The city of Toronto, Ontario, is putting its trust in a new municipal oversight department to lead and direct its transit network expansion efforts.
The city will establish a new Transit Expansion Office, led by an executive director, to provide end-to-end oversight of the long-term, multi-billion dollar transit expansion projects.
"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.
"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 Toronto 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 city explains that the new Transit Expansion Office will oversee and facilitate all processes related to transit expansion initiatives, ensure that city interests and priorities are reflected in transit network expansion efforts and serve as a single point of contact for all city divisions, the Toronto Transit Commission, 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.
