Agenda
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Day 1
May 29, 2024
Federal Insights
Insights on Federal Government Transportation Infrastructure Priorities for Eastern Canada
Infrastructure Canada Speaker
Transport Canada Speaker
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from the Federal Government about their transit infrastructure priorities for 2024. They will also discuss drivers of funding, the transit needs of Canadians, and key priority project updates.
Municipal Insights
Understanding the Drivers behind Eastern Canada’s Municipal Transportation Infrastructure Priorities: A Mayoral Perspective
Councillor Jamaal MyersScarborough North, Chair of the TCC
Join us for this in-depth and practical panel featuring elected officials who will provide insights on concerns from their constituents about how urban transit infrastructure can contribute to transportation solutions for Eastern cities. Engage in topics such as funding projects, adapting timelines to accommodate priorities, listening to ridership concerns, and more. Points of discussion will include:
- Diagnosing municipal funding challenges and solutions for funding time sensitive Eastern transit projects
- Understanding how integrated planning for transit and housing can address the congestion concerns facing Eastern cities
- Envisioning what an accessible, livable, and clean city would look like and the role Eastern transit projects play in taking us there
Networking Refreshment Break
Compton BobbSenior Project EngineerCity of Brampton
Marlon MerraroDirector of Diversity and CultureTTC
Uzay OzinceSenior Vice President, Transit-Oriented DevelopmentInfrastructure Ontario
Transforming traditional infrastructure with transit and land-use integration is a key objective to reduce congestion in areas with urban densification across Eastern Canada. Synergy between industry and government and collaboration across municipal boundaries is needed to make this happen. Join us as we examine case studies from Ontario’s largest transit projects. Industry, government, and legal authorities will provide project status updates and discuss recent developments in project delivery for Eastern Canada.
- Examining the success of the City of Brampton LRT Extension Study including lessons learnt and next steps
- Assessing the partnerships needed to excel in project delivery and key trends in neighboring sectors
- Exploring successful models and potential barriers and opportunities for enhancing collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to maximize the benefits of transit-oriented development
Travis AllanChief Legal & Public Affairs Officer FLO EV Charging
Alyssa ShivjiPartnerBlakes Law
Procurement is one of the essential puzzle pieces for transit projects to contribute to Canada’s Net-Zero goals. Designing net-zero heavy rail systems requires integrated project design and procurement planning. In this session, untangle how integrated logistics can accelerate the progress towards net-zero while also saving costs.
- Calculating embodied carbon in materials procured for transit infrastructure, and how to integrate embodied carbon into net-zero plans
- Fulfilling the knowledge gap around tools, challenges, and how to collaborate with suppliers for transit project delivery and on-time completion
- Integrating transit project design and procurement planning with carbon neutral objectives: how to merge objectives and work together
Networking Luncheon
Keziche Ikeka LLB, LLMSenior Manager ProcurementRoyal Canadian Bank
Magda SabatVice President Pre-ConstructionPomerleau Inc.
Increased project costs for materials and services due to global inflation are impacting project timelines and funding security for Eastern transit projects. Challenges associated with inflation such as organizational capacity, long-term planning, and stabilized funding continue to grow. Join us to brainstorm with urban transit experts to consider ways to increase funding for Eastern Canada’s transit projects in inflationary economic times.
- Examining policy levers to combat inflation and understanding how they are influencing urban transit funding
- Gauging the appetite for implementing mobility pricing to generate income for transit projects in an inflationary economy
- Case Study from New York City: The pros and cons from Implementing a congestion tax on North America’s largest urban transit system
- Appreciating how an agile supply chain strategy can cut costs and increase funding capacity for Eastern Canadian transit projects
Lee CaragialeTransportation Equity LeadHDR
Marlon MerraroDirector of Diversity and CultureTTC
Dr. Frederick PetersYork University
A successful transit project leverages infrastructure to meet the needs of the people. As population demographics shift across Eastern Canada, the motivations and barriers driving ridership are changing the business case driving demand. Unlock cutting-edge people management insights for refining and thinking the business case driving ridership and urban transit usage in Eastern Canadian cities.
- Examining new research on the factors influencing transportation choices and the public perspective on how transit can create livable cities across Eastern Canada
- Evaluating factors influencing the impression of safety and convenience on transit lines
- Learning how to leverage successful people management solutions across differing ridership populations and demographics
- Exploring the impact of first-and-last-mile transit planning on ridership trends and perception of trip planning ease
Networking Refreshment Break
Simon MinelliDirector Research, Technical Services & Industry Programs CUTA
Aled ab IorwerthDeputy Chief EconomistCMHC
Uzay OzinceSenior Vice President, Transit-Oriented DevelopmentInfrastructure Ontario
Kirk JohnstonPresidentEco-Efficiency Consulting
Julia StefanishinaPartner and Senior Vice President Ernst & Young LLP
As cities continue to grow at a rapid pace, the integration of transit and land use planning becomes increasingly crucial for fostering sustainable, livable communities. In this session, we will delve into key topics surrounding transit-oriented development, community displacement, collaborative efforts between real estate developers, municipalities, and transit operators, aiming to explore innovative strategies and best practices to achieve synergy between transit and land use planning in urbanizing areas.
- Exploring the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in transit and land use planning, including real estate developers, municipal governments, and transit agencies
- Understanding the social and economic implications of transit infrastructure development on existing communities, including gentrification and displacement
- Discussing strategies for effectively integrating mixed-use development, affordable housing, and public spaces around transit nodes to create vibrant, walkable communities
- Identifying equitable approaches to mitigate displacement and preserve affordability while promoting transit-oriented development
Stephan MillerPolicy LeadTransit App
Matthew Di TarantoPublic Transit PartnershipsUber
Ray CherreySafety and Regulatory Affairs StrategistMotor Coach Canada
Integrating modes of public transit to facilitate travel is a critical aspect of maintaining committed urban transit ridership and building a competitive advantage. In Eastern Canadian cities, multiple options for urban transit exist in city centers, but integrating with other modes of public transit is critical for accessing underserved areas. Join us as we explore how private and public organizations can work together to put systems in place to facilitate the convenient and seamless movement of riders across Eastern cities.
- Exploring how the province is supporting integration of modes of urban transit to address first and last mile transit solutions
- Promoting ride sharing as part of transit ridership strategies for underserved transit areas across Eastern Canada
- Utilizing third-party applications to streamline travel planning for Eastern Canadian urban transit riders
- Streamlining mass transit systems by matching service levels more closely to demand
- Exploring public transit in waterways and the potential of this newly explored market
Conference Adjourns to Day 2
Day 2
May 30, 2024
Refreshments and Networking
Andy ByfordVice President of OperationsAmtrak
Let’s welcome Andy Byford, VP of Operations at Amtrak. Prior to his role at Amtrak, Andy achieved renowned for his work on the London, Toronto, and New York City subway systems. Andy prides himself on understanding the “why” behind outputs for transit projects and finding the inputs needed to get commuters to where they need to go. Let’s strategize together in this session on how to apply global best practices to Canadian urban transit infrastructure.
BETTER TOGETHER: How the Use of Consortiums can Provide Solutions to Challenges in Transit Project Management
Josipa PetrunićPresident & CEOCUTRIC
Joshua StrubPartnerMargie Strub Construction Law
The transit infrastructure projects of today are exceedingly complex. Many key stakeholders are needed to ensure a successful project. In this session we will focus on how one consortium of leading stakeholders is managing Ontario’s largest infrastructure project.
Join us for a unique opportunity to hear directly from transit operators and other consortium member organizations on their successful execution of ambitious Eastern urban transit projects. We will also examine lessons learned and strategies that can be applied to other provinces and territories.
- Structuring partnerships that work: Understanding efficiencies and pain points from Canada’s first consortium of transit companies
- Designing strategic plans across multiple stakeholders, process design for smooth knowledge transfer
- Examining the impact of economy of scale on cost savings on large transit projects that can be applied across other Eastern Canadian transit projects
Networking Refreshment Break
Focus on Tech Integration
Innovative Digital Solutions: How Emerging Tech is Expediting Transportation Operations Across Eastern Canada
Naina DewanManager Innovation & SustainabilityTTC
Tyler SeedTransit Electrification Lead PowerON Energy Solutions
Matthew SladeVice President EllisDon
John StepovyDirector of Partnerships North AmericaBusBud
- Discovering how digital solutions can facilitate timely and organized interactions with transit stakeholders and build organizational capacity by identifying inefficiencies
- Implementing new technologies into complex, multi-stage transit projects through strategic planning and change management strategies
- Uncovering change management strategies to facilitate rapid integration of new technologies to urban design processes for infrastructure projects
Focus on Tech Integration
Safety on the Rails: Keeping Eastern Canadian Transit Riders Safe: Exploring Cyber Threats and More
Ryan R. ChambersPartnerAird & Berlis LLP
Anshul SrivastavaChief Information Security OfficerToronto Transit Commission
Protecting both transit assets and riders is a primary concern of transit operators. From physical safety concerns to cyber security breaches, safety on the rails is an essential aspect of building resilient transit systems. As Eastern Canadian cities continue to densify and transit system usage increases, the size and quality of data needing protection also increases, making the need for cyber security protections critical. Join transit and cyber security experts for an in-depth panel on threats facing Eastern Canadian transit projects and solutions from top industry experts.
- Formulating secure methods for Eastern transit operators
Lunch Break
Focus on Tech Integration
Future on Track: Accelerating Transit System and Infrastructure Design in Canada with AI Innovations
Jeff WalterDigital Consulting Lead- Canada AECOM
By utilizing AI, automation, and data analytics, organizations can achieve tangible improvements that lead to better service, reputation, and savings. AI can be the game-changer in transit project delivery, and in this session, we will explore the integration of AI in enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and user experience of Eastern Canadian transit systems.
- Learning what you need to know about safely integrating AI into transit system design planning
- Articulating the risks associated with AI use and creating a check list of key considerations for project managers and urban designers
- Forecasting savings across transit design projects from utilizing AI automation and data analytics
- Envisioning the future: Forecasting the impact of AI on Eastern Canada’s transit systems in the next decade
Focus on Tech Integration
Fare Integration – Building Synergy Across Eastern Canada’s Transit Systems
Josh ColleVice-Chair of Integrated MobilityCUTA
Vincenzo BarbatanoStrategy ManagerOntario Ministry of Transportation
Facilitating smooth transactions across transit systems for riders is critically important in Eastern Canada’s densifying urban areas. As ridership increases into lesser serviced transit regions, the need to eliminate double fares with the TTC is a key priority for Ontario transit regulators. Learn how integrated fare systems can automate revenue collection and facilitate one fare payment. This session will focus on solutions that enable transit operators to facilitate smoother transactions with customers and stakeholders.
- Understanding how to integrate fares and automate revenue collection across different modes of urban transit available in Eastern Canada
- Examining how to eliminate double fares and encouraging riders to consider all forms of Eastern transit options
- Predicting the impact of free transfers for riders moving between transit systems
Focus on Tech Integration
A Non-Lawyers Guide for Navigating New Legal Obligations Impacting Construction and Infrastructure Projects in Ontario
Kyle M. LambertPartnerMcMillian Law
Lena WangPartnerGlaholt Bowles LLP
Throughout 2023, the provincial government in Ontario has reviewed 86 changes to the Ontario Construction Act, to overcome gaps and glitches in the 2019 legislation. These changes, though some are minor, are making a big impact on consultation design, planning, and project implementation. Attend and learn how to implement changes into your work plans and transit projects.
This session will also address dispute resolution options, legal and regulatory challenges relating to contracts, and other pressing matters:
- Analysing the New Ontario Transit Oriented Communities program and its obligatory approach to the incorporation of public transit into urban and other community development projects
- Understanding new contractual obligations relative to transit within community benefit agreements and how to design agreements for efficient transit project completion
- Reviewing the legislation’s restriction on adjudications and how the proposed amendments can expedite transit project timelines
Focus on Tech Integration
Big Data Analytics: A Breakthrough in the Field of Urban Transit Planning and Delivery
Brendon HemilySenior Advisor Transit AnalyticsLab (TAL)
Big Data Analytics can generate the statistics needed to inform evidence-based decision making in transit project design and delivery. Join us as we explore how to apply Big Data Analytics to improve the performance of future projects in Canada’s growing Eastern transit systems. Come prepared to ask your questions! Topics of discussion will include:
- Understanding how big-data analytics has enabled the collection of vast amounts of data and how this data has improved the efficiency and safety of Eastern Canada’s urban transit systems
- Exploring how big data analytics can be used to monitor traffic patterns, predict congestion, and optimize routes for public transportation
- Learning from other industries how big data analytics can adjust key policy decisions and ridership predictions to inform operational transit planning