This year’s Policy Forum was a resounding success, bringing together North America’s leading transit and urban mobility experts in Ottawa. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn, the Policy Forum provided a critical platform for cross-sector dialogue. This year’s discussions focused on public transit’s contributions to economic affordability and productivity, regional coordination, and the transition to zero-emission technologies.

The event kicked off with breakfast, followed by opening remarks from Marco D’Angelo, President and CEO of CUTA, Renée Amilcar, OC Transpo’s General Manager and UITP Chair, and Alberta Senator Paula Simons, setting the stage for in-depth discussions.

Key conversations throughout the day addressed the financial and political challenges facing public transit in Canada. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bittle acknowledged the federal government’s ongoing support for transit but criticized some provinces for shirking their responsibilities. He emphasized that higher levels of government cannot continue to compensate for provincial governments that fail to adequately fund public transit.

Marco D’Angelo highlighted a “vicious cycle” many transit agencies are trapped in, in that reduced operating funding leads to less frequent service, discouraging ridership, which in turn deepens financial shortfalls. This cycle is particularly concerning for major agencies like TransLink, the TTC, and OC Transpo, which are grappling with significant budget deficits.

The federal government has pledged $30 billion over ten years for capital projects through the Canada Public Transit Fund. However, operational shortfalls remain a major concern. Municipalities, already burdened by rising costs, argue they need more support to maintain daily transit operations.

A common message echoed throughout the event: a collaborative approach between federal, provincial, and municipal governments is essential to securing long-term, predictable investment in public transit. Alberta Senator Paula Simons, Samuel Pagé-Plouffe of Vivre en Ville, TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, and Andrew McCurran from TransLink underscored the need for all levels of government to contribute more to public transit. They noted that transit supports numerous societal goals, such as reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and driving economic growth, but these successes have only compounded the sector’s funding challenges.

The Policy Forum also highlighted how the dual crises of housing shortages and rising living costs put further pressure on municipalities, which need outside help to maintain transit services.

The intersection between public transit and housing remains a priority for our industry, especially in light of the CPTF’s associated housing development mandates and the program’s $2B annual commitment to integrated regional planning efforts. Due to this elevated importance, CUTA ensured that the Policy Forum could facilitate a greater discussion on the subject of integrated regional coordination, and was honoured to have NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, Dr. Jonathan English, provide a keynote presentation highlighting the pressing imperative to advance regional transit service integration across Canada. Dr. English noted the importance of and benefits to riders that are derived from regional integration, such as more affordable cross-boundary trips and stronger connectivity between commercial downtown cores and suburban residential areas. Continuing with the encompassing theme of collaborative support from higher orders of government, Dr. English also made clear that these levels of government need to support integration financially, adding that it is a great way to provide operational funding without traditional direct subsidies.

In the final theme of the Forum, which focused on the emerging opportunities and obstacles for the public transit sectors’ decarbonization efforts, CUTA invited Dr. Marianne Hatzopoulou, the University of Toronto Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering Chair and Director for Positive Zero Transport Futures to speak on the road to net-zero. Dr. Hatzopoulou noted the immense public health benefits that stem from transit and other heavy duty vehicle industries transitioning to zero-emission fleets, including improved air-quality and the substantial potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. At this same time, Dr. Hatzopoulou recognized that virtually every form of public transit can produce positive climate outcomes regardless of fuel type, by taking more single-use vehicle drivers and their cars off the road, in addition to combatting extreme congestion in our most densely populated regions.

The Policy Forum concluded with a networking reception at the Wellington Building, where attendees exchanged ideas and insights. This year’s event underscored the pivotal role that public transit plays in shaping Canada’s infrastructure, economic recovery, and urban development. The dedication of all those involved highlighted the importance of finding solutions to secure a sustainable future for the sector.