Quantifying Metrolinx’s transportation investments in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) is one of North America’s fastest growing regions. Metrolinx, the regional transportation agency, is currently developing an extensive portfolio of transportation investments to provide a transit network that meets the region’s goals for quality of life, prosperity and sustainability. A core factor in its transportation investment planning is conducting business case analysis to understand and realize the potential benefits of new projects.

How we helped

Our team of strategists, economists, and designers have worked collaboratively with Metrolinx on the development of revised Business Case Guidance. The new business case guidance includes two volumes – a high level overview document and a detailed guidance manual – which were developed to provide both ease of use and technical rigor. Our team ensured that the new guidance used promising practices from other jurisdictions as well as the local regional context for conducting strategic, economic, financial, and deliverability analysis. 

These documents were launched as drafts in 2018 to guide the development of robust business cases for a range of potential investments, including new infrastructure, services, and policies.

Successes and outcomes

The guidance draws upon international best practice and factors specific to the GTHA context to provide an approach for business cases that:

• Articulates the strategic and economic rationale for a proposed investment – including detailed guidance on framing problems, mapping strategic outcomes, and estimating economic benefits to users and broader society.
• Communicates and understand the financial and deliverability/operational requirements for successful investment delivery.