Transportation in Canada

Last Updated : 18 Mar, 2024

Canada is dedicated to having efficient, high-capacity multimodal transportation that can cover huge distances between urban, agricultural, and natural resource exploitation sectors. Canada’s transportation network consists of more than 1,400,000 kilometres of roads (870,000 miles), 300 commercial ports and harbours that provide access to the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, and the Pacific oceans, 10 major international airports, 300 smaller airports, and 72,093 kilometres (44,797 miles) of operational railway track.

In this article, we have covered, transportation in Canada, upcoming technology and the difficulties confronting Canada’s transportation system and much more!

Transportation Infrastructure in Canada

Following is the in-depth overview of transportation infrastructure in Canada:

Roads

Road Network Statistics

Canada has a total of 1,042,300 km (647,700 mi) of roads, with 415,600 km (258,200 mi) paved, including 17,000 km (11,000 mi) of expressways.
As of 2008, 626,700 km (389,400 mi) were unpaved.

Vehicle Registration and Usage

In 2009, there were 20,706,616 road vehicles registered in Canada.
96% of registered vehicles were under 4.5 tonnes, while 2.4% were between 4.5 and 15 tonnes, and 1.6% were over 15 tonnes.
Total vehicle travel distance was 333.29 billion kilometres, with most of it (303.6 billion km) by vehicles under 4.5 tonnes.

Transportation Contribution to GDP

Trucking generated 35% of the total GDP from transport, surpassing rail, water, and air combined.
Roads are the dominant means of passenger and freight transport in Canada.

Significant Road Links

The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, handles a quarter of the US-Canada trade.
Internationally, Canada has road links with the lower 48 US states and Alaska.

Infrastructure Development

Management of roads and highways transitioned from provincial and municipal authorities with the initiation of projects like the Alaska Highway during World War II and the Trans-Canada Highway project.
The Trans-Canada Highway, spanning 7,821 km (4,860 mi), was completed in 1962 at a total expenditure of $1.4 billion.

Regulatory Framework

Regulations governing Canada’s highways include the 1971 Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the 1990 Highway Traffic Act.

Road Safety

Canada’s road safety is moderately good by international standards, improving accidents per head of population and billion vehicle kilometres.

Railways

Railway Network Overview

In 2007, Canada had 72,212 km (44,870 mi) of freight and passenger railway, with only 31 km (19 mi) electrified.
While intercity passenger rail transportation is limited, freight transport remains common.

Railway Revenue and Operations

Total revenues of rail services 2006 were $10.4 billion, with only 2.8% from passenger services.
In a typical year, about $11 billion is earned, with 3.2% from passengers and the rest from freight.

Major Railway Companies

Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are Canada’s two major freight railway companies, operating across North America.

Freight and Passenger Statistics

In 2007, 357 billion tonne-kilometres of freight were transported by rail, with 4.33 million passengers travelling 1.44 billion passenger kilometres.
Employment in the rail industry totalled 34,281 people in the same year.

Passenger Rail Services

Nationwide passenger services are provided by the federal crown corporation Via Rail.
Three Canadian cities have commuter rail services: Montreal (Exo), Toronto (GO Transit), and Vancouver (West Coast Express).

Smaller Railways

Smaller railways like Ontario Northland, Rocky Mountaineer, and Algoma Central operate passenger trains to remote rural areas.

Railway Infrastructure

Railways in Canada use standard gauge, 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) rails.

International Connectivity

Canada has railway links with the lower 48 US States but no connection with Alaska, although a proposed line exists.
This is the only international rail connection.

Airports

Air Transportation Contribution to GDP:
In 2005, air transportation accounted for 9% of the transport sector’s GDP generation.

Key Air Carriers

Air Canada, Canada’s largest air carrier and flag carrier, served 34 million customers in 2006 and operated 363 aircraft (including Air Canada Jazz) as of April 2010.
CHC Helicopter, the world’s largest commercial helicopter operator, ranked second with 142 aircraft.
WestJet, a low-cost carrier established in 1996, ranked third with 100 aircraft.

Industry Evolution

The US-Canada open skies agreement of 1995 catalyzed significant changes in Canada’s airline industry, leading to a less regulated and more competitive marketplace.

Regulatory Framework

Transportation enforcement personnel are employed by the Canadian Transportation Agency to uphold aviation safety requirements and carry out recurring inspections of all air carriers.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is responsible for air traffic security within Canada.
The National Airports Policy was enacted in 1994.

Principal Airports

Out of over 1,800 registered Canadian aerodromes, 26 are specially designated under Canada’s National Airports System (NAS), including those handling 200,000 or more passengers annually and the principal airports serving federal, provincial, and territorial capitals.
Ownership of NAS airports, except for those in the three territorial capitals, is retained by the Government of Canada and leased to local authorities.
The next tier consists of 64 regional/local airports formerly owned by the federal government, most of which have been transferred to other owners, predominantly municipalities.

Ports

National Harbours Administration

The National Harbours Board managed harbours in Halifax, Saint John, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Churchill, and Vancouver until 1983.
The Department of Transport previously supervised over 300 harbours across Canada.

Divestiture Program

A divestiture program commenced around the turn of the millennium, aiming to reduce government involvement.
By 2014, 493 of the 549 sites identified for divestiture in 1995 had been sold or transferred.

Current Oversight

Transport Canada now oversees only 17 Canada Port Authorities for the 17 largest shipping ports.

Public Transportation Systems in Canada

Subway Systems: Large cities with large subway networks, such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, offer high-capacity, effective transit inside metropolitan regions.
Bus Services: Extensive bus networks connect commuters to other forms of transportation and provide access to a variety of neighbourhoods in both urban and suburban locations.
Commuter Trains: During rush hour, suburban areas are connected to major metropolitan centres by commuter train services offered by rail systems such as GO Transit in Ontario and Exo in Quebec.
Light Rail Transit (LRT): To relieve traffic congestion, improve connectivity, and encourage sustainable urban transportation, light rail systems are being introduced and expanded in several cities.
Integrated Fare Systems: The use of fare integration programmes that enable users to use a single ticket or smart card on a variety of public transport vehicles, enabling easy transfers and saving riders money.
Accessibility Measures: To increase inclusivity and accommodate travellers with impairments, accessibility elements like ramps, lifts, and special sitting spaces can be installed.
Real-Time Information: To improve passenger convenience and happiness, real-time information on timetables, routes, and service disruptions is made available through the use of digital displays, smartphone apps, and web platforms.

Transportation Challenges and Solutions in Canada

Below we have mentioned some common challenges faced by the transportation system in Canada with their solutions:

Transportation Challenges	Solutions
Urban Congestion	Implementation of Public Transit Improvements such as Light Rail Transit
Rural Connectivity	Investment in Infrastructure for Roads and Highways
Environmental Impact	Adoption of Electric Vehicles and Promotion of Sustainable Transportation
Winter Weather Conditions	Development of Snow Removal Technologies and Winter Road Maintenance
Indigenous Community Transportation	Collaboration with Indigenous Communities for Customized Transportation Solutions

Transport Trends and Technologies in Canada

Electric Vehicles (EVs): Government incentives, environmental awareness, and technological developments are driving the growing usage of EVs in Canada.
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): A growing number of Canadian communities are conducting trials and pilot programmes involving autonomous vehicle technology, which is attracting attention and investment.
Shared Mobility: The emergence of bike-sharing, car-sharing, and ride-sharing services offers more sustainable and adaptable mobility choices in cities.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): Using IoT sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to manage traffic in real time, reduce congestion, and enhance safety.
Investigating and building high-speed rail networks to improve intercity connectivity, shorten travel times, and ease the burden on air travel is known as high-speed rail (HSR).
Electric Public Transportation: Increasing the number of electric buses and trains in fleets for public transportation to lower emissions and enhance city air quality.
Micro-mobility solutions: Using electric bikes, scooters and other compact cars for short-distance travel in addition to the current forms of transportation.

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