OFA has provided feedback to the Ministry of Transportation for their consultation on proposed updates to the Ontario Transit-Supportive Guidelines.
OFA supports the intensification and densification of Ontario’s urban areas to reduce farmland loss, land value speculation, and development pressure on farmers, and supports the proposed Transit-Supportive Guidelines that advance these objectives. OFA calls on the province to strengthen the guidelines through the following recommendations:
- Encourage municipalities to exceed minimum density targets and accommodate growth within existing urban areas.
- Promote transit-oriented communities beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
- Maintain policies that prioritize redevelopment and compact growth.
- Expand rural transit options, including on-demand services, to improve access to health care and other essential services.
- Support stronger connections between urban and rural communities.
Overall, OFA urges the province to pursue more ambitious transit-oriented growth while making rural transit a key component of Ontario’s transportation strategy.