November 19, 1998.

To:Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee

From:City Clerk

Re:1998 Wheel-Trans Budget - Update

Recommendation:

The Budget Committee on November 18, 1998 recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council that the Toronto Transit Commission Report No. 15, entitled, "1998 Wheel-trans Budget - Update" from the meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission on November 4, 1998, be received and considered as part of the Budget Committee deliberations on the 1999 Operating Budget.

Background:

The Budget Committee on November 18, 1998, had before it a communication (November 5, 1998) from the General Secreatary, Toronto Transit Commission, forwarding Toronto Transit Commission Report No. 15, entitled, "1998 Wheel-Trans Budget - Update".

City Clerk

Barbara Liddiard/cp

Item No. 6

Attachment

c.Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Director of Budgets

Chief Administrative Officer

Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission

General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission

(Communication dated November 5, 1998 addressed to the

City Clerk from the

General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission)

At its meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 1998, the Commission considered the attached report entitled, "1998 Wheel-Trans Budget - Update"

The Commission received the report for information, and requested that a copy be forwarded to the Budget Committee with a request that they provide additional 1998 Wheel-trans Operating

funding of $625,000 which is required to met additional demand for service, legal expenses associated with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge and increased Orion fleet maintenance.

The foregoing is forwarded to the Budget Committee for consideration at its meeting on November 18, 1998.

(Report No. 15 from the Toronto Transit Commission from its meeting on

November 4, 1998 regarding the

1998 Wheel-Trans Budget - Update

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Commission receive this report for information and for transmission to the city of Toronto Budget Committee to request additional 1998 Wheel-Trans Operating Funding of $625,000 required to meet additional demand for service, legal expenses associated with the charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge and increased Orion fleet maintenance.

BACKGROUND:

On June 17, 1998, the Commission approved the Wheel-Trans Budget Update report which requested additional funding of $625,000 in order to meet the increased demand for Wheel-Trans service costs associated with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge of the Wheel-trans application process and Eligibility Criteria, and additional costs of maintaining the aging fleet of Orion buses.

The City of Toronto Urban and Economic Development Committee, at its meeting of July 13, 1998, recommended adoption of the report and that same day the City Budget Committee recommended Wheel-Trans provide sufficient service to achieve a 2-3% unaccommodated rate for the balance of 1998 and to report back in November on the source of funding.

DISCUSSION:

Due to a longer than anticipated approval process, the additional taxi service required to meet increased demand was not put in place until August. As a result, Wheel-Trans will spend approximately $260,000 of the $400,000 originally requested in order to achieve a 2-3% unaccommodated rate from mid-August to year end.

To date, the costs incurred in the Charter Challenge are approximately $240,000, or $90,000 over the original request of $150,000.

The additional funding of $75,000 to maintain the aging fleet of Orion buses will be expended to meet scheduled service levels.

The following table reflects anticipated spending in each of the areas.

WHEEL-TRANS FUNDING REQUEST

*The Charter Challenge continues to require expenditures for legal services which may result in additional funding required by year end 1998. If further funding is required, it will be the subject of a Commission Report.

In order to meet the revised 1998 trip demand, the $38.2M Wheel-Trans Operating Budget will be fully expended. Therefore, the additional funding cannot be accommodated within this budget.