In this presentation, Richard Piliounis shares an inside perspective on the evolution of the project from its beginnings under Toronto’s 2007 Transit City plan to its transformation into Line 5, one of the most significant transit investments in Canada.

A core member of the Metrolinx delivery team for more than 13 years, Richard has witnessed firsthand the project’s navigation through shifting political priorities, funding pressures, and major planning changes. Originally conceived as one of seven LRT lines in a provincially funded program, the Crosstown ultimately emerged, alongside the Finch West LRT as one of the few Transit City corridors to advance under Metrolinx leadership.

Today, Line 5 forms a central pillar of Metrolinx’s broader and unprecedented Rapid Transit expansion. This includes new LRT systems in Mississauga and Hamilton and major subway extensions to TTC Lines 1 and 2- projects critical to supporting a Greater Golden Horseshoe population projected to reach 15 million by 2051.

Drawing on more than a decade embedded in every stage of the Crosstown’s development, Richard offers a rare, practitioner‑level view of what it takes to deliver a transformative megaproject in Canada’s fastest‑growing region.