The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is increasing service and taking steps to improve security and cleanliness as it prepares to welcome back more customers next week.

“As students return to school and more people return to in-office work after Labor Day, we know our ridership will increase as it typically does in September,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary. “This year is different from past years for obvious reasons. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic it is especially important to me that that TTC be fully prepared to welcome everyone back to a safe and clean system with service that meets the needs of our customers.”

Although TTC ridership throughout the summer has been in the 55% to 60% range, current models predict a further 10% to 15% jump over the coming weeks and months, barring any new pandemic restrictions.

To ensure customers have the best experience on their return, the TTC has been focusing on four key areas:

• Increasing service across all modes and on many routes to make sure service is being delivered to meet demand and as advertised in schedules.

• Recruiting, hiring, and training more frontline employees to meet these service improvements.

• Enhancing cleanliness throughout the entire system, including the hiring of 100 students to conduct a stations cleaning blitz over the summer.

• Renewing the focus on safety and customer service excellence. This includes increasing the number of Special Constables and working with the city’s Streets to Home program to put resources where they are needed.

Later in the fall, the TTC will be detailing more changes and improvements to its operations, including the rollout of an automated train control signaling system, expansion of the Wi-Fi on buses pilot program, and the introduction of a modernized fare inspection and revenue protection model.