Staff Report #9
June 23, 2025
To All Commissioners
Re: Draft 2024 Annual Report
Recommendation
That the Commission:
- APPROVE the Draft 2024 Annual Report, attached as Enclosure I; and
- DIRECT administration forward the approved 2024 Annual Report to Municipal Council for its review and consideration.
Background
The Draft 2024 Annual Report, as set out in Enclosure I, is being presented for Commission review and approval. Subsequent to Commission approval, the final Annual Report will be presented to Municipal Council via the Civic Works Committee for their review and consideration.
The London Transit Business Plan sets the direction respecting the development of London Transit as an organization and the services it delivers. The Business Plan process, as depicted below serves as the basis for accountability and transparency.
In the 2024-2027 Business Plan, London Transit is defined by its vision which is striving to be a trusted and valued mobility choice for Londoners. The vision is supported by the mission statement which is Moving Londoners with an accessible, reliable and affordable service. The vision and mission are supported by five strategic directions:
- Customer-Focused – be a customer centered organization providing an integrated, affordable, and accessible transportation system
- Employee-Focused – be an engaged, diverse, and respectful workplace
- Fiscal Accountability – demonstrate fiscal accountability amid competing needs and objectives
- Transparency – foster a culture of transparency, openness, and mutual understanding
- Sustainability – sustainable and efficient use of infrastructure
Consistent with the Business Planning Process, each year an annual report is completed and shared publicly. The report provides an overview of how the LTC performed against each of the strategic outcomes identified in the Business Plan.
2024 Results
2024 saw steady improvements in labour force and supply chain issues that negatively impacted 2023 performance. While labour force issues relating to the ability to recruit bus operators subsided in 2024, shortages of skilled trades employees (primarily 310T Mechanics), continued to be an issue. Compounding the issues associated with being below required complement for mechanics was the delay in delivery of 2024 replacement buses. Maintaining buses that were scheduled to be retired increases the workload on a complement that is depleted. While these issues were mitigated to some extent through open overtime and contracting out MTO inspections, bus availability continued to be a challenge throughout 2024. When bus availability becomes a challenge, the primary goal is to ensure enough buses are available each day to meet the scheduled service, including some spare buses that can be utilized for change offs should an issue occur with a bus that is in service. Notwithstanding the ongoing complement shortfalls, the Fleet and Facilities department was able to ensure bus availability throughout 2024 for regular scheduled service, but was unable to ensure additional bus availability for trippers on a regular basis. As such, the ability to respond to schedule adherence and crowding issues was limited throughout the year. This issue was exacerbated by the nature and extent of construction projects throughout the city that impacted virtually every route in some manner, whether it be a required detour, navigation through a construction zone, or simply being impacted by increased traffic on corridors that were not impacted by construction.
The implementation of growth service hours to the specialized service brought some relief to the trip demand pressures facing the system, and the new scheduling software is anticipated to provide additional efficiencies in trip scheduling which will result in additional system capacity going forward.
2024 also saw the completion of the Asset Management Plan, which provided for a more detailed assessment of future needs and related infrastructure funding gaps that will need to be addressed in future budgets.
In closing, 2024 saw good progress on each of the strategic objectives outlined in the 2024-2027 Business Plan consistent with the 2024 Work Program. The implementation of the approved growth hours for both the conventional and specialized services in 2024 are anticipated to result in improved customer experience on both services, as will the continued growth included in the remaining years of the multi-year budget.
Enclosure
Recommended by:
Mike Gregor, Director of Finance
Katie Burns, Director of Planning
Joanne Galloway, Director of Human Resources
Craig Morneau, Director of Fleet & Facilities
Shawn Wilson, Director of Operations
David Butler, Manager of Operations Administration
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager