WSP Canada Inc. was commissioned by Metrolinx to research and develop a major new study, "New Mobility", which examines the changing nature of mobility.
The term “new mobility” includes many forms of transportation arising from changing user needs and demands; from new and emerging technologies, such as mobile apps, and from transformative business models. The “New Mobility” report identifies global and regional trends most important to new mobility in four key areas: transformative technologies, new government roles, user needs and desires, and urban form and the built environment. These include consideration of technology-driven increases in automation, connectivity and information sharing through the Internet of Things, automated vehicles and future proofing infrastructure.
The report imagines two different future scenarios and how they might unfold; one path sees strong government direction, while another considers a more organic, less deliberate process. From these scenarios, the report outlines potential impacts to government policy and operations and identifies strategic directions, organized into six themes to guide government action, including: Government Re-Imagined, New Mobility is the New Transit, The User is King, Driving the Cities We Want, All About the Data and Plan for the “Known Unknowns”.
