The TTC’s headquarters have deteriorated into such a “grim” state that the time has come for the transit agency to seek a new home, CEO Andy Byford says

Byford told CP24 on Friday that he wants the TTC to move out of the city-owned building that it currently occupies near Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue in favour of a larger, more modern location that could accommodate all 3,000 of its employees.

The 7-storey building the TTC currently occupies was built in 1958 and only accommodates 400 of its employees with the rest spread out across half a dozen other offices.

“My staff basically have to work in what in any other office would be considered to be windowless corridors and yet to their absolute professionalism they just stick with it without complaining,” Byford said, “There comes a point, though, where basic economics and respect for staff says that it really does make sense to move to a new office and consolidate all of the various leases we spend money on.”

Byford said that the troubles at the TTC’s headquarters extend beyond just “getting rid of some mold and putting a fresh coat of paint on” and include costly problems such as faulty elevators, the lack of a sprinkler system and an ineffective heating system.

Furthermore, Byford said that in order to make badly needed repairs, the TTC would have to invest “millions” just in bringing the building up to code.

Simply out, Byford said the building has “outlived its useful life” and should be vacated, demolish and then redeveloped into something else.

“Even if I put aside the needs of my staff, which I don’t, basic economics would say it is throwing good money after bad to continue to invest in this building,” he said. “Let’s cut to the chase, let’s get a decent head office and save huge amounts on the leases we currently have.”

In addition to the money that could be generated from redeveloping the site that the TTC’s headquarters currently stands on, Byford says that the transit commission would also save money by having all of its employees under one roof.

"It is just basic economics," he said.

The possibility of searching for a new TTC headquarters will be discussed at the transit commission’s next meeting on Monday.

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