At this year’s Good Roads Conference in Toronto, a presentation on rural and northern transit offered a clear reminder that transportation planning in Canada is not one-size-fits-all. Ryan Gibson, on behalf of Sarah-Patricia Breen and Ela Mastej, highlighted how distance, low population density, and limited infrastructure shape transit systems outside urban centres. In many rural and northern communities, transit is not about convenience—it is about access to basic services, jobs, and social connection.

One of the most striking takeaways was how differently transit operates in rural and northern regions. While cities rely on frequent, fixed routes, rural systems often depend on flexible, on-demand models and local innovation. The presentation also pointed out gaps in knowledge and coordination, noting that rural transit is often treated as a single category despite major differences between communities.

The presentation shared recent research on federal funding that revealed a persistent imbalance. Historically, rural areas have been underrepresented in transit investments, with most funding going to large urban systems. New programs like the Rural Transit Solutions Fund are beginning to shift this pattern, supporting more on-demand and inter-community services. However, the presenters emphasized that challenges remain, particularly the need for stable, long-term operating funding and more flexible program design. The overall message was clear: progress is being made, but there is still a long road ahead to build equitable transit systems across all of Canada.

Resources from the presentation can be found below:

• Presentation Slide Deck
• Beyond the City Limits: Analysis of Federal Funding of Public Transit in Rural Canada
• Not In Service: A Typology of Barriers Facing Rural Transit Systems