After almost four decades of helping Toronto drivers navigate their way to work and back home again, CBC Toronto's legendary traffic reporter Jim Curran announced his retirement on Thursday.

Curran said he will step away from the microphone at the end of March to pursue other projects. He used a fitting metaphor to describe his decision in an on-air chat with Metro Morning host Matt Galloway on Thursday.

More on Jim Curran's retirement

  • Click here to listen to Jim discuss his retirement plans with Metro Morning host Matt Galloway.
  • Be sure to watch CBC News Toronto tonight as Nil Koksal talks to Jim about a broadcast career that has made him a Toronto institution.
  • News of Jim's retirement had him trending on Twitter (you can read some of the messages below). You can send him a Twitter message to @jimcbctraffic.

“It’s not the end of the road, I’m changing direction,” he said. “I have lots of projects to do, and this will allow me the time to do that.”

Galloway congratulated Curran on his career and said his voice will be missed by CBC listeners.

“Generations of people grew up listening to you,” said Galloway.

Curran began with CBC in 1972 and has always worked a split shift, in recent years covering the morning commute for Metro Morning and the outbound drive for Here and Now listeners.

Jim will be remembered for his friendly voice and consistent reporting, and the popular stained glass window creations he contributed to CBC Toronto’s annual charity event, Sounds of the Season. He will also be remembered by his legions of fans, many of whom have reached out to let him know he provided more than traffic conditions

“I’ve met them, had lunch with them, they’ve become good friends,” he said.

CBC traffic reporter Jim Curran in this 1983 photo.CBC traffic reporter Jim Curran in this 1983 photo. (CBC)

Susan Marjetti, managing director of the Toronto region for CBC, said Curran's voice has been key to Metro Morning's success.

"Jim is an iconic figure on the Toronto broadcast scene,” she said. "CBC’s number one morning show, Metro Morning, turns 40 next year. Jim is the only member of the team who can say he’s been there since day one."

Curran said his decision to step aside was a difficult one but said he plans to devote more time to a growing interest in freelance editing projects for film.

“This is such a creative place to be,” he said of working at CBC. “Just being here, seeing the people that come through, the people that I work with, you couldn’t ask for a better place to work.”

CBC Toronto will announce a new traffic reporter for Metro Morning and Here and Now in the coming weeks.