Why GTA transit has one ‘last mile’ to go

It's that “last mile” between a transit line and home or office that keeps people in their cars. Ryerson University is gathering experts to figure out what to do about it.

Thestar.com
Sept. 19, 2016
By Ben Spurr

The GTA has a transit problem, and it’s called “the last mile.”

The term, popular among transportation planners, describes the dilemma posed by transit systems that are able to move people over longer trips, but offer few solutions for carrying passengers the relatively short distances between transit hubs and commuters’ homes or destinations.

There’s no better illustration of the problem in the GTA than the fact that Metrolinx, the regional transit agency that operates GO Transit, is the largest parking provider in North America, boasting 70,000 spots across its network.

Nearly 60 per cent of GO passengers drive to their station, 14.7 per cent more are dropped off or picked up by a private vehicle. This means the majority of GO trips don’t provide a major benefit of transit - taking cars off the road.

On Tuesday night, Ryerson University’s City Building Institute will convene a meeting of local and international experts to discuss the “last mile” problem. Participants in the “Solving the Last Mile” event include Mississauga and York Region officials, ride-sharing experts, academicsand Metrolinx planners.

According to Cherise Burda, the institute’s executive director, now is the perfect time to discuss solutions. Not only is the GTA’s population expected to grow by 3 million over the next 25 years, but the province has embarked on a $13.5-billion project to electrify and dramatically increase GO service.

Over 15 years, the regional express rail (RER) initiative is expected to increase GO’s annual ridership from 54 million to 127 million. Burda argues Metrolinx won’t be able to accommodate all those new passengers by building more parking.

“You can’t just keep adding parking spots; there’s a limit,” Burda said. “Then you just get more crowded stations, you get more congestion.”

Solutions aren’t straightforward, in part because of the GTA’s sprawling population. As Burda notes, “we can’t build subways and rail to every neighbourhood.”

Possible answers include encouraging active transportation (cycling, walking), more ride-sharing and carpooling, and using driverless cars. Transit-oriented development would also decrease distance between stations and homes and workplaces.

Antoine Belaieff, Metrolinx director of regional planning, said the answer to the last-mile problem probably lies in a mix of solutions. But the agency isn’t about to stop building parking any time soon.

“We can never get enough parking. We know that it accommodates people’s lives ... but we also want to encourage other modes,” he said. “It’s about giving people options.”