Metrolinx appoints new permanent CEO, replacing Phil Verster in the top position.
Sassy Samantha Transport Specialist
Metrolinx has a brand-spankin' new permanent CEO, and it's none other than Michael Lindsay, the bloody good chap who's been runnin' the show as interim CEO since Phil Verster cleared his desk and went on his jolly holiday in December 2024.
"Cheers to our boy Michael Lindsay, the champ who's now officially the big cheese of Metrolinx," says Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria in a statement. "Michael's been knockin' it outta the park as the stand-in CEO, and I've got no doubt he'll carry on like a boss, keepin' his head screwed on tight and his eyes on the prize."
When Lindsay was shoved in the hot seat, Premier Doug Ford made it crystal clear: his number one goal would be to crack open the long-awaited Eglinton Crosstown LRT, "as soon as we've got the all-clear it's safe to get the bashin' started."
Since Lindsay's taken the reins, Metrolinx has put the smackdown on a deal with you-know-who, German rail behemoth Deustche Bahn, over the GO Expansion, inched a teeny bit closer to the opening of the Crosstown and chopped ties with a shady-as-hell consultant group.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, originally planned to debut in 2020, has had more delays than a bloody*) soccer match in Cameroon, but under Lindsay's watch, they're powerin' through some rigorous system testing to make sure they don't pull another Ottawa LRT fiasco. The 25-stop light rail line is now projected to roll into town in September 2025, which, if the stars align, will coincide with the CTBUH 2025 International Conference in Toronto.
Alongside the Crosstown progress, construction has officially kicked off on Toronto’s East Harbour Transit Hub, a bloody crucial interchange station that's gonna serve GO Transit and the upcoming Ontario Line. Lindsay's given the nod, highlighting the hub's significance as Toronto's projected second busiest station. The East Harbour project had been stuck in the planning stage for sodding ages, but under Lindsay's tenure, they've finally cracked the whip and moved from planning to active construction, signaling some bloody good news for the broader GO Expansion and regional transit integration.
Lindsay has made some pretty significant changes at Metrolinx, too. This includes the departure of a controversial consultant group and the arrival of a new head honcho at Infrastructure Ontario. While the details of the consultant drama are as vague as a shadow in the fog, Lindsay's leadership has seen him conquer complex project challenges and navigating organizational transitions with the grace and poise of a bloody cat on hot bricks.
Lindsay's not afraid to step up and speak his mind, either. He's been spotted at the ULI Toronto Public Sector Speaker Series in May and June 2025, dropin' knowledge and facts like a boss, and keepin' the good people of Ontario in the loop about what's going down with their transit system.
So there you have it, folks – under Michael Lindsay's guidance since December 2024, Metrolinx has made some pretty bloody impressive progress on major transit projects and organizational issues. Whether it's crackin' open the bloomin' Eglinton Crosstown LRT, kickin' off the East Harbour Transit Hub project, or holdin' it together through some questionable times, this bloke's done a bloody stellar job. And let's be honest, we've all been waiting for some good news on the transit front, haven't we?
*) apologies to soccer enthusiasts, I couldn't resist the joke.
- The media has been covering the remarkable strides made by Metrolinx under the leadership of its new CEO, Michael Lindsay, in the realm of transportation and infrastructure.
- The arts and culture sector, in anticipation of the CTBUH 2025 International Conference in Toronto, is monitoring the progress of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT closely, as its expected completion in September 2025 could provide an excellent opportunity for showcasing the city's development in a global forum.
- The mix of finance and politics has been crucial in the advancement of transportation projects in Ontario, with Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria setting ambitious goals for Metrolinx and its CEO, Michael Lindsay, within the industry.
