Former New York, London transit exec tapped to lead Toronto Transit Commission

The incoming CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission says he hopes to leverage his experience working for two of the largest transit agencies in the world to make the TTC the most reliable transit system in North America. 

Mandeep Lali was announced as the TTC's pick to be the new CEO at a news conference in Scarborough Thursday. 

"My vision for the TTC is to be world class — world class in safety, reliability, affordability and accessibility," Lali said Thursday.

"Those are all basics of which are fundamentals of a great transportation system."

Lali was previously an executive at New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), serving as executive vice-president and chief operating officer of subways for the largest transit agency in North America. 

Prior to that, he spent over a 13 years at Transport for London. 

He'll be taking over the role from Rick Leary, who retired at the end of August last year. 

Addressing challenges

Lali takes over the role as the TTC faces some major challenges, including commuter frustration over reliablity and service delays.

He said he's aware of some of the issues plaguing the city's transit, such as subway slow zones and bunching — where multiple buses or streetcars arrive at the same time — and is already working on a plan to address them, so he can "hit the ground running" when he officially starts his new job on July 7.

Lali said other transit agencies he's worked for have faced similar challenges to the TTC but were able to make improvements. The key to doing that, he said, is leveraging the knowledge of staff. 

"If you look at the assets you have around you, the assets are people," he said. 

"It's about harnessing and listening to the staff in terms what they know, and they know a lot."

Lali was tapped to take the helm of the city's transit commission after an extensive international search that lasted close to nine months, said TTC board chair Jamaal Myers at Thursday's news conference. 

"When we asked him what his goal for the TTC was, he said, without missing a beat, to make the TTC the most reliable transit system in North America," Myers said. 

"As a lifelong TTC rider this was music to my ears. It's what every Torontonian wants to hear."

Transit advocacy group TTCriders said Lali's appointment is a "pivotal opportunity" for the TTC to restore riders' trust in public transit in Toronto.

"This is a moment to change course and bring real improvements that transit users across the city are calling for," said Andrew Pulsifer, executive director of TTCriders, in a news release. 

"We hope the new CEO will embrace this opportunity and work with riders, workers, and city council to take the TTC in a better direction."