Date: May 5
Icebreaker Social: 12:00 – 12:15 PM (MDT)
Webinar: May 5 @ 12:15 – 1 PM (MDT)
Cost: Free

Hear about the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s (CUTA) National Transit Recovery Strategy

David Cooper, Principal of Leading Mobility authored COVID-19, Public Transit, and a Green, Inclusive Recovery Strategy. This strategy was developed to inform discussions with partners in the Canadian Federal Government on the funding and policy support transit agencies need for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. CUTA’s recovery strategy highlights the choice facing Canada – a choice between a future with more congestion, transport for those who can afford it, and higher emissions, or a future with better connected communities, more equitable cities, and real action on climate change.

Three key themes arose during the development of the recovery strategy. 1) The need for ongoing operating support to keep public transit a safe and convenient transportation option. 2) The goal of continuing to complete transit networks to create fairer mobility options that lower emissions and create middle class jobs. 3) Decarbonizing transit fleets to meet climate goals faster. UITP members from other nations can glean insights on our strategies to build a more green and inclusive recovery focused on continued investment in public transit.

Since the release of the strategy the Federal Government has committed to the funding recommendations identified throughout this foundational document including up to $4.2 billion towards electrification efforts, which will assist in deploying 5,000 zero emission buses across the country and sustained long term capital funding through the creation of the Permanent Transit Fund. Last year also marked Canada’s first ever Federal funding support for transit operating budgets to cover the revenue shortfall from the collapse of ridership during the first wave of the pandemic. The recovery strategy intervenes at a key moment of both uncertainty and opportunity to advocate for the role transit can and should play in Canada’s recovery from the pandemic. The goals and recommendations found in the strategy were designed to align with the Federal Government’s policy priorities on climate change, economic resiliency, equity, and pandemic response. The strategy was developed through significant engagement with transit systems, businesses, and external partners. CUTA’s Recovery Task Force overseeing this work consisted of over 20 organizations, including 16 of the largest transit agencies in Canada including Edmonton Transit Service, Calgary Transit and Strathcona County Transit.

Click here for a link to the National Transit Recovery Strategy.

Registration link is below.

About the Speakers

David Cooper, MPl., MCIP, RPP, Principal, Leading Mobility Consulting

Over the past 15 years, David Cooper has contributed to numerous transformative transportation initiatives across Canada. David is the founder and principal of Leading Mobility, a transportation planning firm that offers strategic and planning support for public transit, infrastructure delivery, stakeholder support, and government relations projects and initiatives.

Some of David’s significant transportation contributions include planning the Relief Line Subway and King Street Pilot in Toronto; procurement support for the Broadway Subway Project and development of TransLink’s Battery-Electric bus program in Vancouver; implementation of LRT/BRT expansion and regional transit in Calgary. David recently authored the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s COVID-19 National Recovery Strategy, a foundational plan which has helped to obtain emergency operational funding to maintain transit service during the acute stage of the pandemic and to secure long term capital funding to position public transit at the centre of economic recovery.

David firmly believes in supporting and facilitating success for new community builders. Through his work teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Calgary, University of Toronto, and Ryerson University, he instructs future planners on transportation policy, planning processes, and public consultation.

David’s contributions to city building and transportation have been nationally recognized. He was the recipient of the ‘President’s Award for Young Planner of the Year’ granted by the Canadian Institute of Planners, the ‘Individual Leadership Award’ from the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and received Mass Transit’s ‘Top 40 Under 40 Award’ in North America.

Virtual Icebreaker Social
We will be holding a social from 12:00 to 12:15 PM to provide attendees the opportunity to mingle just like we would if we were back at the Faculty Club. Participants will be split into breakout rooms to facilitate conversations. This is optional, anyone who is not interested in the social may log in for 12:15 PM for the webinar.