Public Transit

A Vision for the Next Generation

Project Objectives

• Build a common view of the nature of change likely to take place in Canadian communities by 2040.

• Identify challenges and opportunities that changing communities may pose for transit.

• Describe transit’s future role in providing mobility and economic, social and environmental benefits.

• Identify strategic directions for the transit industry, government and other stakeholders.

Youth Leaders

Stakeholder Consultations

Web survey : nearly 650 responses from 275 CUTA

member organizations

John GodfreyFormer Federal Minister

Brian TobinFormer Provincial Premier

Mike HarcourtFormer Provincial Premier

John LorincUrban Affairs Journalist

David SuzukiScience Broadcaster

David CollenetteFormer Federal Minister

Thought Leaders

Louise PoirierCRTC Commissioner

Florence Junca-AdenotProfessor – UQAM Montréal

Anthony PerlProfessor – SFU Vancouver

Eric MillerProfessor – U of T Toronto

Glen MurrayUrbanist & Former Mayor

Don DrummondChief Economist – TD Bank

Thought Leaders

• Society will look very different

• Growth of cities, an aging population, immigration, and changing lifestyles will be major factors

• Many smaller communities and rural areas will see a decline in population

• Mobility will be a major issue. Road congestion will continue to rise

• Energy uncertainty

• Environmental progress will be made but challenges remain

• Carbon emissions will moderate

• Growing support for sustainable practices will lead to a greater willingness to adopt lifestyle change

Walking and cycling will

become more popular and

better integrated into our

lifestyles.

Vision 2040 defines a future in which public transit maximizes its

contribution to quality of life with benefits that support a vibrant and

equitable society, complete and compact community form, a dynamic and efficient economy, and a healthy

natural environment.

Transit Vision in One Paragraph

Major Themes

1. Putting Transit at the Centre of Communities

2. Revolutionizing Service

3. Focusing on Customers

4. Greening Transit

5. Ensuring Financial Health

6. Strengthening Knowledge and Practice

1. Putting Transit at the Centre of Communities

• Develop a national transit policy framework

• Strengthen transit’s position as an investment in quality of life

• Fully integrate transit with community planning

• Fully integrate transit with community design

2. Revolutionizing Service

• Expand regional rapid transit networks

• Emphasize transit priority solutions

• Enable a “quantum leap” in suburban transit

• Support the revitalization of urban cores

• Build service in smaller communities

• Ensure seamless coordination of operations and governance

3. Focusing on Customers

• Accelerate a new customer orientation

• Focus on serving customers with mobility challenges

• Take a broad approach to mobility and expand choice

• Customize fares

• Enhance safety and security

• Provide information when, where and how customers want it

4. Greening Transit

• Develop a greening strategy for the transit industry

• Develop an energy strategy for the transit industry

• Implement local greening and energy initiatives

5. Ensuring Financial Health

• Establish suitable mechanisms for capital investment from senior governments

• Establish suitable performance-based mechanisms for operating funding from senior governments

• Maximize municipal government support for transit operating costs

• Use transportation pricing and alternative funding options more effectively

• Seek efficiency gains

6. Strengthening Knowledge and Practice

• Develop human resource strategies for a more diverse and competitive workforce

• Develop transit resources for smaller communities

• Identify and disseminate current knowledge and practice within the transit industry

Per-Capita Ridership Targets

• Federal, provincial, territorial and regional governments

• Municipal governments

• Transit systems

• Transit suppliers

• CUTA

Each Stakeholder has a Role

Short Term Priorities

• Develop CUTA’s Strategic Plan and integrate with Business Plan

• Develop a monitoring and reporting plan

• A call for leadership and action

Public Transit

A Vision for the Next Generation