Build transit as community infrastructure, not just mobility
Canada’s transit investments should prioritise adaptable, transit-oriented communities that integrate housing, jobs and public space, backed by long-term policy and funding.
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By Torontoer Staff
Across Canada, new rapid transit projects are reshaping how cities grow. Edmonton’s Valley Line, Toronto’s Line 5 Eglinton and Surrey’s upcoming King George Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit corridor offer more than faster trips, they present a generational opportunity to knit mobility to housing, public space and local economies.
The aim should be transit-oriented communities, not merely transit-oriented development. That distinction matters: communities require integrated services, affordable housing, meaningful public space and adaptable design so neighbourhoods can change as needs evolve.
What transit-oriented communities look like
Transit-oriented communities treat transit as an organising piece of urban infrastructure. Stations are anchors for mixed uses, walkable streets and social infrastructure such as schools, health services and community hubs. The result is greater travel choice, lower household transport costs and concentrated economic activity that supports local businesses.
Transit must be treated as community infrastructure, not just an engineering project. That allows stations to anchor housing, jobs and public life as the city grows.
Craig Sklenar, design principal, Arcadis Canada
Lessons from other regions
Denver and Minneapolis–St. Paul show the outcomes when transit planning is paired with land-use policy and sustained stewardship. Denver combined a regional light-rail network with density and design profiles for stations, producing vibrant districts such as Union Station and River North. Minneapolis–St. Paul aligned investment and community engagement along the Green Line, and nearly 40 per cent of new regional development is now concentrated on less than 4 per cent of land along transit corridors.
Those examples share common features: clear expectations for station-area character, coordinated regional agencies that secure long-term funding, and early community participation to shape benefits like public space and affordable housing. Canada’s projects can replicate these elements while adapting to local contexts.
Design and policy priorities
- Assign density and character profiles to stations, so growth aligns with local capacity and needs.
- Prioritise walkability and active transportation with safe, human-scale streets and direct connections.
- Integrate mixed uses: housing, jobs, services and cultural space within short walks of transit.
- Reserve land and funding tools for affordable housing near transit, to prevent displacement.
- Design stations and corridors to enable future upgrades and development above or beside transit infrastructure.
- Invest in quality public spaces, plazas and green corridors that support daily life around stations.
Governance, funding and community stewardship
Technical design matters, but governance determines outcomes. Regional planning bodies or stewardship agencies need clear mandates, stable funding and authority to align transit, land use and infrastructure investment. Public‑private partnerships can help, provided agreements protect public benefits such as affordable housing and public space.
Early and sustained resident engagement reduces conflict and improves equity. When communities shape trade-offs and benefits up front, projects are more likely to deliver accessible housing, local jobs and improved public amenities rather than only new buildings.
Why resilience matters
Resilience in this context means adaptability over decades. Transit assets must be planned for upgrades and changing demand, and neighbourhoods should be equipped to absorb growth without losing social or economic diversity. Policies that lock in short-term gains but fracture social ties undermine long-term resilience.
Bus rapid transit demonstrates how different modes can anchor communities. Surrey’s King George Boulevard project uses rapid buses alongside plazas and green corridors to link residential, employment and cultural zones. Not every corridor needs rail to catalyse change, but every corridor requires deliberate land-use and public-space planning.
Practical next steps
- Set station-area frameworks before major construction completes, covering density, public spaces and housing targets.
- Create or empower regional stewardship bodies with multi-decade funding horizons.
- Use value capture and targeted incentives to fund affordable housing and public amenities.
- Mandate early community engagement and measurable local benefits in project approvals.
- Design transit assets for vertical growth and adaptable uses to avoid costly retrofits.
Canada’s transit expansions will define urban patterns for generations. Judging projects solely on delivery timelines misses the point. The real measure should be whether investments create complete, connected and resilient places that improve daily life while adapting to future needs.
transiturbanismhousingLine 5 EglintonBRT
