UTTRI associated faculty Professor Matti Siemiatycki says that decisions made now about allocation of public funds will “shape the direction of Canadian cities for generations to come.”
Siemiatycki is Canada Research Chair in Infrastructure Planning and Finance.
In an opinion piece for the The Hill Times, “Pandemic driving urban transportation transition,” Siemiatycki discusses the many changes in transportation seen since the pandemic began over a year ago.
He contrasts an increased commitment to active transportation, through projects like bike lanes and widened sidewalks, with a push for car-oriented projects such as new or expanded highways and suburban development.
He also notes that the “geography of the pandemic-initiated active transportation projects has been unequal” with most of the projects carried out in urban cores. And although the recent federal announcement about transit funding is good news, more bus priority lanes would help those on overcrowded routes sooner than new infrastructure.
Siemiatycki cautions that car-oriented projects will negatively affect our environment and, ultimately, our health. But we can plan to make decisions that will allow us to build back better from the pandemic, he says.
With good planning, Canadian cities can emerge from the pandemic with transportation systems that create good-quality jobs, provide low carbon travel options, improve equity, and foster healthy communities – Matti Siemiatycki
Read the full article “Pandemic driving urban transportation transition” by Matti Siemiatcyki, The Hill Times, February 22, 2021. [paywall]