Governance Models for Successful Regional Transit: Who Owns It? Who Pays for It? Who Delivers it?

Transit presents unique challenges for metropolitan regions. On the one hand, transit systems in cities like Toronto, New York, and London draw riders from across the surrounding region and are essential to these economic regions. On the other hand, transit systems serve a vital local function. Transit systems don’t just get commuters to work. They connect neighbourhoods – a purpose that can get lost when thinking on a regional basis.

These varied demands raise important governance questions. In tightly connected metropolitan regions, who should make transit decisions? Who should run the system? Who should pay for it? On February 21, Michael Schabas explored how different cities and regions around the world have confronted these questions.