As Toronto Pearson becomes one of the world’s true mega hubs, our focus is not only on air travel, but on all dimensions of connectivity. Over the next decade, we see our airport evolving to integrate transit, rail and other key modes of ground transport. And we’re actively building the partnerships that will make that vision a reality.
Leadership in Transit
In February 2017, the GTAA announced plans for an integrated regional transit centre at Toronto Pearson. Working with all levels of government, as well as Metrolinx and other ground transportation agencies, we’ve proposed a hub that will bring together existing and proposed rail and bus networks in the region and ultimately link much of Southern Ontario. Our 2017–2037 Master Plan envisions the transit centre being developed in conjunction with a new airport terminal, which will relieve pressure on our existing terminals by providing check-in services and security screening for passengers arriving by transit, rail and road.
Currently, only about 10 per cent of passengers and Toronto Pearson employees use public transit to access our airport. That volume will need to rise dramatically as we keep pace with growing demand for air connectivity. Our goal is to have 30 per cent of all passengers travel to and from Toronto Pearson via transit by 2037 – a target that many top-tier global airports have successfully achieved by incorporating ground transportation centres.
But getting air travellers moving better is just one part of a much bigger story. More than 300,000 people who now work in the Airport Employment Zone (AEZ) have few transit options and make their daily commute on roads that are perpetually clogged. A new transit centre will improve traffic flow throughout the region by better connecting communities around Toronto Pearson, and by facilitating more convenient and sustainable commuting across the heavily travelled Northern Arc of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). As with our community investment efforts, we’re focusing in particular on priority neighbourhoods in Etobicoke, Mississauga and Brampton, whose residents are most affected by our operations – and who have much to gain from improved mobility and economic opportunity in the AEZ.
Like the other leaders in this collective effort, we know that superior ground transportation will advance both connectivity and productivity. The regional transit centre will make it easier for people to get to their current jobs or look for better ones. Employers in the growing AEZ will have greater access to the region’s rich talent pool. And everyone who needs to connect with the wider world will be able to reach our airport more quickly and reliably.
Describing an Arc
As Toronto Pearson has taken on a more active role in helping to integrate regional transportation networks, we’ve sharpened our focus on the corridor urban planners call “the Northern Arc,” which spans Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham and the upper part of North Toronto. Recent commuter studies in the GTHA show that of more than 100,000 daily trips between downtown Toronto and its western suburbs along the shores of Lake Ontario, 57 per cent are via public transit. By contrast, of nearly 200,000 trips along the Northern Arc, transit handles less than 9 per cent – and as little as 3 per cent in communities such as Markham.
The reason for this discrepancy is obvious: where transit is limited, people choose to drive. But it’s equally clear that when they have viable options, as is the case in the western GTHA, they’re pleased to escape traffic-jammed roads. Our proposed regional transit centre at Toronto Pearson will be ideally situated to offer Northern Arc commuters more efficient and less stressful alternatives to driving across the city – and help reduce our carbon footprint in the bargain.
Catching the Bus
As we’ve evolved our longer-term ground transportation strategy, we’ve also addressed a need for enhanced bus services at Toronto Pearson. In recent years, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Mississauga’s MiWay network, Brampton Transit and the provincially run GO Express system have all begun operating more frequent local services to and from our airport. And in April 2017, Greyhound resumed operations at Toronto Pearson, providing direct bus service to 10 cities in Southern Ontario and connections to more than 3,800 destinations across North America.
30% transit ridership is Toronto Pearson’s goal for 2037. Today, only 10 per cent of passengers travel to and from our airport by public transit. By comparison, London Heathrow and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, which are about the same distance from their city centres, have riderships of 36 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively – while Hong Kong leads the world with 63 per cent.
Stronger Together
Southern Ontario is poised for dramatic growth over the next three decades. As its population and economy grow, demand for air travel will follow.
Recognizing that no single airport will be able to support the forecasted demand alone, Toronto Pearson and 10 of the region’s most commercially significant airports launched the Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN) in 2017. Our goal is to develop a more integrated air transportation network, optimizing current capacity and coordinating investments to meet growing demand in Ontario’s industrial heartland.
Over time, we anticipate that there will be an evolution and specialization of airport roles consistent with how other multi-airport regions around the world have developed – for example, in Los Angeles, New York and London, England.
While it will take decades to achieve our long-term goal, we’ve established three priorities for the next five years:
- Raise awareness and profile of the SOAN airports.
- Promote Southern Ontario with the goal of attracting greater tourism, trade and foreign direct investment.
- Develop a common database that will allow all airports to understand the future needs of this growing region and identify air service development opportunities.
Our partners in SOAN are Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, Kingston/Norman Rogers Airport, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, London International Airport, Oshawa Executive Airport, Niagara District Airport, Peterborough Airport, Region of Waterloo International Airport and Windsor International Airport. As a network, we also engage with Transport Canada to understand its plans for a potential future airport in Pickering.
You can learn more about our efforts at the SOAN website: www.soairportnetwork.com.
Learn more about how we help our communities prosper and grow
Job creation. Better transit connections. Building stronger communities. And listening closely to our stakeholders as we balance competing priorities. It all comes down to getting everyone moving better.