Urban Transit Infrastructure Symposium, Western Canada

Join us for this in-depth and practical panel providing insights on transportation concerns from their constituents and how urban transit infrastructure can contribute to solutions to urban transits funding and long-term planning challenges.

Points of discussion will include:

• Examining key municipal priority projects and next steps
• Understanding the importance of a regional approach to urban transit and coordinating across multiple jurisdictions and sectors
• Analyzing ridership trends and outlining opportunities and barriers with current transit infrastructure

Industry, government, and legal authorities will provide project status updates and discuss recent developments in project delivery for major transit projects in Western Canada. They will share insights on collaboration, building partnerships, and best practices in project delivery. This cutting-edge information will help you understanding how the alignment of priorities across sectors can improve transit project delivery.

Projects for discussion include:

• The Calgary Green Line: Update on phase one progress, takeaways and prioritize needs prior to proceeding to phase 2
• The Surrey Langley SkyTrain project: Next steps, best practices, and take aways for other transit projects across Canada
• Updates on other major urban transit projects in Western Canada, including the Broadway Subway Project

With the Federal Government prioritizing reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, the need for Indigenous partnerships and consultation on transit projects is increasing. For example, in the City of Vancouver, the Indigenous owned Jericho Lands demonstrates a partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments to advance both rapid transit projects and major development opportunities. Join our panelists for a timely discussion on the benefits of as well as pending requirements for consultation.

• Analyzing the recently approved Jericho Lands Policy Statement and implications for the proposed Millennium Line UBC Extension (UBCx)
• Considering the potential opportunities presented by the Musqueam Indian Band’s University Golf Club land holdings and the potential UBCx rapid transit project
• Devising best practices and understanding legal requirements for indigenous consultation on transit projects

Urban transit ridership is becoming an increasingly studied area for behavioural science professionals. Through the lens of cognitive thinking, we will consider the motivations and barriers driving ridership are changing the perception of using transit. Learn cutting-edge people management insights from behavioural science experts relative to ridership and urban transit usage.

• Examining new research on the factors influencing transportation choices and the public perspective on how transit can create livable cities
• Evaluating factors influencing the impression of safety and convenience on transit lines
• Learning how to adapt successful people management solutions across differing ridership populations and demographics
• Understanding how the expansion of the tech sector in Vancouver changed population demographics and the appetite for public transportation

Canada, along with other countries, is planning for major policy shifts to address population growth which will undoubtedly impact urban transit infrastructure. This panel will address how urban transit will meet the demands and preferences of a growing and socio-economically diverse population.

• Planning housing and transit hubs together – City of Surrey Case Study
• Analyzing the new BC zoning legislation and implications for transit providers and related sectors, including development levees and rights to lands surrounding transit hubs
• Strategizing the next phase of project infrastructure funding based on population growth and changing socio-economic factors
• Understanding the next steps for integrating transit planning across densifying urban areas

Global inflation has increased costs for materials and services are impacting project timelines, organizational capacity, and supply chain management. Urban transit projects in Canada are not immune from these inflation-based global challenges. Join us to brainstorm with urban transit stakeholders on ways to increase funding for transit projects in inflationary economic times.

• Deciphering new trends in transportation funding and the impacts of funding multi-modal transportation systems on streamlining expenses and optimizing government funding
• Gauging the potential for mobility pricing to generate income for transit projects in an inflationary economy
• Evaluating the funding gap between transit ridership and funding potential- explore how government works together and the mobility pricing options available to propel transit systems into the future

Transit has a key role to play in achieving net-zero emissions In this session, our panelist will show you how supply chain management, procurement, and sound logistical planning can accelerate the progress towards net-zero in Western Canada, while also saving costs. Join us as we convene senior transit professionals from both the public and private sectors to revisit the latest trends in procurement and to critically assess if alternative delivery models are working.

• Maximizing efficiency in your net-zero strategy through supply chains and procurement improvements.
• Designing cities with integrated planning to facilitate net-zero transit designs
• Case studies on successful net-zero projects across the West
• Evaluating the effectiveness emerging trends in transit procurement, such as progressive design-builds
• Exploring market volatility and its impact on procurement progress