Over the next 20 years the population of the Greater Toronto Area including the City of Hamilton (GTA) is expected to grow by approximately two million to a total of over seven million people. Disturbingly, trends indicate that the growth in vehicle travel over this period will be even greater as the population continues to suburbanize, own more cars and make more trips over longer average distances. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation predicts a 55% increase in vehicle travel in the GTA by 2021. The region's transportation system is already not keeping pace with growth and, unless measures can be undertaken to curb the demand for vehicular travel, the situation will only become more unsustainable.
The Smart Commute Association is a GTA-wide, joint municipal undertaking, that will develop an array of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies including: ride-matching for carpooling and guaranteed ride home; program modules such as employer vanpools; TDM in development review, and a regional marketing and education campaign. Additionally, the Smart Commute Association will coordinate efforts to form local networks of employers, developers and others in promoting transportation choices and offering TDM services. These networks, referred to as Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), will generate local funding for transportation improvements and share information with government agencies about transportation needs and concerns. This two-tiered approach to service delivery centralizes service development, ensures regional coordination and creates a common branding for services, while allowing local stakeholders to tailor TDM measures to their specific area needs.
Based on a conservative assessment of the TMA level strategy, the program will provide direct services to about 150,000 travelers in the GTA, resulting in an estimated annual 20,000 tonnes reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. A rigorous tracking and evaluation component will measure the effectiveness of the Smart Commute Association services and enhance the knowledge base of TDM measures in Canada.
| The Smart Commute Association is a public-private partnership in the GTA to manage the demand for transportation through the use of innovative strategies to create more travel choices, offer incentives for shared forms of travel and reduce the dependency on single occupant vehicle travel. |
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