We want to know how congestion affects you. Let us know what you think we should do about transit expansion and the best way to pay for it. Please take the time to review the presentation and take the short survey on our website.

1. Transit Investment Strategy
Advisory Panel
Mandate & Approach

2. The Panel Mandate
• Advise the Province on how to respond to the
Metrolinx Investment Strategy
• Engage the public about:
– The plan
– The need for investment
– The right course of action
• Recommend specific revenue and
funding tools in December 2013

3. Our Approach
• To challenge misconceptions and establish criteria
and options the panel prepared three discussion
papers :
1. Hard Truths About Transit – Presents six hard truths to
form the basis of the Panel’s consultations.
2. The Transit We Need – Establishes criteria for project
selection and prioritization, and improved accountability.
3. (Upcoming) Paying for Transit: Considering the Options –
Discusses specific ways to pay for transit expansion.

4. Six Hard Truths About Transit
1. Subways are not the only good form of transit:
– Must match right transit mode and technology to route.
2. Transit does not automatically drive development:
– Transit lines must connect with current and anticipated jobs.
3. The cost of building transit is not the main expense:
– Operating and maintenance costs
are a major portion of total
lifecycle cost.
Bus
BRT
LRT
LRT
Subway
(Surface) (Elevated)

5. Six Hard Truths About Transit
4. Transit riders are not the only beneficiaries of new transit
infrastructure:
– Everyone benefits – drivers, businesses, others.
5. Transit expansion in the GTHA is not at a standstill:
– The largest transit investment in Ontario history is under way now.
6. Funds cannot be found by
simply cutting waste in
government:
– New sources of revenue are
needed to deliver world class
transit in the GTHA.
$16 billion worth of transit
projects are being
designed and built today.

6. The Transit We Need
• The criteria for project selection and prioritization is that they
must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Help to ease congestion.
Add up to a connected region-wide network.
Align with current and future employment locations.
Coordinate with the locations of community and public institutions.
Provide the appropriate type of transit for the situation.
Build confidence in the full plan, by phasing implementation.
Provide tangible benefits and improvements in the short-term.

7. The Transit We Need (2)
• Better governance and accountability is vital:
– New revenue must be dedicated to transit projects.
– Decisions must be based on lifecycle costs of projects.
– Greater partnership must be forged between all levels
of governments.
– Panel is studying how the Metrolinx Board could
include municipal representation.

8. Paying for Transit: Considering the
Options
• Potential revenue tools must meet the following
criteria:
– Must be sufficient
– Must be fair
– Must be easy to implement
– Must be transit-friendly
– Must minimize economic distortion

9. Paying for Transit: Considering the
Options
• Projects and revenue tools can be phased in together.
• All levels of government should invest
• Federal participation:
– Canada is the only G7 country without a dedicated federal funding
program for transit
– One-off commitments should be replaced by dedicated funding
– Federal contributions needed for capital and long-term operating
and maintenance
• Success depends on support from all sectors.

10. Join the conversation
• The Panel will be providing recommendations
to the Government of Ontario in December
• Tweet your ideas and join the conversation
@transitpanel

11. Thank you!