Toronto City Council has approved the City’s first Freight and Goods Movement Strategy that will help make transportation of freight and goods safer, more reliable and more sustainable in and around Toronto.
The Freight and Goods Movement Strategy identifies 24 strategic actions that the City, led by the Transportation Services division in partnership with other divisions and external partners, will undertake immediately and over the next several years.
The actions support improvements to Toronto’s transportation system to make it more efficient and reliable for shipments and freight movement, to reduce the negative impacts on the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduce negative impacts on neighbourhoods most affected by shipments, and by improving safety for people using roads across the city.
The strategy will help Toronto address pressures brought on by increased demand for:
While the strategy was initiated and for the most part completed in pre-COVID-19 times, the current pandemic has given new urgency and profile to the importance of the optimal management of freight and goods movement in Toronto and enabled the City to accelerate some early pilot projects.
Toronto is experiencing unprecedented growth. The city’s population is expected to increase from 2.96 million in 2018 to 4.27 million by 2046, an increase of 44.5 per cent. Freight and goods movement industries are significant contributors to the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment.
In 2018, industries related to the movement of freight and goods contributed about $57.9 billion, accounting for about 30 per cent of GDP and employed about 630,000 Toronto residents, representing about 44 per cent of the workforce.
The full report is available on the City website.
Quotes:
“Improving how goods and products are moved in Toronto has great benefits for industry, residents and our economy now and during our recovery from COVID-19. Our city is growing rapidly, and the demands on shipping companies, manufacturers and local businesses are enormous with the rise of commerce, especially online shopping. This strategy anticipates future innovations for this industry while addressing concerns brought on by congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and the safety of residents, all while keeping Toronto economically vibrant.”
– Mayor John Tory
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.