Abstract Manager

Transit projects across Canada require collaboration between agencies and entities to achieve the best outcomes. There is often a general consensus about what we want our cities to look like and about broad regional visions. However, when actors come together to implement and actualize projects and programs, challenges often arise around realizing this shared vision.  

Governance is not about government alone but how multiple stakeholders – public agencies, industry, the public, and other actors – across regions organize themselves to make decisions and provide services.  

Traditional governance models often struggle to meet the challenges posed by the complexity of modern transit systems. Ambitious goals such as seamless and integrated development call for “fit for purpose” approaches to decision-making, accountability, and authority allocation to deliver results efficiently and effectively.  

The presentation will provide insights into how governance is vital to good decision-making. The learning objectives for this session are: 

• Learn about the principles of good governance, key framing concepts, and why governance is critical to the success of any transit project, agency, or entity. 

• Learn about what often gets in the way of effective governance and how to spot these in your own context.  

• Understand how leading regions, agencies and entities are re-thinking governance to be more effective at all scales: from individual projects and programs, to organizational design, to institutional mandates. 

• Applicable lessons on how you can help your agency, city, or community think differently about governance for your next project or initiative. 

Drawing on various examples from Canadian agencies and entities, this presentation will explore governance best practices using a case study approach. Each case study will highlight key elements and principles of good transportation governance.  

Attendees will leave with an understanding of how clarity on roles and accountabilities, clarity on mandates and building the political will for projects and programs, aligning the tools with the challenges faced by agencies and entities, and clarity on the measures of success can act as strong foundations of good governance.