City of Toronto announces new “Transit Expansion Office”

This morning, Mayor Tory and the City of Toronto announced a new “Transit Expansion Office” that will co-ordinate and collaborate with the TTC, Metrolinx and other orders of government on transit expansion projects.

This new City office will oversee and facilitate all processes related to transit expansion and project co-ordination, within the City itself, but also with partners like the TTC. The office will help expedite project approvals via one window at the City, which is very good news.

I want to be clear: this new office does not relieve the TTC of its responsibilities around expansion. Our expertise and competency in design, engineering and project management remains an invaluable asset to Toronto. Indeed, the City’s goal is to leverage our vast experience to ensure success in getting transit built.

While this is positive news for us as project managers, it is also positive news for the people of the city we serve; it means new transit will get built faster, with streamlined approvals and a single point of contact.

As more information about the office and its leadership – they are recruiting an Executive Director – becomes available, I will share it with you.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
November 8, 2018

City of Toronto announces new Transit Expansion Office

The City of Toronto is establishing a new Transit Expansion Office that will lead and direct the City’s participation in long-term, multi-billion-dollar transit network expansion projects. The City also is beginning the search for the office’s first Executive Director.

“We are building a connected transit network that will help people move around our city. We are reorganizing the City government to ensure we have an office focused on getting our major transit projects built as soon as possible,” said Mayor John Tory. “Council has approved Toronto’s transit network plan, voters have endorsed it and this office will be tasked with making sure every project in that plan, including the Relief Line, is completed on time and on budget.”

The new Transit Expansion Office, the first of its kind for the City, will play an important role in providing end-to-end oversight of transit expansion projects as they advance through the project lifecycle and will:

• Oversee and facilitate all processes related to transit expansion initiatives.
• Ensure that City interests and priorities are reflected in transit network expansion efforts.
• Serve as a single point of contact for all City divisions, the TTC, Metrolinx and other orders of government to co-ordinate municipal programs and services required to advance transit expansion projects and ensure that transit-related municipal processes are streamlined for the City.

“Fast and reliable transit is a priority in building toward a vibrant future for our city. Given the size and complexity of Toronto’s transit expansion portfolio, we’re searching for a leader who will put in place a team that can effectively co-ordinate projects among City divisions and agencies, and work closely with other orders of government to best serve our residents,” said City Manager Chris Murray.

Over the next decade, the City will be working closely with Metrolinx to implement the SmartTrack Stations Program and the GO Expansion Program, while continuing to advance other priority transit expansion projects including the Relief Line, the Bloor-Danforth subway extension into Scarborough, the Eglinton East LRT, the Eglinton West LRT, and the Waterfront Transit Network.

City of Toronto news release issued on November 8, 2018