Your bi-weekly briefing on policy developments, advocacy insights and the conversations that shape both regional progress and your business success. September 3, 2026 Sign up | View online Hello, As Toronto heads toward the October 26th election, there's a growing sense that something isn't working. More than half of residents say the city's prosperity is on the wrong track, and more say Toronto is falling behind than moving forward. Congestion is a big part of why. It costs the GTHA economy $44.7 billion a year, and Torontonians feel it every day, from stalled commutes to late shipments to a transportation network under strain. It's not just a driver's problem. It's not just a transit user's problem. It's not just a problem for cyclists and pedestrians. Congestion is everyone's problem, part of a cycle that touches every corner of the city. Bad traffic clogs the roads. Clogged roads slow down the buses and streetcars sharing them. Late buses and streetcars mean longer waits, missed transfers, and unreliable commutes. Unreliable transit pushes riders back into their cars. More cars, more traffic. The cycle repeats. One of our recommendations in last February's Breaking Gridlock Action Plan was the creation of a new city office to tackle congestion head-on. The City took an important step by appointing a Chief Congestion Officer this past January. Now the question is whether Toronto’s next council will empower the Chief Congestion Officer to do what's needed. We think that means giving them the ability to implement smart technology solutions, the authority to drive stronger coordination across City divisions and agencies, and holding everyone to account by using KPIs to measure progress. Two weeks ago, we launched What's at Stake, our platform for the ambitious conversation this election deserves. This week we launched our Congestion Issues Guide focusing on the problem costing Torontonians the most time and dragging down our economy. This guide is our first of three. As we approach election day, we're going to take deeper dives into our two other issue guides — housing and land use, and how the city will pay for the services residents and businesses rely on. Each one is designed to arm you with the facts before you head to the polls and questions for candidates when they come to your door. Plus, mark your calendar for September 22nd, when we partner with the Toronto Star to bring mayoral candidates together to debate the issues raised across all three pillars. Now is the time to accelerate infrastructure delivery, minimize congestion and disruption, and prepare Toronto for continued growth. The cycle won't break on its own. What to Expect in this Issue ▸ By the Numbers: Toronto’s Transit Calculus ▸ 3 Questions on Toronto's Gridlock Problem ▸ Featured Events    ▸ Policy at a Glance SOURCES: Strength, Weakness and Opportunity: Congestion, Transit & Infrastructure Issue Guide Threat: Recommended 2026-2035 Capital Budget and Plan, 15-Year Capital Investment Plan, and Real Estate Investment Plan Update 3 Questions on Toronto's Gridlock Problem Congestion is on everyone's mind this election, but the full picture goes beyond gridlocked roads. We sat down with our Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy, Tyler Brough, to unpack how congestion is really affecting the city, and what we're calling for the next term of council to deliver. 1. Residents know congestion is a problem, but besides leading to longer commutes, how is it impacting the city? “Because congestion has become one of the most significant economic issues for Toronto, threatening our economic competitiveness and quality of life. It hits us in many ways, like commuting, moving goods, attending events, or simply accessing essential services. Residents and businesses can feel it's a transportation system under strain, with the general sentiment that ‘Toronto is an hour away from Toronto’.” 2. The issue of congestion goes beyond just roadways and spills over to transit riders – why is that? “Congestion affects transit operations by creating delays on surface routes such as buses and streetcars. This reduction in reliability increases operating costs and makes transit a less attractive option, contributing more cars back onto the road and more congestion. Transit performance is both a symptom and a contributor to the problem. The TTC moves over a million customers a day, yet streetcars hit just 60 per cent on-time performance in May 2026, well short of the 90 per cent target. To fix it, a 'one city' approach is needed, ensuring all divisions and agencies work together to make transit more reliable.” 3. What are your priority calls to action for Toronto’s next council? “It comes down to three things. First, keep Toronto moving by clearing arterials, speeding up construction, and tracking performance with public KPIs. Second, build a faster and more reliable transit network through expanded RapidTO, signal priority, fare integration, and a focused TTC capital plan. Finally, prioritize infrastructure for growth with a clear framework for the City's $31.7 billion in unfunded capital needs and better coordination across agencies to reduce disruption.” Read the full Congestion Guide and explore the rest of our What's at Stake platform. Get Involved Policy at a Glance WHAT’S AT STAKE ISSUES GUIDES Congestion, Transit and Infrastructure New polling shows Toronto residents worried about the city's future TRANSIT, TRANSPORTATION AND CONGESTION Faster Commutes: Advancing Regional Fare and Service Integration Breaking Gridlock: Finishing the Job through Provincial Action The Price of Progress: Enabling the Delivery of Critical Transit Infrastructure A New Future for Regional Transit Next Stop: Building Universal Transit Access Breaking down gridlock: What Toronto’s congestion officer needs to succeed Toronto’s gridlock is an economic crisis. Here’s how we can fix it 11th Annual Transportation Symposium Congestion Crisis Polling Results Reading this as a forward? Subscribe to stay connected. 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