Further Connecting the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Region Discussion Paper for the Next Regional Transportation Plan July 2016 1 ABOUT METROLINX AND THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN As the regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Metrolinx is committed to planning, building and operating transportation that supports a high quality-of-life, a sustainable environment and a strong, prosperous and competitive economy. Under provincial legislation, Metrolinx has a mandate to provide leadership in the co-ordination, planning, financing, development and implementation of an integrated, multi-modal transportation network that conforms with the policies of Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and complies with other provincial transportation policies and plans in the regional transportation plan area. Metrolinx is also responsible for the operation of the regional transit system, GO Transit, which extends beyond the GTHA, and for Presto and UP Express. Metrolinx works closely with provincial ministries and the region’s municipalities and transit agencies to implement the Regional Transportation Plan, and engages with civic, academic, business and community partners to realize the collective vision for the region’s transportation system, as set out in the Regional Transportation Plan. As Metrolinx embarks on a review of The Big Move - the first Regional Transportation Plan -, we are marking a decade of championing multi-modal, connected and integrated mobility solutions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region. The next Regional Transportation Plan will be made available in mid-2017. 2 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................5 1 OPENING UP THE CONVERSATION ............................................................................... 8 1.1 A Dynamic Region .......................................................................................................................................8 1.2 Thinking as One Region ........................................................................................................................... 11 2 TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS .......................................................................................... 13 2.1 The Big Move: Meeting the Challenge .................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Expansion of the Rapid Transit System ................................................................................................. 16 3 THE NEXT PLAN ............................................................................................................. 22 3.1 A Shared Vision: Updating the vision, goals and objectives ............................................................... 22 The Process to Achieve the Vision .................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Leveraging the Transit Investment ......................................................................................................... 26 GO Regional Express Rail: A Critical Catalyst .................................................................................................. 27 Continuing Transit Expansion ............................................................................................................................ 28 People-Centred Transit ...................................................................................................................................... 29 An Integrated Fare System ................................................................................................................................ 32 Mobility Hub Check-in ........................................................................................................................................ 33 3.3 A Connected and Aligned Region ........................................................................................................... 34 Supporting Active Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 34 Creating Safer, More Complete Streets ............................................................................................................. 37 Managing Congestion ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Moving Urban Freight ......................................................................................................................................... 40 Expanding Transportation Demand Management ............................................................................................. 41 Transit and Active Transportation Supportive Development ............................................................................. 42 Sustainable Funding .......................................................................................................................................... 43 3.4 The Next Generation of Mobility .............................................................................................................. 46 Emerging New Mobility Options ......................................................................................................................... 46 Leveraging New Mobility Opportunities ............................................................................................................. 49 4 WHAT DO YOU THINK? .................................................................................................. 51 Discussion Questions ......................................................................................................................................... 52 APPENDIX 1: PROFILE OF THE REGION ............................................................................ 53 Regional Growth Context.................................................................................................................................... 53 Population Growth in the GTHA ......................................................................................................................... 53 Employment Growth in the GTHA ...................................................................................................................... 55 Travel Demand ................................................................................................................................................... 57 Making Transportation and Land Use Work Together ....................................................................................... 59 3 Performance of the Region’s Transportation System ..................................................................................... 60 What modes do we use?.................................................................................................................................... 61 How much do we drive? ..................................................................................................................................... 64 What is the impact on the climate? .................................................................................................................... 65 How long does it take to get to work? ................................................................................................................ 67 Is transit available and does it provide access? ................................................................................................ 67 Is transit accessible to those who need it the most? ......................................................................................... 71 How safe are our roads? .................................................................................................................................... 74 Does freight move safely and efficiently? .......................................................................................................... 75 APPENDIX 2 .......................................................................................................................... 76 Background Research and Analysis to Support the RTP Review .................................................................. 76 Municipal Success Stories [To be profiled throughout final version of this discussion paper] ................. 78 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................. 79 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. 80 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 82 4 I. Executive Summary Sidebar: Working Together A review of the GTHA’s first Regional Transportation The scope and timing of the Regional Plan (RTP), The Big Move, is underway. The review of Transportation Plan review addresses the requirements of The Metrolinx the RTP provides an opportunity to take stock of and Act, 2006 and aligns with the build on the foundation of Big Move projects. It Province of Ontario’s review of The supports us working together as a region toward the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden completion of an updated RTP in 2017. Horseshoe,