Mobility Funding Symposium - Transport Futures

A hearty shout-out to the 100 delegates and expert speakers, including Minister Glen Murray, who participated at the Transport Futures Mobility Funding Symposium on April 8! With recommendations on how to finance the GTHA’s transportation infrastructure expected to be made by Metrolinx on May 27, we heard how other international and Canadian jurisdictions have already chosen and implemented an extensive range of dedicated taxes and user fees, aka revenue tools.

Why a Symposium when Metrolinx and City of Toronto had already held public consultations? Having facilitated Ontario’s only comprehensive mobility pricing conversation since 2008, we and our partners were concerned that citizens, along with politicians and stakeholders, were not being given the information necessary to accurately connect each proposed revenue tool with Ontario’s economic, environmental and social policies. To ensure that informed decisions are ultimately made here, we asked our global experts from the US, Spain, Australia and Vancouver to provide the following information in their presentations:

the historical, political and evidence-based evolution of road and transit infrastructure financing policy in their respective jurisdictions;
if current funding streams are generating predictable and sustainable revenues while supporting transport management, economic growth, the environment, social justice, good governance and quality of life;
a summary of lessons learned and perspectives on how to educate the public and politicians on progressive funding options.

Over 95 percent of our delegates told us that the Symposium’s agenda met or surpassed their expectations. Here is a sampling of their remarks:

“An outstanding Symposium. Top notch presentations from the Minister on down.”
“Appreciated that each of the main speakers was given ample time to address their topic.”
“Good quality and relevant speakers; kept agenda moving.”
“The speakers were knowledgeable and provided good information on the topic.”
“Very good speakers who are experts but spoke in a very understandable way.”

The press also spent some time covering the Symposium before and after it took place:

Toronto area making progress on transit after ‘50 years of neglect – Minister Glen Murray speaks at Transport Futures conference
Transport guru says car/transit balance in need of redress – Martin Wachs interviewed
Stuck in Traffic: What LA, Vancouver and Atlanta can teach Toronto – Geoff Cross interviewed (see video).

It is with sadness that we announce that Professor Martin Wachs died on April 12, 2021 — almost 8 years to the day that he spoke at the TF Mobility Funding Symposium. His long career in transportation planning and financing leaves a legacy only surpassed by how he went beyond the call of duty to help students, professors and governments move forward on very difficult policy issues. TF marks itself very lucky to have had Marty join us in Toronto and know his legacy will live on through the hundreds of professionals he taught and worked with. Rest in peace, Marty.

Transport Futures thanks all speakers and delegates for participating at the Mobility Funding Symposium which was generously sponsored by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (Platinum), 407 ETR (Gold), the Ontario Good Roads Association (Silver) and our Bronze sponsors: BA Group, HDR , McMaser Institute for Transportation & Logistics and e-Register Now.