Ontario. Ministry of Transportation. Passenger Transportation Policy Branch

• Passenger Transportation Policy Branch

• Transportation Policy Branch

• Modal Policy and Partnerships Branch

The Passenger Transportation Policy Branch was established in 1992 as part of the Provincial Transportation Division. It included the following offices: the Aviation Office, Passenger Mobility and Services Offices, the Municipal Office and the Freight Office. These offices had previously been part of the Provincial Transportation Division and the Municipal Transportation Division.

In 1997, the branch name changed to Transportation Policy Branch and was situated within the Policy and Planning Division. Responsibility for municipal issues and liaising with municipal governments was transferred to the newly established Municipal and Intergovernmental Policy Branch but the remaining functions were unchanged. By 2000, the municipal responsibilities had returned to the Transportation Policy Branch and were handled by the Municipal Office.

During the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the Municipal Office and Inter-Regional Transit Office were renamed the Municipal Policy Office and Transit Policy and Programs Office respectively and were moved to the new Urban and Rural Infrastructure Policy Branch. Meanwhile, the Transportation Policy Branch was briefly renamed the Modal Policy and Partnerships Branch, and a new unit, the Partnership Strategies Office was briefly added.

By 2008, the branch had reverted to its old name of Transportation Policy Branch. The Freight Policy Office continued under its new name, the Goods Movement Policy Office, and the Municipal Policy Office, at least in part, once again returned to the branch, becoming part of the Passenger and Municipal Policy Office. (The responsibilities of the Transit Policy and Programs Office did not return to the Transportation Policy Branch, but rather, were taken over by various offices of the Transit Policy Branch. Some responsibilities of the Municipal Policy Office likewise continued under the Transit Policy Branch.)

Around 2008, the Continental Gateway Office (later absorbed by the Goods Movement Policy Office) and the Sustainable Transportation Policy Office were also added to the Transportation Policy Branch. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the Hot Lanes Pilot Office and High Speed Rail Group which had been part of the Hot Lanes Pilot Branch were moved to the Transportation Policy Branch. The former was soon re-named the Mobility Strategies Office, but was dissolved in the summer of 2019.

As of December, 2019, the branch had reverted to its main three units: the Commercial and Advanced Transportation Office; Passenger Transportation Office; and Sustainable and Innovative Transportation Office.

The Passenger Transportation Policy Branch (also called the Transportation Policy Branch) is responsible for developing and communicating policies for users and providers of all modes of transportation services throughout Ontario

The branch has been responsible for managing policy, building relationships and influencing stakeholders, municipalities and federal departments and for providing technical knowledge and advice on all modes of transportation to support policy development and broader strategic initiatives. Some key areas of responsibility have included developing provincial policies on airport matters and improved air transport, representing Ontario's interest in high speed rail service in the Quebec Windsor corridor, and improving access for passengers with mobility issues. Other areas of activity have involved improvement of commercial transportation including movement of goods, and various other issues relating to freight and passenger travel.

In 1997, the Economic Policy Office was added to the branch. This office was responsible for assessing and advising on issues related to fiscal, monetary, and industrial policies. It was also responsible for transportation policy and implementation issues relating to interprovincial trade, trade agreements (NAFTA, GATT) and dispute resolution.

With an increased concern regarding environmental issues in the late 2000s, the branch also began to explore modes of transportation and emerging technologies which could support sustainability as well as efficiency, competitiveness and safety. At certain times the branch has also engaged in seeking solutions and developing policies to decrease traffic congestion.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government of Ontario KWIC (Keywords in Context) Indexes

Government of Ontario Telephone directories

Communication with staff of the Transportation Policy Branch (2019).

Archivist(s):
Ledwell; Shimpo