Transit fleet upgrades improve accessibility for Torontonians
What is PTIF?
The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) supports investments in public transit infrastructure across Canada to help communities build more efficient, reliable, accessible, and sustainable transit systems. PTIF funding helps improve transit capacity and service, support active transportation connections, and advance planning for future transit growth to better connect Canadians to jobs, services, and their communities.
On any given day in Toronto, millions of trips begin with a bus, streetcar, or subway ride. For many riders, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and families, how easily they can board and travel matters just as much as where they’re going. But for years, an aging fleet made that harder than needed. Vehicles were not always accessible, service was unpredictable, and for those with mobility needs, the barriers were significant and persistent. The Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF) set out to change that, supporting hundreds of projects across Ontario to modernize fleets, improve reliability, and make transit work better for everyone.
Through PTIF, significant investments were made to modernize transit fleets across the city. New low-floor buses and streetcars, along with updated subway cars, are making transit easier to board and more comfortable to ride.
For a parent with a stroller, a senior using a walker, or someone using a mobility device, these upgrades translate directly into greater freedom of movement across town.
Designing transit for everyone
Accessibility is not just a feature, it is a foundation of a well-functioning transit system. Across Ontario, 117 PTIF-funded projects have improved transit system accessibility, and enabling more than 92,000 additional passengers to use paratransit services.
Toronto’s fleet upgrades (TTC) are a key part of this progress, accelerating the transition to a fully accessible system that is designed to serve riders of all ages and abilities. By expanding the use of low-floor vehicles, improving boarding access, and creating more consistent and reliable service, these investments are helping reduce barriers to mobility and support greater independence, safety, and inclusion for transit users across the city.
At the same time, newer vehicles are more reliable and energy-efficient. In Toronto, more than 900 new clean diesel and hybrid buses and 60 electric battery buses were procured through PTIF. Across Ontario, PTIF investments supported transit modernization projects that helped reduce unplanned service interruptions by nearly 30% on average every month. These improvements are helping transit systems deliver more dependable, efficient, and sustainable service for riders across the province.
A difference riders can feel
The cumulative effect of these investments shows up in the everyday experience of riding transit in Toronto. For riders, the impact is simple but meaningful: easier boarding, smoother rides, and more dependable service.
Through PTIF, Toronto’s transit system is ensuring that more people can move through the city with confidence and independence.
As Toronto continues to grow, these investments are helping build a transit system that can support the city’s long-term needs and keep communities connected for years to come.
Quick facts
- PTIF supported the rollout of low-floor, accessible transit vehicles
- 117 projects improved accessibility across Ontario transit systems
- More than 92,000 additional paratransit trips were enabled
- Investments helped reduce service interruptions and improve fuel efficiency
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