Urban Transit Infrastructure Symposium, Western Canada

Global inflation is driving up material and service costs, affecting project timelines, capacity, and supply chains. While federal funding is dedicated to capital projects including upgrades to transit infrastructure, how can transit agencies and municipalities overcome budget shortfalls and avoid service cuts?

This panel will discuss funding solutions during times of budget constraints, and declining fuel taxes.

• Managing shortfalls and gaps in revenue and exploring new avenues of funding and finance
• Analyzing the impact of multi-modal transportation funding on expenses and government optimization
• Exploring how mobility pricing can generate revenue for transit projects in an inflationary economy
• Assessing how collaboration between government and mobility pricing can bridge the gap between ridership and potential funding

Vancouver is one of the most congested cities in North America. This session will explore the pros and cons of congestion pricing which could generate funding for transit infrastructure reduce traffic and pollution.

• Assessing how congestion pricing has worked in cities including Singapore, London, Stockholm, Milan and most recently in New York
• What has been the impact on travel time for cars and buses and has there been an increase in transit use?
• What barriers would need to be removed for congestion pricing to be considered for Vancouver?

This session will discuss high speed, high frequency rail proposals for Western Canada including commuter rail in Alberta as part of the Alberta Regional Master Plan, and the Cascadia Innovation Corridor proposal linking Vancouver, Portland and Seattle.

• Exploring developments and timelines on Alberta’s passenger rail master plan for commuter rail connecting Calgary, Edmonton, regional parks and the Calgary Airport Banff Rail Connector
• Next steps for the Cascadia High-Speed Rail corridor connecting the metropolitan areas of Vancouver, Seattle, WA and Portland, OR to foster economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development in the Cascadia megaregion

The construction sector in British Columbia, and across Canada, is facing an unprecedented workforce crisis. Global geopolitical instability continues to disrupt supply chains—not just for materials but for the skilled trades professionals needed to deliver critical infrastructure projects. Governments are making record infrastructure investments, yet labor shortages threaten project timelines, costs, and long-term benefits to communities.

The challenge is clear: how do we overcome these disruptions and build a resilient, skilled workforce capable of delivering the transit infrastructure our cities need?

This session will provide strategic insights into:

• Overcoming global instability’s impact on the workforce
• Building workforce stability in transit projects
• Lessons for future transit projects in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver

This panel will provide project updates and discuss recent developments in project delivery for major transit projects in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Projects for discussion include:

Vancouver

• Surrey Langley SkyTrain: next steps for procurement of three separate contracts (Guideway, Stations, Systems) and how the province envisions the collaboration between the three Project Companies to go forward
• Updates on plans for the UBCx, Burnaby Mountain Gondola and the Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit

Calgary

• Progress on the Green Line, Blue Line Extension (NE) and Red Line Extension
• Updates on the first Progressive Design Built transit project in the West – the Green Line Phase 1, and the city’s plans for LRT expansion

Edmonton

• Updates on the first half-year of service on Valley Line Stage 1, construction on Valley Line Stage 2 and the procurement of a Design-Builder for the Capital Line South Extension

British Columbia faces significant challenges, including an unprecedented housing crisis, environmental pressures from climate change, and growing personal vehicle use, placing strain on urban transportation resources.

Addressing these challenges requires sustainable, accessible transit solutions that enhance quality of life, including buses, BRT, trams, LRT, and automated systems like monorails and subways.

This session will spotlight LRT technologies, exploring cost, urban integration, scalability, environmental impact, and future opportunities for implementation in British Columbia.

With the emergence of mobility options and development of intermodal systems this session will discuss available opportunities for a seamless journey experience.

• Overview of new mobility options and Initiatives by transit agencies and others to offer a seamless journey experience
• Assessing the integration of transportation modes like micro transit, bike share and other on-demand options
• What options are there to enhance bus and rail service?

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are transforming urban transit in Western Canada, offering high-capacity, efficient, and reliable bus services. This session will highlight developments across Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg:

• Progress and updates on TransLink’s three new BRT corridors: King George Boulevard, Langley Centre to Haney Place, and Metrotown to North Shore
• Plans for the implementation of traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, and real-time information systems
• Future integration of zero-emission buses and enhanced station infrastructure
• Calgary’s North Central BRT Improvements, phase I, and plans for Phase II that will become the future right of way for Calgary’s Green Line to the north end of the City
 
• Edmonton’s plans for city-wide BRT and district BRT, to support a population horizon of 1.25 million people
• Winnipeg’s Southwest Transitway busway and initial stage of the Southwestern Corridor and Eastern Corridor