The TTC Board will hold its final meeting of the year today with an update on Bombardier’s failure to deliver Toronto’s new street cars on time on the agenda.

Bombardier is contracted to deliver a total of 204 of the new streetcars by 2019.  175 are still outstanding.  But, despite missing several interim deadlines, Bombardier says it will meet the ultimate target.

In the absence of the new streetcars, the TTC has pulled some older streetcars out of service in order to overhaul them and extend their lives which in turn has taken a toll on overall service.  Buses have to be redeployed to cover streetcar shortages, which in turn causes more crowding and delays on bus routes.

Also on the agenda, increasing the powers of TTC officers to clear cars blocking transit routes and direct traffic around collisions.  Byford says there’s nothing more annoying than having your streetcar blocked by an illegally parked vehicle when you are in a hurry.