Transportation Equity Summit - Transport Futures

Canada’s transportation network is essential to the quality of our lives and to the strength of our economy. It provides the platform to gain access to jobs, goods, services and leisure activities with family and friends. Despite significant investments in transit, rail and road infrastructure, governments are falling behind in their quest to ensure equitable access to the greatest number of people. This has resulted in automotive and technology firms moving aggressively into the mobility space.

Since increasing demands are being put on the transportation system by a growing and diverse population with different incomes, needs and abilities, Transport Futures hosted an Equity Summit on December 9, 2019. Local and international experts presented leading-edge research and case studies that focused on:

the winners and losers in today’s mobility context;
the demographic, geographic, design, environmental, safety, legal and fiscal “equity lenses” that should be applied when planning infrastructure and services for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, pedestrians, ridehailers and micromobility users;
how a social justice evaluation framework will enable government and business to provide the infrastructure and services that help everyone reach their full potential and contribute to society.

The interactive agenda gave delegates time for Q&A during panel discussions and networking. Here is some of their feedback:

“Interesting topic; good content and speakers! Tight program!”
“I liked the focus on people. Not the ‘customer experience’… but people.”
“Speakers were knowledgeable and engaging. Range of topics was great.”
“Gained perspective and knowledge with respect of each speaker and their role in the transportation sector.”
“Good discussion on a topic not covered previously.”
“The content and speakers were very strong, informative and the conversations were timely.”
“I enjoyed the range of speakers and the diverse audience. I look forward to attending again in the future. Your coordination and communication of the summit was excellent and far exceeded my usual academic conference experience.”
“Some great ideas and thoughts on the topic. Thank you for putting it together!”

The Transportation Equity Summit was generously sponsored by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (Platinum), 407 ETR (Gold), the Ontario Good Roads Association (Bronze) and our Supporters: WSP Canada Group and e-RegisterNow.

Transport Futures was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Kathleen Llewellyn-Thomas’s passing in May 2022 — less than 3 years after she made a fantastic presentation at our Transportation Equity Summit. She was a very warm person and someone who was always interested in learning more – though she already had incredible engineering experience working across Canada. She died far too young so a huge loss for her family, friends and the transportation planning world. Rest in Peace, Kathleen.