When the city’s new streetcars officially launch on Spadina on Aug. 31, the TTC’s credibility will be riding alongside the paying customers lucky enough to board the first new models.

Transit officials are offering a few glimpses and test rides as part of a campaign to build excitement and familiarize riders with the features that include air conditioning, wheelchair accessibility and a new proof-of-payment system.

On Wednesday, city councillors and the media were treated to a quick ride down Bathurst St. Next week, about 40 winners of the TTC’s Twitter trivia contest will get their turn.

It’s something transit fans have been anticipating since the city approved the $1.25-billion purchase five years ago, and it will be another five years before the cars are fully rolled out on all 11 routes.

TTC CEO Andy Byford said staff are making meticulous preparations to ensure the new cars are seen as “modern and transformational” from the outset. He’s holding weekly countdown meetings with a team responsible for the fine details of the launch, from training operators and mechanics to breakdown protocols and customer communications.

A quick look at the TTC's new streetcars, which officially launch on Aug. 31.

Calling it a “once-in-a-generation project,” Byford said the fleet of 204 cars will transform riders’ experience with improved comfort and reliability. He hopes it will also help silence streetcar critics.

“This is a state-of-the-art vehicle. This kind of technology is used in very modern transit networks throughout Europe,” said Byford.

Although the electronic Presto fare card readers won’t be ready on the streetcars until November, Byford said he decided to roll out the first of the new cars in the summer heat.

“Fully air-conditioned vehicles — there is no way we could leave them sitting there waiting for Presto to be ready,” he said.

Streetcars should move off stops faster thanks to all-door boarding. The new proof-of-payment system means riders will have to be educated on the use of a temporary validation and transfer system until the TTC is fully converted to Presto, said spokesman Brad Ross.

There will be vending and validation machines along Spadina and on board the new cars, and extra staff on the route to help riders adjust. Metropass users, who make up nearly 60 per cent of riders, won’t be affected.

To warn motorists that the streetcar doors — which slide rather than fold out — are open, the TTC is adding four flashing lights along the body of the vehicle in addition to the vertical strip of warning lights on the doors.

Photos don’t do justice to the prominence of those safety features, said Ross.

Nevertheless, he said, “motorists need to be aware of streetcars and the potential for people exiting cars or running across the street to board a car.”

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Designed for access

The wheelchair ramp on the Bombardier demonstration cars has been modified on the vehicles that actually go into service. Wheelchair users, particularly those with nonmotorized chairs, had difficulty crossing the raised threshold off the ramp onto the streetcar. So the transition to the flooring has been levelled to make that easier.

The two-stage ramp will be fully deployed where streetcars run in mixed traffic. Where the cars run on their own rights-of-way such as St. Clair or Spadina, only half the ramp will be unfolded.

A button on the accessible area of the streetcars will summon the driver to deploy the ramp.