UTTRI Executive Director Dr. Judy Farvolden presented a deputation to the City of Toronto Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the release of the city’s “Freight and Goods Movement Strategy” at their meeting October 6, 2020.
She addressed many aspects of the strategy and outlined research goals of the Smart Freight Centre that reinforce the proposed plan, emphasizing that “adaptability” – identifying, anticipating and adapting to emerging trends, innovations and risks affecting the freight and goods movement industry – is a cornerstone of the Smart Freight Centre’s research program.
Farvolden adds, “As Councillor Layton pointed out [in the Q&A following Farvolden’s deputation], urban consolidation centres create an opportunity to put delivery items on vehicles more appropriately sized for travel and loading/unloading on city streets. Enabled by provincial legislation, some of them could be cargo bicycles, but smaller delivery vehicles too, eventually electric. And maybe these urban consolidation centres will take some trucks off our busy urban highways.”
Read: Dr. Farvolden’s Deputation on Freight and Goods Movement Strategy, October 6 2020.
Watch and listen: Videorecording of Infrastructure and Environment Committee, meeting 16, October 6, 2020 on YouTube
Read: City of Toronto Freight and Goods Movement Strategy Report for Action IE16.1. The Freight and Goods Movement Strategy outlined in this report is recommended to enhance freight and goods movement operations throughout the City of Toronto.
Link: Smart Freight Centre website.