Still more Thursday rail news:
— The Toronto Transit Commission will lay off 1,000 streetcar, subway, and bus operators as a result of falling revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 200 non-union employees will also be cut, while salary increases will be put on hold, overtime will be reduced, and non-essential capital projects will be delayed. The Toronto Globe and Mail reports that the agency’s chief executive, Rick Leary, said the TTC will take care of the laid-off employees “as best we can during this difficult time.” The agency the moves are necessary to deal with losses of $90 million a month.
— Some 55 New York business and civic organizations are backing the Metropolitan Tranportation Authority’s call for an additional $3.9 billion in federal relief to cover financial losses for the remainder of 2020. The letter argues that the New York area will need a fully functioning MTA to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, and that recovery for the New York region, which accounts for 11% of the nation’s gross domestic product, will be crucial to the national economy. The MTA received $3.7 billion in aid from the coronavirus relief act passed in March, but has asked for more funds in light of losses it says are reaching $1 billion per month [see “MTA seeks another $3.9 billion in federal aid,” News Wire Digest, April 18, 2020].
— The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has signed a long-term contract with Lightsource BP for a pair of solar farms to generate 43.8 megawatts of energy, capable of generating near 20% of the transit agency’s electrical demand. The two solar farms will include about 120,000 panels installed on about 320 acres leased from landowners in Franklin County, Pa. Lightsource BP and its investors will fund the estimated $47 million project, to be owned and operated by Lightsource. The Elk Hill 1 and 2 plants are expected to be on line in 2021.
