Metrolinx memo reveals senior-level shakeup amid stalled Toronto transit projects
Metrolinx has made significant changes to its senior leadership team as the provincial transit agency struggles to get two light rail projects on track, a new memo obtained by CTV News Toronto shows.
CEO Phil Verster announced the departures of Karla Avis-Birch and Steven Levene in the email and thanked them for their service to the Crown corporation. Avis-Birch worked as Metrolinx’s chief planning officer and Levene worked as the chief operating officer (rapid transit), according to their respective LinkedIn profiles.
Verster said the changes were made in an effort to “evolve and adapt” in the face of an expanded mandate, which includes the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and Finch West LRT, two major transit project in Toronto that have yet to come online after years of delays and lawsuits.
“To do this, we must ensure that the right combinations of people, competencies, processes, and structures are in place,” he wrote.
As a result of the changes, Metrolinx will overhaul its planning and development (P & D) and operations (rapid transit) departments. Verster said P & D will be integrated into a number of other divisions, while the operations team would be split into two groups: one of which will be a new “asset management and maintenance division” led by chief engineer, Fay Pittman. The second operations group will be led by Phil Taberner, the vice president of new rail infrastructure, in an “acting capacity,” whose focus will be “getting the Eglinton and Finch West LRTs into service.”
In a statement to CP24, a spokesperson for Metrolinx said a restructuring in the management ranks such as this is “not unusual.”
“Metrolinx’s mandate and the complexity of our work has increased significantly over the past several years. As a result, there is a need for the organization to evolve and adapt to deliver on North America’s largest transit expansion,” the statement read.
Mayor Olivia Chow was asked about the changes at an unrelated news conference on Wednesday, and seemed to indicate that she was pleased with the development.
“It’s not up to me to comment on the inner workings of Metrolinx and the structure as to who does what…but it’s a good indication there’s some shakeup. But really, it’s up to the Minister of Transportation and the CEO of Metrolinx,” she said.
In a post to social media, Coun. Josh Matlow said he believes the C-suite reorganization is in direct response to the delayed projects.
“Metrolinx’s delays have impacted local residents, shuttered small businesses, wasted tax dollars & left us all without the transit we need to tackle congestion & get to work or school on time,” he wrote in a tweet. “Clearly heads are rolling because their vehicles haven’t been.”
With files from Siobhan Morris
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, was found dead after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, local officials said.
Group of Liberal MPs plan to verbally ask Trudeau to step down next week
Liberal MPs who have spent the last 10 days organizing to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step aside from the leadership of the Liberal Party plan to plead their case directly to him at next Wednesday's caucus.
W5 INVESTIGATES Ontario woman alleges sexual assault by junior hockey players; details what happened when she called police
The OPP has acknowledged that one of its employees did not follow the organization's policy when an alleged victim of sexual assault called a local detachment earlier this year to report an incident involving eight former junior hockey players.
Investigators name person of interest in disappearance of Vancouver Island woman
Mounties have released startling new details about their investigation into the disappearance of Amber Manthorne, who was reported missing on Vancouver Island more than two years ago, and is believed to have met with foul play.
Canada Revenue Agency fires 330 employees over CERB claims during pandemic
The Canada Revenue Agency says it has terminated 330 employees for inappropriately receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the pandemic, giving its final update on an internal review.
Harris' interview with Fox News is marked by testy exchanges over immigration and more
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris engaged in a combative first interview with Fox News on Wednesday, sparring on immigration policy and shifting policy positions while asserting that if elected, she would not represent a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency.
'The risk is real': Book on Manitoba mushrooms suspected to be written by AI
A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.
'Immediately stop using': Health Canada warns against use of banned baby walkers
Health Canada released an advisory Wednesday warning that baby walkers available online may pose a risk of injury and reminding consumers the items are already banned in Canada.
Trudeau says he has list of Conservatives vulnerable to, or engaged in foreign interference
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has refused to get the security clearance necessary to be briefed on a list of people in his party who are involved in or vulnerable to foreign interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a federal commission of inquiry Wednesday.