Abstract Manager

Freight and Goods Movement is an integral component of Durham Region’s transportation and economic systems. As one of the fastest growing regions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), it is critical that we provide efficient, continuous and connected movement of goods to support economic competitiveness as well growth, development, land use and the transportation network and operations. However, with the unprecedented growth municipalities across Ontario are facing, there is a growing gap with regards to municipal government’s understanding and how they are responding to current pressures and challenges facing the freight and goods movement industry and its stakeholders. To respond to the changing needs of goods movement in Durham and the GGH more broadly, Durham Region hosted a two-day Freight and Goods Movement Forum in June of 2022 to help identify specific goods movement issues and to find ways to address them in partnership, acting as a coalition of “goods movement champions” and addressing opportunities and challenges. The Forum balanced local and global issues and innovations and helped foster collaboration and coordination with broader GGH initiatives and other governments/ agencies to promote effective goods movement throughout the GGH. Drawing on insights into goods movement trends and real-world best practices and precedents presented at the Durham Region Freight and Goods Movement Forum, this presentation will highlight strengths, challenges and opportunities for industries that produce, move and store goods, and share key takeaways that municipalities, government agencies and industry partners can use to adapt practices to better support freight and goods movement throughout the GGH.