Abstract Manager

Transportation Master Plans (TMPs) are an excellent tool in our efforts to provide policies and actions to improve mobility options, and to work towards broader city, provincial, and federal visions around sustainability, equity, economy, and resiliency. However, TMPs face challenges in terms of achieving the desired change in the mobility environment and limited follow-through. In many instances, TMPs end up sitting on shelves or being replaced before the policies, actions, and projects have been implemented.  In other cases, the ideals and vision set out at the beginning of TMP development are not reflected in the ultimate recommendations. This presentation will identify challenges to change and implementation, explore potential causes for these challenges, and offer solutions to make TMPs more effective.

This presentation will explore elements of different TMPs to establish a baseline on how TMPs tend to be structured. Referring to select case studies, this presentation will discuss how the structure of the TMP impacts recommendations, and how the presence of TMPs have impacted mobility networks and outcomes. Challenges and barriers to change will be discussed, such as how land use is approached, funding sources, and external factors that affect how TMPs are developed and applied. It will also touch upon the lack of incentives to see that TMPs are followed through.

At the same time, many TMPs have already made significant strides to mitigate these barriers. This presentation will note how some TMPs have overcome these challenges through public engagement, implementation plans, and vision-driven technical approaches. It will also propose refinements to the process to encourage TMP implementation and to encourage stronger ties between transportation and land use. The presentation will suggest methods to carry over TMP recommendations to project implementation more effectively and to make sure that these recommendations work to achieve the TMP’s vision.