TTC managers to patrol system in rush hour

In response to the recent spate of random violent attacks on the TTC, the city’s transit agency is ordering managers to patrol during rush hour.

The surveillance comes on top of the additional police officers who flooded into the transit system in shifts of 80 on Thursday.

TTC chief executive Rick Leary met with Mayor John Tory, TTC chair Coun. Jon Burnside, police Chief Myron Demkiw and union leaders on Friday before announcing the additional patrols, which will consist of “more than 80” maintenance and transportation managers who will circulate through the subway during peak rush-hour service.

The managers will be “highly visible” and will conduct cleanliness and safety checks, the TTC said in a statement.

“As a transit agency, we find ourselves faced with complex societal challenges that are not part of our core business. They require creative, comprehensive and outside-the-box solutions,” said Leary in a statement.

Tory added: “The TTC must be safe for everyone — passengers and transit employees. We’re continuing to work with the TTC, Toronto police and TTC union leadership to make sure we are immediately addressing safety concerns.”

Over the past week, there has been a random act of violence almost every day.

On Friday night, a man was assaulted by a group of young people on a TTC bus in East York, while another man was robbed, assaulted and thrown down the stairs at Broadview station.