Rural road safety funding, Canada’s shifting EV strategy, and the true cost of world-class transit are all in focus this week. Welcome to the Good Roads Bulletin Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and policy stories—fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.
This week, our hosts discuss three developments shaping roads, transit, and infrastructure funding in Canada and beyond:
🚜 Advocating for Safer Rural Roads
Good Roads President and Hornepayne Mayor Cheryl Fort appeared at provincial pre-budget consultations in Thunder Bay, calling for dedicated funding to improve safety on rural and northern roads. With vast road networks, limited tax bases, and infrastructure designed a century ago, municipalities face growing safety and liability risks without adequate provincial support.
⚡ Canada’s National EV Strategy Takes Shape
The federal government has revised its electric vehicle approach, replacing sales mandates with rebates, emissions standards aligned with Europe, and a new $1.5 billion EV infrastructure fund. As the U.S. steps back from emissions tracking, Canada appears to be charting a different path—raising important questions for municipal infrastructure planning and charging networks.
🚍 What Would It Take to Fix American Transit?
New research estimates that bringing U.S. public transit up to international standards would require $4.6 trillion USD over 20 years—still less than what’s planned for highways. The analysis highlights how vehicle density, long-term investment, and global benchmarks could reshape transit debates, even amid political resistance.