Good Roads Podcast

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore provincial budgeting, autonomous vehicle regulation, and transit funding.💰 I Must ConFESOntario tabled its 2026 Fall Economic Statement on October 29, projecting a $16.9 billion deficit in 2026/27 and a surplus by 2029/30. For municipalities, the key items are two proposed procurement changes: extending the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative to municipalities, and strengthening domestic sourcing requirements for capital projects. Both consultations close November 22, 2026. We also look at the Development Charge Reduction Program and the new intakes planned for the $1-billion infrastructure stream.🔵 It’s a Cyan of the TimesWaymo vehicles have already been spotted on Toronto’s streets with drivers behind the wheel, which raises a question: how do you know who’s in control? The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing optional cyan-coloured lights that would help pedestrians, motorists, and police identify vehicles operating autonomously. We discuss why cyan was chosen and whether similar requirements could eventually reach Canada.🚌 Keeping Transit on the PayrollOregon funds transit through payroll taxes, a 0.8% employer tax in Portland’s transit district plus a 0.1% statewide employee tax, which provides remarkably stable funding. In 2023 it covered 45.3% of the state’s transit funding, and municipalities contributed just 9.1%, compared with 36.6% in Ontario. We explore what this alternative revenue model could mean for municipal budgets.🎉 The Something Fun SegmentBikes “Not for Jousting,” Says Lime: Hundreds of people gathered in London’s London Fields to watch two riders in full knight costume joust on rented Lime e-bikes, in what the organizer called performance art. The video has been viewed millions of times, and Lime’s response was that it appreciates the medieval spirit, but safety must always come first. We close the show with a look at the unexpected things that happen when shared micromobility meets the public.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9zrdpg7256yo📚 Show ReferencesFederal Budget 2026: What It Means for Members (Good Roads)https://goodroads.ca/news_articles/federal-budget-2026-what-it-means-for-members/Why Watch the Good Roads Podcast?✔ Fast, informed municipal discussions✔ Infrastructure, transportation, and policy explained clearly✔ Built for municipal leaders, engineers, and decision-makers👍 Stay Connected with Good RoadsGood Roads https://goodroads.caGood Roads Conference https://goodroads.ca/conferenceSubscribe to the Good Roads Bulletin (Free Weekly Email) https://goodroads.ca/good-roads-bulletin/If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone working in municipal infrastructure.

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore autonomous vehicles, road safety trends, and vehicle emissions standards.🤖 Waymo Testing NeededWaymo is beginning testing on Toronto’s streets this month, mapping the city and testing vehicles with human drivers before moving to fully autonomous operation, with a robotaxi service planned for 2028. We discuss how Toronto’s winters could challenge the technology, the questions around congestion and transit, and why the province will need to update its regulations before AVs can pick up passengers.🚶 The Carnage ContinuesBy mid-October, 42 people had been killed in traffic collisions in Toronto, including 20 pedestrians and 11 motorcyclists, a 24% increase from 2025. Ottawa has already recorded 29 traffic deaths this year, compared with 23 in all of 2025. We look at what the numbers say about vulnerable road users and what municipalities can do.🚙 The Unbearable Lightness of TrucksFor decades, a regulatory loophole has let SUVs qualify as “light trucks” under less stringent fuel-economy standards. Beginning in 2030, the US will classify light trucks by towing and payload capacity instead, but the change comes alongside a sweeping rollback of fuel-economy requirements. We explore what it could mean for Canada, which has similar classifications and is set to strengthen its own standards in 2030.📚 Show ReferencesKelowna council candidate who joked he was unqualified wins a seat (CBC News)https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/brady-rogers-satire-kelowna-campaign-win-9.7387848Why Watch the Good Roads Podcast?✔ Fast, informed municipal discussions✔ Infrastructure, transportation, and policy explained clearly✔ Built for municipal leaders, engineers, and decision-makers👍 Stay Connected with Good RoadsGood Roads https://goodroads.caGood Roads Conference https://goodroads.ca/conferenceSubscribe to the Good Roads Bulletin (Free Weekly Email) https://goodroads.ca/good-roads-bulletin/If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone working in municipal infrastructure.

In this special municipal election edition, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that could shape the ballot questions voters hear about: road funding, e-scooters, and bike lanes.🕳️ The Long and Winding RoadVoters across the province are ranking road conditions among their top campaign issues, often tied to concerns about taxes and accountability. Greater Sudbury is projecting a jump from $37 million in road spending in 2025 to $67 million in 2027. Meanwhile, Good Roads’ review of more than 40 municipal 10-year plans found councils are “fiscally handcuffed” into resurfacing when rebuilding would last longer. We discuss what the next council inherits, and why a financing plan matters as much as a paving list.🛴 Scoot OverThe AODA Alliance is urging voters to ask council candidates to sign a municipal disability accessibility pledge, starting with no e-scooters in public places backed by real enforcement. We look at the concerns for pedestrians who are blind or use wheelchairs, how municipal approaches vary, and why micromobility policy is only as good as the street design and enforcement behind it.🚲 The Spokes Have SpokenA new Abacus Data survey of 2,000 Ontarians suggests road safety could move votes, with 46% more likely to support a candidate who commits to road safety and cycling infrastructure. 64% believe municipalities, not Queen’s Park, should decide where local bike lanes go. We dig into the results, including a warning sign: the share of Ontarians who never cycle has climbed to 41%.Why Watch the Good Roads Podcast?✔ Fast, informed municipal discussions✔ Infrastructure, transportation, and policy explained clearly✔ Built for municipal leaders, engineers, and decision-makers👍 Stay Connected with Good RoadsGood Roads https://goodroads.caGood Roads Conference https://goodroads.ca/conferenceSubscribe to the Good Roads Bulletin (Free Weekly Email) https://goodroads.ca/good-roads-bulletin/If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone working in municipal infrastructure.

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore road safety messaging, automated enforcement, and vehicle data privacy.🚧 Someone Died Here – Slow DownSpokane, Washington has launched the first real-world pilot of “Emergency Streets,” deploying temporary traffic-calming measures after every fatal crash. Instead of flowers and memorials, drivers see pink cones and signs saying a motorist died there. Early data shows no increase in crashes and little effect on travel times. We discuss whether the approach could work in Ontario communities.📷 Under the Unblinking Gaze of the All-Seeing HighwayWaterloo Regional Police and MTO are installing automated licence plate recognition cameras on provincial highways, beginning with Highway 401. Mississauga is using similar technology for parking enforcement in school zones, while Brampton and Sudbury have added stationary cameras at intersections. We explore what these Flock-style systems can do, and the privacy questions that come with them.🚗 Your Car Is Watching You TooResearchers at Northeastern University and Consumer Reports examined 21 vehicles and 30 companion apps. They found that 19 of the 21 vehicles communicated with third-party companies, including advertising and tracking services, and that discrepancies exist between privacy disclosures and actual data sharing. We break down what your car is transmitting, and how little control drivers have over it.📚 Show References‘Try not to let moose lick your car,’ warns Parks Canada, as more moose flock to highways (CBC News)https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dont-let-moose-lick-1.7074587Elephant collects ‘tax’ from passing trucks in Thailand’s Chachoengsao (Asia News Network)https://asianews.network/elephant-collects-tax-from-passing-trucks-in-thailands-chachoengsao/Why Watch the Good Roads Podcast?✔ Fast, informed municipal discussions✔ Infrastructure, transportation, and policy explained clearly✔ Built for municipal leaders, engineers, and decision-makers👍 Stay Connected with Good RoadsGood Roads https://goodroads.caGood Roads Conference https://goodroads.ca/conferenceSubscribe to the Good Roads Bulletin (Free Weekly Email) https://goodroads.ca/good-roads-bulletin/If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone working in municipal infrastructure.

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore highway design, autonomous vehicle enforcement, and vehicle safety.🛣️ Two's Company, Three's a HighwayA new Northern Policy Institute report argues that most of the Highway 11-17-71 corridor needs 2+1 lanes, not full four-lane twinning. The estimated cost is about $3.3 billion versus $18.8 billion, in a region where the road fatality rate is more than double the South's. We discuss where twinning still makes sense and why the upcoming Highway 11 pilot in Nipissing could be the test case.🤖 A Robotaxi at the Farmers MarketAn empty Waymo slipped past closure barricades at a Denver farmers market and cruised between vendor tents. Police and State Patrol confirmed that state law has no mechanism to ticket a vehicle without a driver. We explore who gets the ticket, and what Ontario should settle before robotaxis arrive.🛻 Half-Measures for Supersized VehiclesYou don't have to ban pickups to act on pedestrian safety. We look at three practical steps: reining in aftermarket lift kits and bull bars, regulating grille heights or requiring front cameras, and asking whether public fleets really need a pickup for every job. One of those is entirely in municipal hands.Why Watch the Good Roads Podcast?✔ Fast, informed municipal discussions✔ Infrastructure, transportation, and policy explained clearly✔ Built for municipal leaders, engineers, and decision-makers👍 Stay Connected with Good RoadsGood Roads https://goodroads.caGood Roads Conference https://goodroads.ca/conferenceSubscribe to the Good Roads Bulletin (Free Weekly Email) https://goodroads.ca/good-roads-bulletin/If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone working in municipal infrastructure.

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore trucking safety, transit investment, and the future of vehicle safety technology.🚛 Ontario Takes the Wheel on Truck Driver TrainingFollowing a critical Auditor General’s report, Ontario is developing a new standardized curriculum for entry-level truck drivers. The overhaul comes after serious concerns about inadequate training, poor oversight, and inconsistent testing across private colleges. We discuss why rural and northern driving could finally become a core part of commercial driver education—and why that matters for road safety across the province.🚆 The Economic Payoff of Public TransitA new Montreal study makes a compelling financial argument for investing in transit, finding it generates more than three times the GDP impact of spending tied to private vehicles while supporting significantly more jobs. We explore what this means for congestion, economic development, and why successful transit systems require more than just new infrastructure—they need riders.😴 Can Your Car Wake You Up?A sleeping Tesla driver recently made headlines after being stopped on the Trans-Canada Highway while using self-driving mode. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s new Emergency Assist Plus system takes a different approach: detecting driver responsiveness, issuing escalating alerts, and even pulling the vehicle over before calling for help. We compare the latest approaches to preventing fatigue-related crashes.📚 Stories & Resources MentionedRoad Safety School https://goodroads.ca/roadsafetyschool/ Managing Winter Operations Workshop https://goodroads.ca/courses/managing-winter-operations-workshop/ 

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that explore civic engagement, procurement policy, and the future of rural mobility.🕳️ Pothole Politics Is Mobilizing Gen ZA new U.S. study suggests younger voters are far more engaged by local issues than national politics. The concept of “pothole politics”—popularized by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani—shows how transparently fixing everyday problems like potholes and sidewalks can build trust in government. With Ontario’s municipal elections approaching, we discuss what this means for local candidates and councils.📋 Buy Ontario Comes With Strings AttachedThe Province has warned all 444 Ontario municipalities that failing to comply with the Buy Ontario Procurement Directive could put provincial funding at risk. We break down what the letter means, why municipalities are being asked to review their supply chains, and the unanswered questions surrounding enforcement and future infrastructure funding.🤖 Why Robotaxis Belong in the CountrysideWhile companies like Waymo and Zoox continue expanding into major cities, new research argues the greatest public benefit may actually lie on rural roads. Rural communities experience disproportionately high fatality rates and limited transportation options, making autonomous vehicles a potential safety and mobility solution. The challenge? Rural routes are also the hardest places for the technology to succeed.📚 Stories & Resources MentionedGood Roads: Buy Ontario Procurement Directives Now in Effect https://goodroads.ca/news_articles/buy-ontario-procurement-directives-now-in-effect/ Road Safety School https://goodroads.ca/roadsafetyschool/ Managing Winter Operations Workshop https://goodroads.ca/courses/managing-winter-operations-workshop/ Good Roads Podcast Ep. 30: Revolutionizing Road Safety with Kenn Beer & Max McCardel https://youtu.be/GzRS6QpEygU?si=3cv51Nt5okLI3Gr1 

This week, Thomas and Andrew unpack three stories that could reshape passenger rail, connected vehicle technology, and the way we think about speeding.🚆 VIA Rail Gets a Major Made-in-Canada InvestmentThe federal government has announced $4.7 billion for 313 new VIA Rail passenger cars, all to be built at Alstom’s Thunder Bay facility. Combined with a recent locomotive investment, Ottawa has now committed roughly $6.65 billion toward renewing VIA’s conventional passenger rail fleet. We discuss what this means for Canadian manufacturing, regional rail, and why VIA still matters alongside Alto’s high-speed rail ambitions.🚗 Volvo’s Cars Are Already Talking to Each OtherConnected vehicles may not generate the same headlines as self-driving cars, but they could become just as important. Volvo is expanding technology that allows vehicles to share real-time hazard information with nearby cars and traffic management centres. We explore how connected vehicles differ from autonomous vehicles and why this technology could dramatically improve road safety.⚠️ Why Everyone Speeds (And Why That’s a Problem)A new AAA study found that 79% of drivers admit to speeding, while nearly half believe driving above the speed limit is actually safer if everyone else is doing it. We examine the psychology behind normalized speeding, why traditional enforcement struggles to change behaviour, and whether automated speed cameras are the only scalable solution.

In this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, Thomas and Andrew break down the latest transportation and infrastructure stories affecting municipalities across Ontario and Canada. In this episode: 🚧 Yet Another Tragic Case for Rural Road Safety A heartbreaking collision in Mapleton Township has once again highlighted the unique safety challenges facing rural intersections. We discuss why rural roads continue to see disproportionately severe crashes, what Good Roads is advocating for, and how targeted safety improvements could help prevent future tragedies. 🚄 High-Speed Rail Could Be 'Marginally' Less Speedy Alto has released the results of its first public consultation, revealing strong public engagement and a possible southern route through Kingston. We examine what the proposed changes could mean for travel times, eastern Ontario communities, and the future of Canada's high-speed rail project. 🚗 Need for Speed Coming to a Highway Near You Ontario is raising speed limits to 110 km/h on nearly 1,000 additional kilometres of 400-series highways. We discuss the engineering behind the decision, whether higher posted speeds influence driver behaviour, and what it means for road safety.

This week’s episode explores citizen engagement in road maintenance, ambitious active transportation targets, and an innovative approach to long-term infrastructure funding. 🕳️ When Citizens Take Potholes Into Their Own Hands From crowdsourced pothole mapping in Sault Ste. Marie to volunteers filling highway craters in Alberta, residents are becoming increasingly involved in road maintenance. While one initiative focuses on data collection and public awareness, the other has frustrated motorists literally fixing provincial highways themselves. What does this say about infrastructure maintenance expectations and public trust? 🚶 Making Active Transportation the Easy Choice The UK has unveiled a sweeping active travel strategy aimed at dramatically increasing walking and cycling rates over the next decade. The plan includes billions in infrastructure investments, thousands of new crossings and pathways, and ambitious school travel targets. Beyond health benefits, could strategies like this help municipalities tackle congestion and improve mobility? 💰 A Tiny Tax With Big Infrastructure Impacts Voters in California's Sonoma and Marin counties have approved a dedicated sales tax to fund regional transit for another 30 years. The measure highlights a growing question facing municipalities everywhere: are residents willing to pay more when the funding is clearly tied to specific infrastructure improvements? As municipalities search for sustainable revenue sources, dedicated funding models are becoming harder to ignore.