Abstract Manager

Durham Region is experiencing significant population and employment growth, leading to increased travel demand and notable congestion on its roadways and public transit systems. The region's roadway network features a substantial highway and major arterial road system that accommodates both local and regional trips. The variation in land use—from urban centers to suburban neighborhoods and rural areas—introduces diverse congestion and travel challenges. Urban areas face high-density traffic challenges, while suburban and rural regions encounter issues related to network density, connectivity, accessibility, and capacity constraints.

Durham is unique due to its diverse land use—encompassing urban centers, suburban neighborhoods, and rural areas—as well as its varied socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic profile, which impacts car ownership rates and reliance on public transit. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive, multimodal approach that includes alternative modes of travel, which can help alleviate congestion at critical hotspot locations and enhance mobility, safety, efficiency, sustainability, and equity.

Durham Region's public transit system, though not yet fully comprehensive, is evolving as a primary response to these growing congestion issues. Significant investments have been made to enhance infrastructure and services. These initiatives aim to provide additional travel options, stimulate local economic growth, and accommodate increasing population and employment to combat traffic congestion.

The daily influx of residents and workers into Durham Region necessitates a holistic and regional approach to transportation planning and congestion management, one that fosters complete communities. This approach involves influencing travel patterns at both regional and local levels by promoting a variety of transportation options for all road users.

This presentation will explore how creating complete communities that consider the travel needs of different areas, user groups, and abilities, and support diverse modes of transportation can alleviate regional congestion and travel challenges. It will begin by defining and understanding congestion in various contexts within Durham Region, including by land use (rural, suburban, urban), by mode (vehicular congestion, pedestrian crowding, bicycles, and transit), and by type (recurring and non-recurring). The presentation will then examine the root causes, magnitude, and frequency of different types of congestion. This understanding will form the foundation for developing targeted and tailored strategies and solutions to address both current congestion and anticipated future growth in travel demand.