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Ontario’s 2012

Transit-Supportive Guidelines

Ontario East Municipal Conference September 12, 2012 Ministry of Transportation

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First published jointly by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) in 1992.

1992 Guidelines focused on transit-friendly land use planning and urban design practices.

2012 Guidelines update land use content and introduce a new chapter on transit improvement strategies.

Provide strategies, tools and resources to assist municipal planners, transit agencies and others in creating an environment that is supportive of transit and developing services and programs to increase transit ridership.

Introduction

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Context

The Guidelines are intended to assist municipalities in implementing the policies and objectives of the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS).

Other recent provincial initiatives that support the development of compact, complete, transit-friendly communities make an update timely:

Greenbelt Plan

Growth Plans for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Northern Ontario

The Big Move, Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan

Provincial priority to increase transit ridership across Ontario

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Many municipalities are growing

Ontario’s population will grow from 13 million to 17 million by 2031

Congestion is a major concern with significant economic impact

Changing demographics will mean more seniors dependent on transit

Major transit investments have been made

Since 2003, the Ontario government has invested more than $13.4 billion in public transit

Transit ridership is growing

Investments are paying off – in 2010, there was an increase of nearly 132 million passenger trips on municipal transit systems compared to 2003.

Context

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Benefits of transit-supportive planning

There is increasing recognition that building transit-supportive communities can help achieve sustainable development and an improved urban environment by:

Supporting healthy, active, age-friendly communities

Addressing environmental challenges

Reducing congestion, travel times and transportation affordability

Promoting economic competitiveness

Making more efficient use of infrastructure

Transit-supportive land use patterns are also pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly, making it safer and easier to use active transportation along with transit.

Walkable neighbourhoods can have a particular impact on community health:

For every 5% improvement in the walkability of a neighbourhood, adults tend to walk and cycle 32% more

Risk of obesity can decline by 4.8% for each km walked per day and can increase by 6% for each hour spent in a car per day

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Role of the Guidelines

Collection of best practices, strategies, case studies, references for municipal and transportation planners to transit operators and managers

Guidance for all communities, not just big cities.

Topics specifically targeted to small and mid-sized communities

In-depth case studies illustrating innovative transit-supportive initiatives undertaken by smaller centres and rural areas.

Strategies intended primarily for larger communities and those intended for smaller towns are identified for easy reference.

For use by municipalities and other planning authorities, with the expectation that municipalities will adapt these guidelines and examples to the specific circumstances of their community.

The Guidelines provide guidance not only for formal planning processes such as official plan reviews, but also for transit improvement and other related initiatives, such as transportation demand management programs.

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Transit-Supportive Policies

The Guidelines are intended to assist municipalities in implementing Provincial Policy Statement policies and objectives, including policies related to:

Integrating transportation and land use considerations at all stages of the planning process.

Promoting opportunities for intensification and compact urban form.

Identifying growth areas, nodes and corridors and related density targets.

Promoting a land use pattern, density and mix of employment and housing uses that minimizes vehicle trips and supports transit and other alternative modes of transportation as viable mode choices.

Promoting the use of public transit and other alternative modes in and between residential, employment and other areas.

Focusing travel-intensive land uses on sites well served by existing or planned public transit, or designing these to facilitate future service.

Protecting of corridors and rights-of-way for transit and related facilities.

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New Format

1992 version was black and white with simple drawings

New design and layout provides for both quick reference and more in-depth reading

Each guideline includes topic objective and summary followed by detailed strategies

Symbols indicate the applicable community size and planning scale for each strategy

List of linked resources

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Small communities - less than 50,000

Mid-Size – 50,000 to 150,000

Large – 150,000 to 500,000

Big City – greater than 500,000

Site – site and building scale

District – subdivisions, district secondary plans

Municipal – town or city-wide

Regional – multiple municipalities

New Format

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New Content

• A comprehensive resource and reference tool • Over 200 pages of text and illustrations • 54 sets of guidelines • Over 500 separate strategies • 13 in-depth case studies as well as numerous

shorter examples • Links to further resources on the internet

• Expanded content includes:

• Transit improvement strategies • Transit service and operations • Planning and performance monitoring • Enhancing user experience through trip planning

and accommodation • Growing ridership through targeted strategies

• Increased emphasis on walking and cycling • Expanding reach of transit via cycling • Enhancing walk/bike connections to transit • Supporting pedestrians and cyclists

• Other key issues • Accessibility, sustainable design, complete

streets, transportation demand management

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Document Structure

1. Community-Wide Guidelines

• Community structure • Regional mobility planning

2. District-Level and Site-Specific Guidelines

• Layout of streets and open spaces • Creating complete streets • Enhancing access to transit • Parking management • Specialized uses

3. Transit Improvement Guidelines

• Service and operations • Planning and performance monitoring • Enhancing the experience • Targeting ridership

4. Implementation

• The planning process • Innovative planning approaches • Inspiring change • Funding and investment