A detailed report from the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) says Canadian governments and transit systems must take proactive steps to ensure that transit lives up to its potential, despite national transit ridership and investment being at all-time highs.  

Transit Vision 2040 predicts that ridership levels will grow by 86 percent between now and 2040. Without a coordinated and strategic approach, transit systems across Canada will be unable to make their full contribution to quality of life.

"By 2040, Canadian society will look very different than it does today. Canada's population is projected to grow to 40 million, and our population will be growing older as well," says John King, CUTA's vice chair, small transit systems. "Transit Vision 2040 takes a proactive approach to enhancing our quality of life and ensuring that we make the right choices today to build a sustainable future for tomorrow."

CUTA consulted widely to produce Transit Vision 2040. It sought input from eminent Canadians, including former provincial premiers, former federal cabinet ministers, economists, academics, journalists and scientists. Transit Vision 2040 has six major themes that call for action from governments and transit systems:

• Put transit at the centre of communities

• Revolutionize service

• Focus on customers

• Green transit

• Ensure the financial health of transit

• Strengthen knowledge and practice

"Together we recognize that sustainable development can't happen in isolation - a sentiment that is reflected in Transit Vision 2040," says Alex Cullen, chair of the City of Ottawa's Transit Committee.

To download Transit Vision 2040, click here.