December 15, 2016

Mr. Benoit Brossoit

President, Bombardier Transportation America's Division
800, boulevard Ren-Lvesque West
Montral (Qubec) H3B 1Y8
Dear Mr. Brossoit,
We are writing today to express our deep frustration with the delay of the new low floor
streetcars for the TTC from Bombardier. We emphasize this frustration upon learning that
we are at risk of a further delay that would take streetcar delivery beyond the 2019
deadline. This explanation has caused us to request advice on further legal action we could
undertake to recover additional damages for this complete failure to perform.
The TTC has the third largest ridership in all of North America. Our streetcar lines alone
carry over 64 million customers every year. One delayed streetcar for our system affects
thousands of people on a daily basis.
The delay of new streetcars has now reached a critical tipping point. We are no longer able
to sustain our current service levels as a result of Bombardier's delay. Our legacy streetcar
fleet is well beyond its service life. We have had to initiate a recovery program worth
millions of dollars just to extend the life of these streetcars that much further. Additionally,
we now need to run buses on streetcar lines to make the minimum service standards on
these critical lines.
We have been advised by TTC staff that TTC surface routes will see negative impacts as a
result of legacy streetcars being pulled from service so that we can try to extend their
service lives beyond reliable years. Buses that are needed to cover streetcar shortages will
lead to longer waits and more crowding on those bus routes where vehicles are being
redirected. This is all to make up for the streetcars that Bombardier was to deliver to our
system by this time.
The magnitude of the Bombardier delay has meant customers waiting unreasonable
amounts of time to board a streetcar, and crowding beyond any acceptable standard.
Bombardier delays have caused customers to wait increasingly long times in the cold and
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-2to arrive late to work or to school. We hear countless stories from customers who watch
streetcars pass them by daily, or have to disembark a legacy streetcar because it has
broken down from its old age. This happens all too often, and it happens because the new
Bombardier streetcars havent arrived as per our agreement.
Ultimately, this all means fewer people feeling as though the TTC is the best option to move
around the city. Bombardier delays are having a direct impact on whether people choose
transit, and are forcing people to find alternatives that often contribute to our increased
traffic congestion.
When we met with your senior officials, they indicated that your organization is
undertaking actions to change course, including your recent hire as the new North
American President, and a recovery program that will dedicate the Thunder Bay plant to
TTC production. To us this is a bare minimum especially if Bombardier, once a Canadian
source of pride, wants to maintain any ability to do business with entities such as ours.
We implore you to explore whether what you are doing is enough. The TTC simply cannot
afford to bear anymore financial or service burdens that have resulted from this delay.
TTC customers have been patient enough - they should not have to accept further delays.
Sincerely,

John Tory
Mayor of Toronto

Josh Colle
Chair of the TTC
Councillor Ward 15