Author: Dr. Loleen Berdahl
Transportation systems-both roads and public transit-are critical to the successful functioning of cities. Unfortunately, as numerous researchers have documented, Canada’s urban areas face a growing backlog of transportation infrastructure construction, maintenance and replacement.
This infrastructure debt impedes the ability of cities to accommodate population growth, and has negative long-term consequences for the environment, economy, public health and safety, and the operating costs that taxpayers will have to cover. The Looking West 2007 Survey finds that many urban residents consider transportation to be a key issue for their city. However, urban residents are also opposed to many of the funding options-such as increased taxes, debt and user fees-that are available to finance transportation infrastructure projects