Improving the competitiveness of metropolitan areas

Summary: There is much concern about the competitiveness of the nation's metropolitan areas. Particular attention has been directed toward the generally longer commute times of Canadian workers and the diminished competitiveness that occurs as a result. New Democratic Party transport and infrastructure critic Olivia Chow has proposed a National Transit Plan, while organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) have called for additional funding for transit to help reduce commute times and improve metropolitan competitiveness. This paper reviews the potential of transit to improve the economies of metropolitan areas and offers recommendations.