Canadian Urban Transit Association

Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) is a trade association for the urban transit industry in Canada.

History

It was originally established in 1904 as the "Canadian Street Railway Association". Since that time it has grown to nearly 500 members, including 120 transit systems, 250 manufacturers, suppliers and other businesses, as well as numerous affiliates and government agencies.

Mission statement

The CUTA mission is to strengthen public transit's contribution to the quality of life, environment, health, mobility and economic development of Canadian communities, and to help members fulfill their mandates.

Activities

CUTA's main office is located in Toronto, with a government relations office in Ottawa. The Association's primary activities include facilitating two conferences per year, one trade exposition entitled "Trans-Expo", numerous magazines and bulletins, a detailed statistical database, research, training and government advocacy.

Transit Vision 2040

In 2009, CUTA embarked on an initiative that involves the development of an industry vision, framing a comprehensive definition of the role of public transit in Canada for a 30-year time horizon. Transit Vision 2040 communicates transit's contribution to quality of life, the nature of change likely to take place in our communities by 2040, the implications these changes will have on transit, and strategic directions for actions that can maximize transit's contribution to our quality of life.

Transit Vision 2040 is about putting transit at the centre of communities through stronger government policy and decision-making frameworks, and better community planning and design. It is about revolutionizing service in all types of communities through expansion and innovation, so that transit systems can both encourage and serve growing demands as they keep pace with the changing face of cities and towns. It is about focusing on customers and accelerating the delivery of flexible, integrated transit services that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and discriminating clientele. It is about greening transit to further reduce the industry's ecological footprint, improve energy efficiency and limit greenhouse gas emissions. It is about ensuring financial health through enhanced transit infrastructure and operating investments by all orders of government, more progressive approaches to generating revenue, and new efficiencies in service delivery. Finally, it is about strengthening knowledge and practice so that Canada's transit industry can more effectively respond to future opportunities and challenges.

This Vision takes a long-term view, but it is intended to guide concrete short-term actions by CUTA, its members and other stakeholders. The Vision has particular relevance for transit agencies and can serve as a framework for strategic planning efforts by individual systems.

Members

• BC Transit
• Brampton Transit
• Burlington Transit
• Calgary Transit
• Grand River Transit
• South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority
• Hamilton Street Railway
• Kingston Transit
• London Transit
• Metro Transit (Halifax)
• Mississauga Transit
• OC Transpo
• Oakville Transit
• Société de transport de Montréal
• Thunder Bay Transit
• Toronto Transit Commission
• Transit Windsor
• York Region Transit
• DuponTrolley Industries
• Orion Bus Industries

External links

• CUTA Web Site