Office of the Chief Executive

Dear colleagues,

I was delighted to attend a major subway announcement made by Premier Doug Ford in York Region earlier this week.

Premier Ford announced that a major contract was awarded for the tunnel design and construction of the TTC’s Line 1 extension into York Region. The Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE) project is an eight-kilometre extension starting from Finch Station, which will include five stations (Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Bridge, and High Tech). It will serve riders from Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill.

The YNSE project is part of the Province of Ontario’s Provincial Priority Subway Program. The TTC will operate the extension and maintain the infrastructure and rail fleet.

Once complete, the YNSE is expected to attract more than 90,000 daily trips and generate billions of dollars in economic benefits.

As we celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month in August, what a great pleasure it was to visit with TTC revellers participating in the Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade alongside our spectacular Bacchanal Bus last Saturday. Toronto Caribbean Carnival is a great outpouring of Caribbean culture and diversity, and an inspiring example of community and inclusion.

Through August, the Bacchanal Bus will be delighting customers and residents as it travels around North York, Downsview, Yorkdale, Bathurst Manor, Lawrence Heights, Etobicoke, and midtown Toronto.

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting our impressive McNicoll Division facility, where I met with dedicated employees from Bus Maintenance, Bus Transportation, and Clerical Services. During my visit, I had the opportunity to view the new bus operator barrier prototypes, an important initiative focused on enhancing the work environment for our Operators. A heartfelt thank you to the entire McNicoll team for the warm welcome and for the incredible work you do every day.

Finally, I want to acknowledge that August 11 marks the 30th anniversary of the tragic Russell Hill subway train crash, which claimed three lives and left more than 30 people injured.

With gratitude and resolve,

Mandeep S. Lali
​Chief Executive Officer
​August 8, 2025