The new head of Ontario’s embattled transit agency says he plans to ‘start talking’ to construction partners and government stakeholders as he tries to finally open the Eglinton LRT after over a decade of construction.
On Monday, Infrastructure Ontario CEO Michael Lindsay was named head of the provincial transit agency. Metrolinx to replace the departing Phil Verster.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Lindsay’s top priority was opening the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which began construction in 2011 and was originally scheduled to be completed in 2020.
“I am honored that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transportation have asked me to step in to temporarily lead Metrolinx,” Lindsay said Tuesday, speaking for the first time since his appointment.
“I will do everything I can, in partnership with the government, to bring this project online as quickly as possible.”
Lindsay said he would immediately begin conversations designed to help him succeed where Verster had failed and allow the Prime Minister to finally cut the ribbon on the Eglinton project.
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“I’m going to start talking to partners and government, as well as Metrolinx staff,” Lindsay said.
“IO and Metrolinx have obviously worked together quite closely when it comes to major capital acquisitions and construction management of these LRT projects. So I’m definitely not starting from scratch. But I think this is the time, intentionally, to try to think, with fresh eyes, what could we do to accelerate the realization of these projects?
Lindsay was announced Monday to replace outgoing Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster, who will leave the role by mid-December to take another job elsewhere.
Opposition parties at Queen’s Park had long called for Verster to be fired over construction delays at Metrolinx, particularly on the Eglinton line. The government, notably Prime Minister Doug Ford, defended him.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Lindsay had been a “great partner for government” when he led Infrastructure Ontario and suggested he was a good fit for Metrolinx.
“I think he has a lot to offer and I think the province will be well served by his leadership over the coming months and ensuring that our transit projects get built and launched,” he said at Global News.
“Our mandate has been very clear: open the Crosstown,” Sarkaria said. “So I look forward to him taking on this role, taking charge of the files and working on this priority as well as the $70 billion that we will invest over the next 10 years.”
On Wednesday, the Green Party leader said heads should roll at Metrolinx under the new CEO and implored him to be transparent.
“They could also get rid of all the vice presidents who make a lot of money. It looks like they have a hierarchical structure that doesn’t work,” he said.
“I would say to the new president that if you want to gain people’s trust, you have to come forward now and be honest with the people of Ontario: why the Eglinton Crosstown project has been delayed, why it is so far away. beyond the budget. Stop hiding behind secrecy and be honest with people.
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