The results of this survey demonstrate the continued need for large-scale, sustained investment in urban transit infrastructure, both for renewal and for expansion. Specifically, the following needs were identified:
• Rehabilitation and replacement of current infrastructure is equally as important as expansion and ridership growth.
• Buses were the clear priority in both cases.
• Fixed guideways and other rolling stock were also a priority, especially in expansion plans.
Currently, many transit systems are operating at or beyond their design capacity, and some systems are facing significant latent demand that cannot be satisfied without major investment in improvements to service.
Canadians are demanding cities with a high quality of life, where people and goods move freely, with affordable housing, clean air and reliable community services, including efficient public transit. Optimizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of public transit will require meeting the infrastructure needs outlined in this report. That, in turn, will require a long-term, sustainable investment stream from all levels of government that permits transit systems to plan effectively and systematically.