The fifth edition of the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s (CUTA) transit infrastructure needs survey has estimated the infrastructure requirements of transit systems across the country to be $40.1 billion for the period 2008–2012. Canada’s infrastructure needs over the period include bus, subway, LRT and commuter car purchases and refurbishment, development and construction of fixed guideways and rights-of-way such as BRT and LRT, new and improved maintenance facilities, stations and terminals, new park and ride facilities, the implementation of transit priority measures, new customer amenities. Transit systems were asked to list their budgeted capital infrastructure needs for the next five years (2008–2012) by dollar value. These were categorized by expenditures for replacement or rehabilitation, expenditures for expansion in response to population growth or promotion of new ridership; expenditures currently planned (under existing funding programs) and additional needs that can only be met through new external investment. The need for investment in transit is real as currently many transit systems are operating at or beyond their design capacity, and some systems are facing significant latent demand that cannot be satisfied without major investment in service improvement and capacity expansion. Additional pressures are also being put onto transit systems as they are expected to play an increasingly important role in ensuring access and mobility for Canada’s urban communities today and into the future.
