Transit Briefs: TTC completes delivery of 60 Alstom LRVs and LACMTA launches Care-Based Services Division

TTC reached service entry for its 60th Alstom Flexity light rail vehicle, completing the 2021 order and bringing the fleet to 264 LRVs; LACMTA announced a new Care-Based Services Division to coordinate outreach and build Crisis Response Teams for behavioral-health incidents.

TTC marked the entry into service of its 60th Alstom Flexity low-floor light rail vehicle on Jan. 13, completing deliveries from the 2021 order. The vehicles were built at Alstom's Thunder Bay facility and funded by federal, provincial, and city contributions. The additional vehicles raise the TTC's LRV fleet to 264 and are tied to plans for more frequent streetcar service and facility upgrades. Separately, LACMTA reported on Jan. 12 that its Department of Public Safety launched a Care-Based Services Division to bring together existing outreach and intervention programs. Key details: - The 60 new LRVs complete the Alstom Flexity order; all were produced at the Thunder Bay facility. - Funding for the TTC procurement included up to C$180 million each from the Government of Canada and the province of Ontario, with C$208 million from the City of Toronto; federal funds also support upgrades at Hillcrest Complex. - The TTC said the expanded fleet increases the LRV total to 264, a roughly 30% increase, and will support six-minute or better service on streetcar routes and potential future network expansion. - LACMTA's new Care-Based Services Division combines the Metro Ambassador, Homeless Outreach Management and Engagement (HOME), and Community Intervention Specialist programs under one unit. - LACMTA said the division will work to build Crisis Response Teams staffed with clinicians, peer specialists, and, when appropriate, trained DPS officers, deployed through a zone-based model to respond to behavioral health-related incidents. - Craig Joyce will lead the Care-Based Services Division and report to William Scott; LACMTA cited a reported 38% year-over-year reduction in homeless individuals seeking shelter on the system tied to the agency's outreach initiative. Summary: Both items reflect agency efforts to expand service capacity and to integrate care-focused responses into public safety. TTC's completed vehicle deliveries are paired with Hillcrest facility upgrades and are intended to enable more frequent streetcar service on key routes. LACMTA's new division consolidates outreach programs and aims to develop Crisis Response Teams to address behavioral-health incidents on the system. Specific timelines for full deployment of service changes and new teams were not detailed.