After seven years as CEO of Metrolinx, Phil Verster has resigned.
He oversaw years of delays in the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Finch West LRT. On Monday, Premier Doug Ford said interim Metrolinx boss Michael Lindsay’s top priority will be opening the Crosstown “as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Here’s a timeline of Verster’s tenure as Metrolinx CEO.
Aug. 24, 2017: Metrolinx appoints Verster as its new CEO with an annual salary of $479,000. The 54-year-old, originally from South Africa, had resigned as managing director of ScotRail Alliance, the operator of Scotland’s passenger rail service, in January 2017.
October 2017: In his first month on the job, Verster tells the Star he’s committed to ensuring Metrolinx is transparent.
December 2017: Verster announces Metrolinx is cutting its order of light rail vehicles from Bombardier from 182 to 76 after a protracted legal dispute over Bombardier’s ability to fulfil the contract.
February 2018: Verster announces Metrolinx is pushing ahead with plans for two controversial GO Transit stations in a major expansion of the regional rail network, despite revelations that the former transportation minister interfered to win their initial approval.
May 2018: Construction on the Finch West LRT begins.
February 2019: Bombardier misses the deadline to supply the first six Eglinton Crosstown LRT cars to Metrolinx.
April 2019: The Ontario government announces plans to build the Ontario Line and extend the Yonge North subway, Scarborough subway and Crosstown. The Crosstown extension — known as the Eglinton West LRT — would be built underground, despite estimates it would increase costs by $1.8 billion.
2020: The Crosstown’s original opening date passes.
March 2020: Verster announces scaled-back GO and UP Express service as COVID-19 begins to spread in the GTA.
September 2020: The Ontario government reappoints Verster to a new three-year term, with a base salary of $686,566 in 2021. Government sources tell the Star Verster’s management of major projects has given the province confidence he’s the right person for the job.
2021: Track work for the Crosstown is completed — then found two years later to be outside Metrolinx’s specifications, potentially leading to train derailments.
March 2021: The Ontario government moves forward with an alternative plan for the Yonge North subway extension that would see a portion of the line built above ground. A Star investigation in 2024 revealed the new route paves the way for a profitable boon for developers and, according to an internal assessment, offers the poorest performance for commuters.
August 2022: Keelesdale station becomes the first Crosstown station to receive an occupancy permit.
2023: The Finch West LRT’s original opening date passes.
April 2023: Doug Ford says he’s frustrated that the Crosstown has “been taking way too long,†but promises it won’t open until it’s “100 per cent safe.â€
Spring 2023: Crosslinx sues Metrolinx for the third time, accusing it of taking an “irresponsibly hands-off approach†to the Crosstown. Metrolinx called that lawsuit an “unacceptable delay tactic.â€
August 2023: Verster says he will provide an opening date for the Crosstown by the end of the summer.
Oct. 3, 2023: New Democrat MPPs at Queen’s Park call for Premier Doug Ford to fire Verster because of continuing delays to the Crosstown. “Commuters are suffering, transit workers are suffering, hundreds of small businesses have had to close,†MPP Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre) said. “Why are you rewarding failure?â€
Nov. 30, 2023: Verster says Metrolinx will announce an opening date for the Crosstown three months ahead of time, but “we are not there yet.â€
January 2024: Metrolinx expects the Finch West LRT will open by the end of 2024.
Jan. 17, 2024: Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria directs Verster to expand the Hazel McCallion LRT into downtown Mississauga and Brampton, four years after the province scaled back the transit line to cut costs.
March 2024: Verster says major construction on the Crosstown is done, but software defects are not being fixed “as fast as we would like.†Mayor Olivia Chow says the city will be ready when Metrolinx says the line is finished. “We got the funds. We got the people. We’re ready to go.â€
Nov. 28, 2024: Verster says he expects the Crosstown to open in 2025
Dec. 2, 2024: Verster resigns after seven years as CEO.
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