Tram going past the cn tower in Toronto

How public transit can be a vehicle for improving citizens’ lives

In the fourth episode of Leading into Tomorrow, Angela Gibson, Head of Strategy and Foresight for the Toronto Transit Commission, discusses rebuilding a transit system that better serves its customers.

In this episode, Angela Gibson describes how she’s helping the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) tackle the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has left in its wake. Joining her for the discussion are Oliver Jones, EY Global SaT Sustainability Leader, Global BD and Markets and Insights Leader, and Josh Colle, Senior Vice President, Cities, Transit and Infrastructure at EY Canada.

Angela reveals that, in Toronto, rider numbers plunged by 80% during the pandemic, but stayed at around 50% on the bus network. Based on this finding, the TTC has successfully piloted a rapid transit bus system for a traditionally underserved area. And it’s looking at improving the customer experience to “romance” people into returning to its services.

The pandemic also started an important conversation around how ridership shouldn’t be the only measure of success. Public transit is, in fact, one of many tools for helping cities to build communities and improve lives.

The TTC is embracing this thinking by using a constant focus on the customer, including the experience of diverse groups, to help deliver a better system for everyone. It’s also bringing strategy back to the fore, so it can take a multiyear approach to innovating for a net-zero future.

Key takeaways:

  • The pandemic showed that public transit agencies can deliver change, fast. They should use that pace to make temporary fixes permanent, and pilot new ideas with the view that it’s OK to fail.
  • To build an inclusive, customer-centric service, public transit leaders need to use an equity lens to focus improvements on low-income areas, and make sure diverse voices are heard.
  • They can also learn lessons from colleagues facing similar challenges in their sector and beyond. Giving a platform to employees will create the army needed to deliver the work.

The podcast is also available to listen to on SpotifyiTunes, and Amazon Music.

If you’d like to read more, a full text transcript of this podcast is available. Read the transcript.

Presenters

Oliver Jones
EY Global SaT Markets, Sustainability and Geostrategy Leader

Podcast

Episode 04

Duration 19m 14s

In this series

Series overview
(Event List - Manual)

How public transit can be a vehicle for improving citizens’ lives

In the fourth episode of Leading into Tomorrow, Angela Gibson, Head of Strategy and Foresight for the Toronto Transit Commission, discusses rebuilding a transit system that better serves its customers
Podcast

Episode 04

Duration
19m 14s

Presenters

Oliver Jones

EY Global SaT Markets, Sustainability and Geostrategy Leader

How trust and a collaborative leadership culture can meet the most testing of challenges

In the third episode of Leading into Tomorrow, Ian Thomas CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, shares tried-and-tested transformation approaches for public sector leaders.
Podcast

Episode 03

Duration
26m 03s

Presenters

Oliver Jones

EY Global SaT Markets, Sustainability and Geostrategy Leader

How to put students at the center of a digital strategy for higher education

In the second episode of our series, Tim Hume, Chief Information Officer at Macquarie University, reveals how being “frank and fearless” can help the sector overcome challenges and realize opportunities.
Podcast

Episode 02

Duration
13m 32s

Presenters

Oliver Jones

EY Global SaT Markets, Sustainability and Geostrategy Leader

Catherine Friday

EY Global and EY Asia-Pacific Government & Infrastructure Industry Leader

Start small, act fast and think big to digitally transform government

In the first episode of Leading into Tomorrow, Chan Cheow Hoe, Government Chief Digital Technology Officer for Singapore, describes how he helped deliver a digital government with heart.
Podcast

Episode 01

Duration
16m 54s

Presenters

Oliver Jones

EY Global SaT Markets, Sustainability and Geostrategy Leader

Benjamin Chiang

EY Asean Government & Public Sector Leader; Technology Assurance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP