Perspectives on Collaboration
Presentation to Travel Demand Modelling in the GTHA
Organizational Structure and Regional Collaboration
Systems Analysis and Forecasting Office
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Benefits of Collaboration
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Provides for opportunity to be borderless – Travel
patterns and needs are not limited to any one geography
Offers reduced costs for data collection and data sharing
Enables state of the art planning and investment tools
that are grounded on a consistent foundation for any
level of analysis
In the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Growth Plan has
established our planning framework
The Greater Golden Horseshoe Model is the Provincial
tool that applies that framework at the macro level
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Current Project Applications
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GGH model provides a common modelling framework and travel forecasts for the
ministry, agency and municipal studies
The GGH Model is currently in use to support:
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Metrolinx RTP, Benefit Case Analysis and ongoing Metrolinx Assignments
Niagara-GTA, GTA West EA, 407 East Extension, and Highway 407 Transitway
Environmental Assessments
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Provide GGHM outputs under different network options to consultant team for subsequent
analysis and tailored results for Economic Evaluations
Provincial Highway planning, design and investment prioritization
Peterborough & Simcoe Area Studies
Opportunity study of Dedicated Truck lanes on 400 Series Highways
Infrastructure Ontario Highway 407 East Revenue Analysis
Regions of Halton and Niagara in their planning needs
MTO continues our commitment to work closely with GTHA municipal agencies to
incorporate critical assumptions in their municipality e.g., population and
employment allocations, road and transit projects, etc.
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Role of GGHM in Regional Planning
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GGHM is designed as a regional forecasting platform to support MTO and
other provincial agencies in their demand forecasting needs
GGHM is NOT designed to replace other modelling efforts that currently
exist in different municipalities within GGH
GGHM is a strategic forecasting tool and not designed to replace the
project level forecasting in a detailed planning/implementation phase
 Provides the starting point for more refined modelling
GGHM can provide the regional travel context so municipalities can focus
their resources on planning within their regional boundaries
 Provide layer of inter-regional flows that can act as references to other
models
 Provide layer of zonal base flows from outside to internal GTHA
 Provide layer of estimated inter-regional truck flows
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Ongoing Coordination between Agencies
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GTHA municipalities have a long history of co-operation in data collection
through TISC, TRADMAG.
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A new working group was set up last year to promote co-operation in data
collection for Active Transportation in GTHA
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TTS and Cordon Counts good examples of pooling resources to deliver a
product that is of common benefit
Produce an inventory report on the AT database available in the GTHA
A working group was set up to develop the 2006 road and transit networks
for the GTHA
Last year the GTHA Modelling Group was re-convened with the following
objectives:
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Sharing of planning data
Sharing modeling related knowledge and experience
Working co-operatively on issues that are of common interest to members
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Enhanced Co-operation
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Major participants in the transportation forecasting and
modelling business include public sector, consultants and
academic interests. Each has a distinct role to play:
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Public Sector – provide day to day modelling support and establish
future development needs to support upcoming priorities
Consultant Industry – provide expertise and advice to clients as well as
resources for product delivery
Academic – to conduct leading edge research and develop insight in
upcoming trends through contact with world wide academics and
other practitioner
The co-operation between different players should not be
limited just to product delivery but more on knowledge and
skill transfer so the general modelling standard within the
GTAH can be improved.
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Enhance the Role of Research in Modeling
Applications
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Academic sector can be leading edge in the development of
new approaches and methodologies
Universities are well positioned to undertake research and
make connections with worldwide experts that are part of
their community
The role of academic-consultant in project support should be
considered as they can provide products, approaches or
services that might not be available from consultants
Academic sector can engage more widely on research
initiatives that other agents and promote their application
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Today’s Discussion
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Common objective to improve the travel demand forecasting
standard within the GTHA – open to addressing individual
needs
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Challenge to balance immediate modelling needs with that of research
timelines
Further work needed to establish regional gaps and objectives
– distinguish between funding and modelling gaps
Build on strengths, a forum of exchanges of ideas, knowledge
and experience that is inclusive to all parties
 Tradmag Modelling Working Group
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Wikispace
Reduce barriers that prevent flows of planning data and
modelling output between practitioners
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