Harvey, David William

David William Harvey ( Eng. David William Harvey ; February 24, 1887 - December 6, 1938) - Canadian engineer and dispatcher of freight. He was a key player in the early development of the Toronto Transport Commission (TKT) and served as the second general director of the transport operator from 1924 until his death in 1938.

Tram on Young Street in Toronto

He was born in London , Ontario , and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in civil engineering. In 1910, he worked at the Ontario Power Company at Niagara Falls . The following year, he became a civil engineer for the Toronto City Department of Railways and Bridges. He was responsible for the construction and operation of the new Toronto Civic Railways, a wide network of four tram lines that was built in Toronto, as the private Toronto Railway Company refused to build new lines to service the areas under construction. On September 1, 1921, Harvey became the assistant manager of the Toronto Transport Commission, which brought together most of the public and private tram lines in Toronto. He became CEO on May 1, 1924, after H. H. Cozens, the first CEO, resigned.

Harvey was a favorite and effective manager, he knew the technical aspects of the operation and maintenance of the transport system. He personally owned several patents for transportation equipment, including the design of a three-door tram car of the type of Peter Witt , which significantly accelerated the landing time in comparison with the previously used two-door. He introduced city buses on support lines, and led the creation and expansion of Gray Coach Lines , the TKT intercity bus operator.

The plant’s main workshop at TTC Hillcrest Complex in Bathurst Street, which opened in 1924, was renamed after him.