Item - 2025.IE23.4

Tracking Status

IE23.4 - Establishing a Chief Congestion Officer for the City of Toronto

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Wards:
All

Caution: Preliminary decisions and motions are shown below. Any decisions or motions should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.

Committee Decision

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:  

 

1. Received the report (June 25, 2025) from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services for information.

Origin

(June 25, 2025) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services

Summary

Toronto continues to be the busiest city in North America in terms of construction due to increased private development activity, major infrastructure renewal, and the implementation of higher-order transit. This continues to be the most challenging factor towards congestion in the City. At its meeting on April 23 and 24, 2025, City Council considered item IE20.3 – Congestion Management Plan – 2025 Update and directed the City Manager to establish a congestion lead position to focus on creative, cross-divisional solutions to tackling congestion and pre-emptively identifying challenges and recommending solutions to get Toronto moving.

 

The purpose of this report is to outline the key responsibilities of the Chief Congestion Officer and Executive Director of the Strategic Capital Coordination role. The Chief Congestion Officer and Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination will oversee the Strategic Capital Coordination Office. The largest contributor to congestion is construction and as such, it is critical that this position have the authority and accountability for capital coordination across the city to help manage congestion. The position will report directly to the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and will play a pivotal role in managing and mitigating congestion across the City.

 

While the creation of this role will not eliminate congestion, the leadership it will provide will help to enhance how the City actively manages congestion against the ongoing pressures of growth and development.

Financial Impact

Initial funding for the new leadership position of Chief Congestion Officer and Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination in Infrastructure Services will be funded from the existing approved 2025 budget. The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact statement.

Background Information

(June 25, 2025) Report from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services on Establishing a Chief Congestion Officer for the City of Toronto
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-256708.pdf

Communications

(July 10, 2025) Letter from Oliver Hierlihy, on behalf of the 6 Downtown Toronto Business Improvement Areas (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-194393.pdf
(July 9, 2025) Letter from Lee Scott, Walk Toronto (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-194404.pdf
(July 10, 2025) Letter from Giles Gherson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Region Board of Trade (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-194423.pdf
(July 10, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
(July 10, 2025) E-mail from Lyn Adamson, Co-Chair, ClimateFast (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-194469.pdf

Speakers

Dominic Roszak, Toronto Region Board of Trade
Adam Roy Cohoon
Lyn Adamson, ClimateFast

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council