Making modern cities livable
Ontario is in the midst of the biggest transit building boom in a generation, and along with it comes vast opportunities for transit-oriented communities (TOCs) to flourish. TOCs are dense, mixeduse neighbourhoods with attractive streetscapes and parks, where residents can have all their daily needs met locally within walking distance, while transit provides the backbone for longer trips.
Much of the current activity on transit-oriented communities is happening in the suburbs, where major transit investments are spurring huge community development opportunities.
Amidst a housing affordability crisis, the success of transit-oriented communities to enable households of all ages and stages to thrive will have a profound impact on the future trajectory of the region.
However, to date, the transit-oriented communities being developed are struggling to meet their promise.
The challenge of creating livable transit-oriented communities that respond to diverse community needs resonates deeply with my lived experience as a first-generation immigrant navigating the landscape of suburban Thornhill and Vaughan’s emerging downtown.
More than a decade ago, my family immigrated to Canada from Iran. We settled in Thornhill’s Beverley Glen neighbourhood in Vaughan, which quickly became our new home. Beverley Glen, with its generous sidewalks, small-scale buildings, schools, shops, local cafes, and parks provided a pleasant setting for walking within the neighbourhood. Strolls through Beverly Glen created moments of joy and connection that defined everyday life in the neighbourhood, infusing it with a sense of home. Yet, the suburban nature of the area and disconnectedness from major transit made commuting to university and work long and costly.
In early 2021, we relocated from Beverly Glen to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), adjacent to Vaughan’s newly launched subway line, at the heart of the City’s emerging downtown. The idea of living near major transit, and in one of the first buildings shaping the City’s skyline, all at a more affordable cost sounded promising.
Yet, the reality of life in the VMC turned out to be very different from my expectations, bringing about a profound shift in my travel patterns and lifestyle. The neighbourhood lacked connectivity and was filled with disconnected empty sidewalks, sprawling roads, warehouses, and overcrowded surface parking lots.
Life in the VMC relied heavily on cars, introducing a sense of detachment from the neighbourhood. The once-pleasant daily walks were replaced by lengthy drives and traffic jams, while the vibrant scene of the neighbourhood park from my room window gave way to a landscape dominated by parking lots, warehouses, and trucks.
The lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, limited amenities and increased travel expenses exacerbated the feeling of disconnection, negatively impacting my mental well-being. Throughout my time in the VMC, I witnessed firsthand the pressing challenge of fostering a sense of belonging in a community hindered by infrastructure gaps.
Over the past year as a master’s of planning student at the University of Toronto, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my experiences living in Thornhill and the VMC, and study the foundations that make for successful transit-oriented communities in my major research paper, under the supervision of Professor Matti Siemiatycki.
From my research findings, it becomes evident that the promise of transit-oriented communities often falls short of expectations, especially for early residents.
Building successful TOCs is complex and lengthy, yet there’s an urgent need for transition towards incremental development strategies.
Creating truly vibrant, accessible, sustainable and diverse transit-oriented communities in suburbia calls for context-specific approaches and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, to ensure that the parks, schools, grocery stores and community centres do not come years or decades after the first residents move in.
As transit-oriented communities continue to expand across Ontario, it is crucial for stakeholders to devise collaborative strategies and innovative financial models to accelerate the development of the amenities that make for livable neighbourhoods.
Now is the time to work together to build transit-oriented communities that truly reflect the aspirations and values of diverse residents across the region.