“In transit, we sometimes err on the side of the known rather than on the side of the innovative.”

On the second anniversary of Transit Unplugged, Paul sits down with Phil Verster, President and CEO of Metrolinx. Metrolinx is a Crown corporation (state-owned enterprise) of the Ontario government, in Canada, and is the planning organization for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

Metrolinx operates commuter bus and rail, and the Union Pearson Express (an airport express running between Union Station in Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport). Metrolinx is also in charge of major construction projects that will expand service in the GTHA worth ~$30 billion.

With so much investment, one of Phil’s main priorities is to run Metrolinx like a business to lessen the burden on the taxpayer. His goal is to, at a minimum, generate enough revenue to break-even. Some of the ways Phil plans to do this is by generating revenue from corporations to name a station, reducing the standard fare by one dollar to help increase ridership, or offering off-peak service to gain additional riders.

Finally, Phil discusses the importance of customer satisfaction and why safety is his number one focus. It’s a great episode to celebrate Transit Unplugged turning two. Thank you for listening and for being with us on this ride.

If you want to know more about Metrolinx, check out their website.

Remember to check out transitunplugged.com to learn from top transit professionals and stay up to date to catch all the latest episodes.