TransportationPlanning Branch

The Provincial Role in TDM:Ontario’s Perspective

Canadian TDM Summit 2008

October 20, 2008

Jennifer Edwards

Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Urban Planning Office

TransportationPlanning Branch

The Provincial Role in TDM

The state of TDM in Ontario

What is the role of provinces in TDM?

TransportationPlanning Branch

TDM at the ProvincialLevel in Ontario

TransportationPlanning Branch

Key Ontario government objectives that support/complement TDM measures: Building strong and vital communities Making communities healthy places to live Promoting sustainable transportation and land use planning Supporting climate change initiatives Making transit a first priority

Go Green: Ontario’s Action Plan on Climate Change

Places to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe – Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living – Ministry of Health Promotion

TDM in Ontario - Provincial Policy Linkages

TransportationPlanning Branch

Transit planning and investment GO Transit Dedicated gas tax MoveOntario 2020

Presto Card fare system

HOV lane program

Carpool lot program

Transit Supportive Land Use Planning Guidelines

Current Ontario Initiatives Complementary to TDM

TransportationPlanning Branch

Metrolinx (formerly the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) was created by the Province of Ontario in 2006 to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton.

Metrolinx is currently finalizing its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) RTP gives highest priority to TDM, active transportation, transit, and

eliminating trips altogether RTP will implement MoveOntario 2020

In 2008, the province also became the primary funder of Smart Commute, as the organization was absorbed into Metrolinx.

Smart Commute was originally established with funding from Transport Canada’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program and member municipalities.

Smart Commute provides centralized coordination for nine TMAs, the Carpool Zone ridematching system, online Emergency Ride Home registration, media relations and promotional campaigns.

The province has contributed an annual operating budget of $650,000 and support for the nine TMAs, up to $130,000 each.

Metrolinx and Smart Commute

TransportationPlanning Branch

The TDM Municipal Grant Program as established as a pilot project in 2008.

The program is designed to assist Ontario municipalities in implementing TDM projects or planning, and to increase awareness by municipalities of the benefits of TDM.

Eligible project categories: Promotion and education TDM plans Projects and tools Workshops and conferences

$250,000 in funding is available in 2008-09; $500,000 is planned for 2009-10 $50,000 maximum provincial contribution per project

Recipients for the 2008-09 round of funding will be announced in November.

Ontario TDM Municipal Grant Program

TransportationPlanning Branch

What Should the Role of Provinces

Be in TDM?

TransportationPlanning Branch

Provinces Getting More Involvedin TDM… the Time is Right

Public interest in climate change and sustainability Gas prices Reduced government budgets Stakeholders and the public want us to do more

Ontario provincial initiatives: Climate Change Secretariat Sustainable TransForum

Ministry of Transportation’s Sustainable Transportation Policy Office Ministry of the Environment’s Community Go Green Fund

TransportationPlanning Branch

Major messages from municipalities and NGOs regarding TDM in the province include:

Stakeholders were very pleased to see that the province is interested in becoming more involved in TDM.

Provincial strategy/vision and complementary policies are needed to support the implementation of TDM initiatives.

TDM should be built into broader inter-ministerial policy development as there are complementary benefits to implementing TDM – air quality, greenhouse gas reductions, active transportation, mixed-use development, tourism and recreation, etc.

The response to the idea of a potential funding program was generally positive. But there is a need for consistent, sustainable funding instead of piecemeal grants.

NGOs are running TDM programs that the municipalities should be responsible for.

The province should build TDM capacity through networking, workshops, engagement of senior management and elected officials, and development of municipal TDM plans.

Leadership from the government is needed in order to back up a paradigm shift in travel behaviour.

What Ontario Stakeholders Are Saying

TransportationPlanning Branch

Possible Roles of Provinces in TDM

• Plan and coordinate TDM-supportive infrastructure and operations

• Identify funding needs, gaps, opportunities, and partnerships

• Develop province-wide promotion and education efforts

• Promote linkages and coordination – federal, municipal, NGO

• Conduct capacity-building activities

• Show leadership as an employer

TransportationPlanning Branch

Possible Roles of Provinces in TDM• Investigate legislative or regulatory barriers to implementing certain TDM strategies

• Implement tax-related incentives and disincentives

• Require municipal TDM plans

• Develop guidelines and tools for integrating TDM into land use and transportation planning, subdivision review, etc.

• Require employee trip reduction plans/programs for large employers

• Consider TDM in all provincial engineering projects and environmental studies