Northern neighbors have lessons to teach

The 19th Atlanta Regional Commission LINK trip, this year to Toronto, will explore how the leaders of North America’s fourth largest city and its metro area handle issues like economic development, making suburbs more walkable and mobile and connecting to the city core.

Credit: Andria Brooks

Credit: Andria Brooks

The 19th Atlanta Regional Commission LINK trip, this year to Toronto, will explore how the leaders of North America’s fourth largest city and its metro area handle issues like economic development, making suburbs more walkable and mobile and connecting to the city core.

About 100 Atlanta leaders are visiting Toronto this week, trying to learn lessons from a northern neighbor that is wrangling with similar problems.

To be specific: three decades of under-investment in transportation and reluctance to pay for it.

The AJC's Scott Trubey points out in an article today that "like Atlanta, Toronto has spread out from its core. But nearly a quarter of Toronto area residents take transit despite funding issues."

In metro Atlanta, only about 3.3 percent  of the population rides transit, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Toronto is also stumbling under the weight of excessive traffic congestion, not unlike our fair city.

The 19th Atlanta Regional Commission LINK trip will explore how Torontons handle making suburbs more walkable, mobile and connected to the city core. Travelers along for the ride include the commission chairs of Clayton, Cobb and Gwinnett, along with other leaders in the economic development and business communities.

Let's hope they return with some inspiration.

The 19th Atlanta Regional Commission LINK trip, this year to Toronto, will explore how the leaders of North America’s fourth largest city and its metro area handle issues like economic development, making suburbs more walkable and mobile and connecting to the city core.

Credit: Andria Brooks

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Credit: Andria Brooks