Low-Carbon Mobility Actions in Canadian Municipalities

This comprehensive study explores a wide variety of collaborative actions that Canadian cities can lead to encourage the use of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) across all modes of transport to address GHG and air pollutant emissions and alleviate congestion. The project report serves as a public-facing best practice guide for municipalities to inform the establishment of low-carbon mobility actions.

Four broad areas for municipal action to encourage the use of ZEVs are explored in detail: low-emission zones, restricted road accessparking space removal, and congestion pricing. An exploration of these broad areas for action is supplemented with 32 complementary areas on topics ranging from infrastructure and public transit, to active transportation, financial levers, regulatory instruments, partnerships, and urban planning and design.

The report incorporates an assessment of critical aspects of low-carbon mobility actions such as environmental and economic costs and benefits, common barriers and methods to overcome them, and social equity and fairness. It draws from a series of case studies from leading global municipalities, and frames findings in a Canadian context.

A companion report exploring the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19 on municipality-led low-carbon mobility actions and public transit was developed to provide guidance to Canadian cities and transit agencies as they navigate the impacts of the pandemic.