Op-Ed: Reimagining mobility for Canada’s transit future

By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the global population will be living in urban areas.   

Canada’s vast geography, seasonal climate and distinctly regionalized transportation systems make our transit challenges especially unique. Canadian urban centers face congestion, emissions and aging infrastructure while rural and remote communities suffer from limited connectivity and a lack of robust transportation options.  

These issues demand bolder and smarter transit solutions that look beyond traditional modes of buses and trains.   

In a recent study, the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) collaborated with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to explore non-traditional transit modes that might offer solutions.   

Thinking outside of traditional transit frameworks, aerial transit, on-demand transit, ferries and e-bikes can play a role in moving people more efficiently while simultaneously cutting emissions.   

The term aerial gondola may conjure images of ski resorts, but they are redefining urban mobility in cities worldwide. In Medellín, Colombia, the city’s Metrocable system connects underserved and isolated hillside neighborhoods with the metropolitan center, serving more than 400,000 residents and connecting them to the local metro network at a fraction of the cost of traditional transit.   

Gondolas are not just foreign solutions, either. In Burnaby, B.C., TransLink has proposed the Burnaby Mountain Gondola to drastically reduce travel times and emissions for Simon Fraser University students and staff. With their lower upfront construction costs, minimal dependency on land and ability to operate in adverse weather conditions, gondolas are a serious mobility solution for Canadians year-round.  

Shared bikes and e-bikes can be perceived as a nuisance to non-cyclists and car drivers, but from a mobility perspective, they are transforming global urban landscapes. Amsterdam's extensive cycling infrastructure has created a world-class system where bikeshare reduces car use as a matter of fact. Montreal’s BIXI system is mirroring these achievements even in our northern climate. Micromobility thrives with the right infrastructure in place—dedicated lanes and accessible docking stations.  

These modes can overcome short-distance travel barriers and reduce congestion in urban cores.  

Canada has lots of water – rivers, lakes and coastlines. But its urban centers often fail to capitalize on this natural connectivity. Ferries are an obvious and underutilized mode of transit that could directly alleviate pressure on bridges, tunnels and packed urban streets. Halifax offers a clear lesson here. The city's ferry system is embedded within the transit network, linking neighborhoods across the harbor with efficiency and reliability. Brisbane, Australia, demonstrates how well-designed ferry systems can contribute to regional growth. High-frequency services in the city not only reduces road congestion, but also creates waterfront hubs of economic and social activity. Canada can prioritize integration between ferries and our existing transit systems to ensure these networks operate frictionlessly for users.  

Low-density areas and rural communities across Canada often lack transit systems that are both accessible and efficient. In Belleville, Ontario, by replacing underutilized fixed-route services with on-demand technology, the city boosted transit ridership by 200 percent. Flexible scheduling and route adaptability ensure timely service for users while optimizing operational costs.   

When municipalities harness public-private partnerships to implement these systems, scalability becomes achievable. On-demand transit offers a new lease on mobility for communities traditionally underserved by the existing transit framework.  

Autonomous public shuttles, operating through artificial intelligence and human oversight, represent a forward-looking innovation. International trials—such as Monheim, Germany’s fleet of 24-hour autonomous minibuses—are demonstrating the potential for safe, reliable self-driving transit.  Pilot programs in Montreal have explored similar opportunities for our unique urban contexts.  

The widespread deployment of autonomous vehicles demands careful attention to regulatory, ethical and technological hurdles. Transit agencies should consider new ways of delivery, partnering with suppliers who already have the knowledge, skills and expertise to design, operate and build these systems. Municipalities must overcome public skepticism by engaging in pilot projects that test scalability within the Canadian landscape.  

Realizing the promise of alternative modes requires more than just vision. It demands bold investment with a focus on productivity in mind.  

Building resilient, efficient and sustainable transit is urgent today. Canada has the resources, technology and expertise to lead the world by example. Mobility moves people faster, cheaper and more efficiently, helping to build a robust economy for the 21st century ahead. We have the opportunity—indeed, the obligation—to transform how our nation moves.