Rick Leary steps down as CEO of TTC

After a decade with the TTC, Rick Leary says he's stepping down as CEO, ending a tenure that oversaw some of the transit commission's biggest challenges.

At a news conference in downtown Toronto Thursday, Leary told reporters he will officially resign on Aug. 30.

Leary said he was stepping down "on his own terms."

"This year I turned 61, and I believe there are some new opportunities and challenges that await me before I fully retire," he said.

Leary became interim CEO in 2017 after Andy Byford left to become president of New York City Transit Authority. He took the position permanently in 2018.

Before joining the TTC in 2014, Leary was the general manager for York Region Transit.

At Thursday's conference, TTC chair Jamaal Myers thanked Leary for his work as CEO. Myers said the change will cause no disruptions to service or ongoing projects.

Myers was asked about an internal investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct against Leary, first reported by the Toronto Star last fall. He said he was unable to comment on board-initiated investigations.

"We're here to celebrate Rick," he said. "He's leaving on a good note." 

Leading the TTC through difficulties

The announcement comes shortly after the TTC reached a deal with its largest union partner, which represents about 12,000 transit workers. Myers said Leary's leadership helped the city avoid a transit strike.

Leary told reporters he wanted to get that deal "over the finish line" before announcing his retirement. 

But Leary oversaw tough times for the TTC through much of his tenure, including low ridership numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to service cuts and higher fares, and multiple incidents of public violence on transit that prompted more police presence on the TTC.

His time as CEO also had its share of high profile incidents, including the Scarborough RT derailment, which led to the permanent closure of Line 3, and a near-miss subway collision at Osgoode Station in 2019. 

More recently, a fluid spill on subway tracks in May disrupted service on Line 2 for nearly a full day, and two separate streetcar derailments this month caused major transit delays downtown.

As Leary prepares to leave, the TTC is also trying to secure funding to replace aging subway trains on Line 2.

Mixed reactions to resignation

TTCRiders, a volunteer-led organization of transit riders, released a statement Thursday afternoon saying the TTC deserves better leadership. The group criticized Leary for a lack of transparency on transit issues. They said Leary also didn't push hard enough for the funding the TTC needs.

"The TTC is falling apart," the statement reads. "This is a chance for renewal."

Marvin Alfred, president of ATU 113, the union that just renewed its collective agreement with the TTC, was more sympathetic.

"I know it's a very difficult job being the CEO of the TTC," he said. "You have to deal with a lot of things, a lot of people and a lot of agendas to take care of."

In a social media post Thursday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow thanked Leary for leading the TTC "through some of the most challenging times."

"As we move forward, I remain committed to continuing the work of building a more reliable, convenient and affordable public transit system," she said.