventy persons. While the Toronto Zoo had intended to replace these trains over the next few years, the ability to use the Toronto Island trains has delayed this immediate need. The season for use of trains at the Toronto Zoo starts Easter weekend and ends at Thanksgiving.

Conclusion:

Since the period of operation for trains is basically the same, there would not appear to be any opportunity for shared usage among these groups. While the trains from Exhibition Place are available for some part of the summer outside the CNE period, they are not suitable for use in the park areas because of the low floor structure.

However, given this review, it would be the intent of Exhibition Place that prior to any future purchase of train equipment, there will be consultation with the departments and agencies of the City to ensure such train equipment would be adaptable to other City sites.