TTC board to recommend next CEO in July after months-long search

TheTTC's board will recommenda newCEO at itsJuly meeting following a months-long search, CBC Toronto has learned.

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The search began last yearafter former TTC CEO Andy Byfordannounced he was leaving the role to become president of the New York CityTransit Authority in January 2018. Ahighly public face for the agency, Byfordleaves a legacy of customer satisfaction efforts and increased rush-hour subway service.

Byford'sreplacement will encounter a myriad of challenges, but board chair Josh Collebelieves the top pickis up to the task.

"We've had a pretty extensive process, and a thorough one," Colle said. "We've had candidates from around the world."

Currently, theTTC'sinterim CEO is Rick Leary, but it's not clear whether he or one of hundreds of external applicants will land the permanent role, which hasan expected salary of up to roughly $350,000.

'Daunting' challenges face next CEO

Whoever it is, the next chief executive is entering a rapidly changing political environment. That includes the possibility of Premier Doug Ford's new provincial government taking control of the TTC'ssubway infrastructurewhile leaving Toronto responsiblefor day-to-day operations a promise Ford made on the campaign trail.

The successful candidate will have to be "adept" at navigating that kind of climate, said transit expert Steve Munro. "Applying for the position of CEO of a company that might be about to lose half of its operation is a bit daunting."

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KevinMorton, secretary-treasurer of Local 113, said "political infighting" is a constant challenge.

"The problem with transit is the governments," he said, citing the ongoing issues with PRESTO card readers and the resulting fare evasion as one instance of a politically-driven "disaster."

There's also the day-to-day issues facing an incoming CEO, Munro added, including certain overstressed routes.

"You can't just materialize more service tomorrow," he said. "So how do you do it quickly?"

Major transit projects are also in the works, including ongoing fleet modernization, the controversial one-stop Scarborough subway extension, and the long-awaited downtown relief line, which is projectedto beup and running by 2031.

ShelaghPizey-Allen, executive director of transit advocacy group TTCRiders, is hoping to seeservice improvements alongside the system's expansion in the years ahead.

But how much a new leader can contribute to that, she's not sure.

"We'd like the CEO to advocate for riders, but at the end of the day, it's elected officials and TTC board members who have the ultimate say in terms of what resources get allocated to the TTC," she said.