22 CANADIAN URBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION: TRANSIT VISION 2040

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1 Clause No. 22 of the Committee of the Whole meeting, was adopted, without amendment, by the Council of The Regional Municipality of York at its meeting on September 26, CANADIAN URBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION: TRANSIT VISION RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that: 1. Council endorse the Canadian Urban Transit Association Transit Vision 2040 report. 2. The Regional Clerk forward the endorsed Canadian Urban Transit Association Transit Vision 2040 report to all York Region Members of Parliament and Members of the Provincial Legislature. 2. PURPOSE This report seeks Council endorsement of The Canadian Urban Transit Association Transit Vision 2040 (Attachment 1) which defines a future in which public transit maximizes its contribution to quality of life with benefits that support a vibrant and equitable society, a complete and compact community form, a dynamic and efficient economy, and a healthy natural environment. 3. BACKGROUND The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) has developed Transit Vision 2040 as a vision framing a comprehensive definition of the role of public transit in Canada over the next 30 years CUTA acts as a collective voice of public transit systems, suppliers and related organizations across Canada. York Region Transit is a long-standing member of CUTA. This organization is actively engaged in advocating for a Canadian Transit Policy Framework and required sustainable funding, and provides services for its members that include training, conferences, and research.

2 CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 was created with considerable input from transit industry stakeholders, transportation experts and thought leaders. This included a series of workshops with CUTA s leadership and its members; consultation with groups such as the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Canadian Home Builders Association; peer reviewed by a panel of transportation experts, and interviews with over twenty thought leaders from across Canada. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) were also involved in providing insight to Transit Vision ANALYSIS AND OPTIONS CUTA s vision of a financially and environmentally sustainable transit system at the centre of communities is consistent with York Region s vision for York Region Transit Public transit is widely recognized as an important part of the solution to such challenges as climate change, roadway congestion, public health, safety, security, accessibility and inclusiveness. CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 communicates transit s contribution to quality of life, the nature of change likely to take place in our communities by 2040, the implications of these changes will have on transit, and strategic directions for actions that can maximize transit s contribution to our quality of life. CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 proposes 27 strategic initiatives distributed among six themes to guide the implementation of long-term goals set out in the vision The themes identified in CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 outline directions to be taken to meet broad goals by anticipating, or responding to, the opportunities and obstacles that are expected by transit in the future. The themes identified in the report include: Putting transit at the centre of communities o Stronger government policy and decision-making frameworks, and better community planning and design Revolutionizing service o Expansion and innovation, so that transit systems can both encourage and service growing demands Focusing on customers o Accelerating the delivery of flexible, integrated transit services that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse clientele Greening transit o Further reduce the industry s ecological footprint, improve energy efficiency and limit greenhouse gas emissions

3 Ensuring financial health o Enhanced transit infrastructure and operating investments by all orders of government, more progressive approaches to generating revenue, and new efficiencies in service delivery Strengthening knowledge and practice o More effectively respond to future opportunities and challenges While CUTA is continuing its advocacy efforts on behalf of member transit service providers, these efforts can only benefit from support in the form of an endorsement by associated municipal and regional councils. Municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and across Canada are endorsing CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 to continue building a national vision for transit Municipalities that have already endorsed CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 document include: Hamilton, ON Ottawa, ON Loyalist Township, ON Montreal, QC Saint John, NB Sainte Thérèse, QC Toronto, ON Oakville, ON Laval, QC London, ON Thunder Bay, ON Sherbrooke, QC Ville de Rimouski, QC Terrebonne, QC St. Albert, AB Victoria, BC Gatineau, QC Halifax, NS Edmonton, AB St. John s, NL Saguenay, QC Lethbridge, AB

4 Municipalities currently endorsing CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 note that public transit impacts municipalities by: Providing essential and universal mobility to residents within Canada s urban areas Strengthening economic competitiveness by making effective and efficient use of roadway capacity and offering people a transportation choice other than the automobile Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution Having inadequate revenue tools to finance the full cost of transit infrastructure and operations Council had already adopted some of the elements of CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 through its approval of the York Region Official Plan The York Region Official Plan identifies transit as a key component of York Region s transportation system. In the York Region Official Plan, the excerpt below identified in chapter 7.2, Moving People and Goods Transit states; An expanded, comprehensive and interconnected public transit system is required, both to reduce vehicular traffic and to provide access to jobs and services. A wellintegrated public transit system in York Region is essential to enhancing the quality of life for residents and workers. A more compact, mixed-use urban form will encourage and support a higher level of transit service, while helping to reduce the overall average trip length required for work, shopping, school, recreation and other purposes. The York Region Transportation Master Plan sets immediate and long term public transit goals that form the basis for the transit network. The York Region Official Plan encourages working with adjacent municipalities, transit agencies and upper levels of government to support transit Section of the York Region Official Plan states: To work with local municipalities, the Toronto Transit Commission, Metrolinx and adjacent municipalities to encourage the Province and the Federal government to provide sustainable capital and operational funding and tools to support transit. CUTA and York Region s vision of environmental sustainability for our communities are linked to increasing transit ridership York Region through its Official Plan and CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 endorse environmental sustainability. CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 identifies the challenge of providing.maximum support for local and national sustainability, while minimizing its own ecological footprint. York Region s Official Plan endorses sustainability by.providing transportation choices and a shift to more sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling and transit.

5 The Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (The Big Move) recognizes effective transit solutions to protect our environment and improve quality of life Metrolinx has begun work on the creation of a rapid transit network throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that will more than triple the size of the existing system. The Big Move also recognizes this will necessitate a tripling, and potential quadrupling, of local transit service levels. All of this being necessary to achieve provincial goals for establishing and maintaining a high quality of life; to reduce congestion and emissions, thereby establishing a thriving, sustainable and protected environment; and to create a strong, prosperous and competitive economy. In short, the York Region Official Plan and The Big Move, like CUTA s Transit Vision 2040, seek to make our community more livable by defining a long term transportation vision to support and sustain growth in York Region. To continue expanding services within York Region, long-term sustainable funding will be required from senior levels of government. CUTA continues to advocate for this funding on behalf of its member service providers. Endorsement of CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 by York Region would assist in the attaining this goal. Link to key Council-approved Plans Vision 2051 includes a statement relating to the development of infrastructure for a growing Region, which states that: In 2051, a seamless network for mobility provides accessibility to all destinations using diverse transportation options for people in all communities, promotes active healthy living and safely and efficiently moves people and goods. In short, the themes and strategic directions of CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 are consistent with York Region Transit s Vision 2051 and the long term planning currently underway. Putting Transit at the Centre of Communities is central to the planning and design process currently underway. York Region is a leader in Revolutionizing Service with the Viva Rapid Transit network and by supporting our smaller communities with mobility options. York Region has Customer Focus at the core of all decisions. In choosing environmentally advanced technologies and initiatives, Greening Transit is currently also underway. Initiatives to Ensure Financial Health are in place to find efficiency gains and to by sourcing alternative funding for projects. Lastly, York Region is an active partner within the national network of transit systems in sharing knowledge and best practices, and in using this research to benchmark and constantly seek to improve.

6 5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no financial impacts or budget implications associated with the endorsement of CUTA s Transit Vision CUTA s Transit Vision 2040 seeks to ensure long-term financial health for public transportation and mobility in Canada The vision calls for sustainable funding from all orders of government to ensure the financial health of public transit to achieve the goals set in the plan. Transit systems are asked to take the lead in their communities on seeking efficiency gains, and to assist in maximizing municipal government support for transit operating costs, and to use transportation pricing and alternative funding options effectively. At York Region, these principles guide the services provided. 6. LOCAL MUNICIPAL IMPACT There is no immediate local impact on the community resulting from the endorsement of CUTA s Transit Vision Themes and strategic directions of the report will be used as guiding principles during the revision phase of the Region s Transportation Master Plan. The Region as a whole would also benefit in the long-term if support for the Vision contributed to realization of funding assistance from senior levels of government and development of a national transit policy framework. 7. CONCLUSION It is recommended that Council endorse the Canadian Urban Transit Association Transit Vision 2040 which defines a future in which public transit maximizes its contribution to quality of life with benefits that support a vibrant and equitable society, a complete and compact community form, a dynamic and efficient economy, and a healthy natural environment. For more information on this report, please contact Adrian Kawun, Manager, Service Planning at Ext The Senior Management Group has reviewed this report. (The attachment referred to in this clause is enclosed with this report.)