Transportation Justice in Suburbia - A Case Study of Downtown Planning Initiatives

Post-war suburban development has, for years, embraced an automobile-oriented growth pattern through the separation of land uses and low-density built forms that are attuned to the convenience of the car. Suburban streetscapes have therefore had very little space for other transportation modes to flourish. Automobile-dependency is in fact a cultural norm, particularly among the middle class. In recent years, Ontario provincial planning and growth policies have addressed the concerns put forth by automobile-dependency and sprawl, mandating intensification of built-forms that facilitate a multi-modal shift aimed towards more sustainable transportation options, such as walking, cycling, and transit.Such a framework could create a more equitable transportation network that caters to people from multiple socio-economic backgrounds, especially those who are limited in their opportunities to afford or use vehicles. However, transportation justice, though it serves as an indirect by-product of a multi-modal balance, has been negated and overlooked as a key growth framework. Alas, intensification strategies have resulted in the growth of suburban downtowns as the primary growth model to facilitate such a balanced modal split, but there is little empirical evidence to suggest that such a framework is successful in reducing the rate of reliance on vehicles. This paper evaluates downtown planning strategies and concludes that although they may facilitate a balanced modal split within the downtown, such a pattern does not produce a significant impact on the rest ofSuburbia, where automobile dependency is most prevalent.