Mobility Network Research Consortium
The Greater Golden Horseshoe region is experiencing rapid growth, which is a positive indicator of economic vitality and an opportunity to enhance the livelihoods of its residents. This expansion benefits Ontario and the country at large by driving innovation, attracting talent, and fostering a dynamic economy. However, this growth also brings significant challenges. Infrastructure and housing development have struggled to keep pace with past growth, and projections suggest we will continue to lag behind future needs. This disparity places immense pressure on the urban system, leading to increased congestion, declining affordability, rising carbon emissions, and a potential decline in the quality of life for future generations.
To face these challenges, governments across the region have well-articulated goals for transportation equity, sustainability, and improved coordination between housing and transportation development. However, there are knowledge gaps regarding which policies, investments, and infrastructure decisions are best suited to achieve these aims. Addressing these gaps requires not just new data and analysis, but the co-creation of research that engages the realities and priorities of public, private, and community stakeholders. The MNRC is designed to fill this need by providing a platform for collaborative research in support of evidence-based decision-making, generating new tools, methods, and policy recommendations that bridge the divide between strategic objectives and actionable solutions.
To catalyze the region’s shift towards a sustainable, equitable, and thriving future, the MNRC offers a dynamic platform for research, collaboration, and policy impact. By fostering coordinated research and training efforts that address the most pressing transportation challenges across the GGH and beyond, the MNRC positions itself as a leading network at the intersection of academia, government, industry, and community. This prospectus outlines the MNRC’s vision, structure, and opportunities for partnership to drive this shared agenda forward.
To face these challenges, governments across the region have well-articulated goals for transportation equity, sustainability, and improved coordination between housing and transportation development. However, there are knowledge gaps regarding which policies, investments, and infrastructure decisions are best suited to achieve these aims. Addressing these gaps requires not just new data and analysis, but the co-creation of research that engages the realities and priorities of public, private, and community stakeholders. The MNRC is designed to fill this need by providing a platform for collaborative research in support of evidence-based decision-making, generating new tools, methods, and policy recommendations that bridge the divide between strategic objectives and actionable solutions.
To catalyze the region’s shift towards a sustainable, equitable, and thriving future, the MNRC offers a dynamic platform for research, collaboration, and policy impact. By fostering coordinated research and training efforts that address the most pressing transportation challenges across the GGH and beyond, the MNRC positions itself as a leading network at the intersection of academia, government, industry, and community. This prospectus outlines the MNRC’s vision, structure, and opportunities for partnership to drive this shared agenda forward.
Vision and Mission
The MNRC envisions a future where transportation planning and policy are informed by innovative research and a shared commitment to sustainable, equitable, and efficient mobility. Our mission is to build a robust, interdisciplinary network that fosters collaboration among governments, academia, communities, and industry partners to advance the state of transportation knowledge and practice in the GGH.
Priority Themes
Each year, the MNRC will identify priority themes that align with regional needs. These themes will guide the selection of research projects and ensure that the consortium’s efforts are focused on the most relevant issues. Initial themes are expected to include:
Integrated Regional Planning
Focusing on the importance of thinking and modeling regionally to ensure cohesive and integrated development across the region, with an emphasis on user-centered perspectives and strategies that promote coordinated and sustainable growth.
Transportation and Housing Affordability
Exploring strategies to increase the
supply of missing middle housing along transit corridors, leveraging transit
investments to drive affordable housing development, and fostering the creation of
complete communities that are oriented around sustainable transportation options.
supply of missing middle housing along transit corridors, leveraging transit
investments to drive affordable housing development, and fostering the creation of
complete communities that are oriented around sustainable transportation options.
Transportation and Climate Justice
Investigating how transportation policies can advance climate resilience and social justice by identifying solutions that bridge the gap between these goals. Often, strategies aimed at reducing emissions can conflict with equity objectives, leading to unintended social consequences. Our approach aims to align climate and equity priorities, ensuring that climate resilience efforts do not exacerbate existing disparities but instead contribute to more inclusive and sustainable communities.
Why We Need the MNRC
The Greater Golden Horseshoe faces complex challenges that require coordinated, research-driven solutions. The MNRC will enable:
Strategic Research Prioritization
Enable a more consistent and strategic approach to identifying and addressing multilateral priorities for transportation research, augmenting existing practices often driven by bilateral partnerships.
Workforce Development
Equip the next generation of transportation professionals with the collaboration opportunities and specialized training needed to excel in the field. By providing students with practical research experience and exposure to multidisciplinary team environments, we prepare them to enter the workforce with the applied skills and confidence to translate academic knowledge into practice, bridging the gap between university education and real-world application.
Policy Impact
Create mechanisms to ensure that research-based transportation policy recommendations are both robust and nonpartisan, promoting the strongest ideas to drive regional progress.
Knowledge Community
Establish and maintain a sustained community of transportation planning thought leaders who are committed to evidence-based decision-making and a shared vision for the region’s future.
Structure and Funding Requirements
Managed by the Mobility Network within the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, the MNRC will be collectively governed by a diverse steering committee comprising representatives from across the partnership. This committee will guide the consortium’s vision, mission, and strategic direction, ensuring that it remains aligned with local, regional and national priorities.
The MNRC is seeking an annual budget of $1,000,000 in direct costs, along with an associated $400,000 for University of Toronto overhead. This budget will support:
Six research projects annually, each funded at $100,000. These projects will be co-created by MNRC participants and carried out by collaborative teams led by UofT faculty.
$400,000 will be allocated to support program management, knowledge transfer, and training staff. Staff will ensure the smooth operation of our programs, while focusing on making our research accessible to consortium members through the development of tools, training programs, and policy briefs.
A premier event that will highlight advances in transportation planning and research situated within our region. Geared towards academic and practitioner audiences, the conference will not only highlight MNRC research projects but also cover a broad range of topics relevant to the transportation community, creating a new venue for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
We will organize roundtables, debates, and expert panels on key research projects; host workshops on emerging trends in transportation and urban planning; publish thought pieces, op-eds, and policy papers; and facilitate collaborative brainstorming sessions to drive innovative, evidence-based solutions for regional challenges.
Research Project Selection and Deliverables
Research projects within the MNRC will be selected by a committee using predefined scoring criteria to ensure alignment with MNRC’s annually identified priority themes. Funded projects are expected to deliver:
Academic Outputs
Peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
Clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers.
Peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
Data, Tools, and Models
Sharable resources for adopting research findings into practice.
Workshops and Knowledge Mobilization
Events and activities designed to disseminate research findings to MNRC members and broader audiences, including community groups, the public, and the private sector.
Membership Benefits
Membership in the MNRC offers several significant benefits:
Influence on Priority Areas
Members actively participate in shaping the MNRC’s research agenda, with direct input into the annual selection of priority themes and research projects that align with regional and organizational needs.
Partnership Opportunities
Members will co-create research projects and collaborate with leading experts in transportation and urban planning, ensuring that the projects are tailored to solve specific, real-world challenges faced by the member’s organization or community.
Access to Results
Members receive access to comprehensive research reports, detailed policy briefs, and practical workshops designed to translate findings into actionable strategies, enabling members to stay ahead in implementing innovative transportation solutions.
Knowledge Community
Membership connects you to an interdisciplinary network of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, offering exclusive invitations to roundtables, conferences, and seminars where cutting-edge research and innovative practices in transportation are discussed and shared.
MNRC Development Timeline
We are aiming to launch the fully funded consortium by Fall of 2025. We will be hosting our first annual conference in February 2025, followed by a MNRC leadership workshop to establish an initial MOU. We anticipate negotiations continuing into the summer of 2025, and a launch of the first round of research funding in September 2025.
Conclusion
The Mobility Network Research Consortium represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of transportation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. By joining the MNRC, partners will be part of a transformative initiative that not only addresses today’s challenges but also lays the groundwork for a sustainable and equitable transportation future. We invite you to collaborate with us and contribute to this pioneering effort.
Please contact Professor Steven Farber, Director of the Mobility Network, at steven.farber@utoronto.ca to learn more.
Please contact Professor Steven Farber, Director of the Mobility Network, at steven.farber@utoronto.ca to learn more.
Partners
