The Canadian Urban Transit Association's (CUTA) Executive Committee gathered in Ottawa Monday for a series of strategic meetings and presentations with key government representatives and departments as well as transit industry stakeholders.

The two-day agenda was set to focus on transit infrastructure, integrated mobility and innovation as well as long-term economic benefits of investing in transit in Canada.

"It is important to put transit at the center of communities across Canada and to keep transit at the forefront of urban development and growth," said CUTA President/CEO Michael Roschlau. "These meetings are an opportunity to reinforce that message with government and industry stakeholders."

CUTA Chair Bob Paddon added that "an ongoing dialogue with the federal government is necessary to strengthen integrated mobility as a key pillar in the Long-term Infrastructure Plan, and the importance of reinforcing the need for sustainable and predictable investment going forward."

Collaboration and funding partnerships are other key themes of this week's meetings, organized by CUTA. Representatives will have the opportunity to participate in discussions with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Public Private Partnerships Canada.

To view CUTA's long-term blueprint for optimizing mobility and transit in Canada, click here.