TTC joining transit leaders in New York

It’s called the Leadership Exchange and Development Program – LEAD for short.

The TTC will be joining seven other North American transit agencies in a unique 17-month pilot to promote best practices and to develop future senior leaders. The first meeting of LEAD participants takes place in New York on Oct. 12.

The TTC will be represented by Bus Transportation Head Kirsten Watson and Subway Transportation Head Jim Ross.

Hosted by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the LEAD Program is designed for senior managers to share and compare their experiences and approaches to challenges faced in the transit industry.

LEAD is a multi-agency exchange program where participating CEOs have identified five core strengths for participating senior leaders that are essential for running major transit properties. They are: vision; adaptability; communication and partnership; critical thinking and decision making; and political awareness.

“The TTC’s Five-Year Corporate Plan speaks, specifically, to our People Objective and our commitment to actively developing our employees and our leaders,” said CEO Andy Byford. “This is an exciting development opportunity for our senior leaders, and I’m fully committed to making this organization one that is people-driven and people-led. This is the first of many new development programs we are launching to attract and retain the best and brightest at the TTC.”

The LEAD Program starts on Oct. 12. Participating with the TTC are:

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA in New York City).
• New Jersey Transit (NJT in Newark).
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA in Philadelphia).
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA in Chicago).
• Metropolitan Rail (METRA in Chicago).
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA in Boston).
• Connecticut DOT (CTDOT in Newington).