Issue
Transportation systems are intrinsically linked to economic development. There is a growing trend in the transportation planning literature, and in the developed plans of both national and provincial organizations, to consider best-practice for this discipline in terms of multimodal transportation planning.
A cost-effective and efficient transportation network in Alberta requires a systematic planning approach collaboratively directed by a provincial body. Specifically, it requires all key public and private sector organizations in the province to work together in coordinating a holistic transportation system where long-term development objectives that provide an equitable, cost-effective, and reliable means of moving people and goods are examined.
Background
Transportation has long been recognized as playing a critical role in the overall prosperity of a society. It is one of the systems that virtually all Albertans utilize and depend on daily.In a very competitive and integrated world economy, most businesses require access to efficient and cost-effective transportation services to export their merchandise to the market or to access imported goods. Alberta exported $206.42 billion worth of all products to all markets in 2022, which means most of Alberta’s $331.5 billion 2022 GDP was dependent on international trade in one fashion or another.
Thus, remaining competitive in international markets is essential for maintaining and enhancing the standard of living in Alberta, particularly as our province attempts to diversify our economic base and minimize the impact of crude oil market fluctuations.
Recommendations
That the Government of Alberta:
- Work with the federal government to ensure the specific needs of transportation are economically significant and merit a proportional share of investment;
- Work together with other levels of government to improve transportation and mobility throughout the province. Opportunities for collaboration beyond funding partnerships should be explored;
- Plan and select transportation projects to promote an awareness of the importance of transportation and transportation choices to the economy, the environment and social lives of Albertans and Canadians;
- Commit to an integrated and multi-modal approach to transportation infrastructure policy and planning; and
- Create a policy and regulatory environment that incentivizes technological advances in the transportation sector.
