TTC and Y2K

At the Toronto Transit Commission, our goal is to have all services running "business as usual" on January 1st, 2000.

Is the TTC ready?

We are ready for the new millennium. All computer systems and embedded chips that operate our essential services have been remedied and tested.

Computer systems and embedded chips

• 100 per cent of embedded systems have been tested and are Y2K ready!
• 100 per cent of applications are now Y2K ready!
• 100 per cent of the information technology infrastructure is Y2K ready!
• Contingency planning is complete!

Over the last two years, the Toronto Transit Commission has been working to fix the millennium bug. These are the steps that we have taken:

• Inventoried equipment that uses computer programs or electronic chips.
• Determined which pieces of equipment use dates.
• Fixed or replaced computer systems and parts.
• Tested.
• Recorded test results.
• Developed contingency plans 'just in case'.

This is what we have accomplished:

• Buses, streetcars and subway cars have been tested.



• Communication systems (radios, antennae, underground subway lines) have been tested.



• Garage equipment, electronic components and electrical parts have been tested.



• Supplies and fuel will be fully stocked and supply lines have been secured.



• Computer systems have been upgraded including Wheel Trans and the Metropass Discount Plan.

New Year's Eve service

This year, there will be many special events to celebrate the year 2000. That means there will be more people riding the subway, buses and streetcars. We are prepared to provide the best service possible. This is how we will do it.

Surface operations

Regular evening service on December 31st, 1999 will be extended from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Regular night service will be sustained until 4 a.m. That includes buses, streetcars, subways and the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT).

At 11 p.m., approximately 200 buses will be placed on standby. Instead of returning to their garages, buses will be parked in convenient locations around the city. They will be ready to replace subway service in the highly unlikely event of a problem with the electrical supply. A concentration of buses will be parked in the downtown area.

Subway operations

Three minutes before midnight on December 31, 1999, all trains will stop at their nearest stations. In the highly unlikely event of a problem with the electrical supply, there will be no trains in the tunnels or between stations. This includes all trains on the Yonge/University/Spadina subway line, all trains on the Bloor/Danforth subway line and all SRT trains. If there are no problems with the electrical supply, regular service will resume at two minutes past midnight.

If there are power problems, depending on the level of failure (intermittent, local, long term), the Commission is prepared to close the subway/SRT systems. The buses on standby will then go into service.

Wheel trans

On New Year's Eve Wheel Trans service will be extended until 3 a.m. (pick-up 2:30 a.m.). On New Years Day there will be regular holiday service.

Our promise

On New Year's Eve, every available bus and driver will be ready to meet your needs. Safety and security experts will be available to deal with any problems or repairs. Your transit system will be ready to serve you throughout the millennium celebrations.

For more information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our efforts, please do not hesitate to contact our Y2K Program Office at (416) 393-2185.