The City of Ottawa has lost a key figure in its $2.1 billion light rail project, as rail implementation office director John Jensen moves to Toronto to take a job with the provincial agency that oversees the troubled Presto smart card.

Jensen leaves his current post on Feb. 15 to become the new vice-president in charge of capital program delivery for Metrolinx in Toronto.

Transit commission chair Diane Deans said Jensen did a great job in guiding the city through the procurement process for the light rail project.

"They've clearly seen him as someone who brings value added to their organization, they've offered him the position so I think it speaks for itself," said Deans.

Metrolinx has had to deal with serious technical glitches that have delayed the launch of the Presto system in Ottawa for months.

Last month the company issued 10,000 cards for free to test the system. Metrolinx officials will report back on the results at the end of March.

Ottawa's chief of light rail design and construction, Gary Craig, will become interim director.