Waterloo Appoints Transit Expert as CAO
Waterloo Region has appointed a transit expert as its new Chief Administrative Officer. The move signals a strategic focus on improving regional transportation and infrastructure to cope with a rapidly growing population, likely prioritizing projects to expand transit networks.
The new Chief Administrative Officer is Darshpreet Bhatti, a familiar face in the region who previously led the planning and implementation of the ION light rail transit (LRT) as Director of Rapid Transit from 2008 to 2017. Bhatti will start his new role on March 9, 2026, returning to Waterloo after serving as the CEO of the Green Line LRT project in Calgary and as a Vice President at Metrolinx for the Hazel McCallion Line. This appointment comes as Waterloo Region is projected to grow to 923,000 people by 2051, a significant increase that puts pressure on existing infrastructure. The region has been identified as Canada's fastest-growing community, highlighting the urgent need for expanded transportation options to support the burgeoning population. A major focus will likely be the expansion of the ION LRT network. Stage 1, connecting Waterloo and Kitchener, became operational in June 2019. The next phase, Stage 2, aims to extend the LRT system an additional 17 kilometers to downtown Cambridge, a project that received council approval in November 2025. In late 2025, a joint investment of over $291 million from the federal government, the province of Ontario, and the Region of Waterloo was announced for nine public transit projects. This funding supports initiatives like the construction of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub, the purchase of dozens of hybrid buses, and improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. The emphasis on a robust transit system is crucial for the region's thriving tech sector. Efficient transportation is a key factor in attracting and retaining top talent for the numerous software engineering and tech companies that call Waterloo home. Bhatti takes over the permanent CAO role from Mathieu Goetzke, who had been serving in an acting capacity. Goetzke, formerly the region's Commissioner for Transportation Services and a past Vice-President of Planning with Metrolinx, stepped into the interim role after the departure of Bruce Lauckner in late 2023.
