Metrolinx shares positive impacts to communities through inaugural report

The organization releases its first annual Community Benefits and Supports annual report.

Sept. 9 - Transit is a major catalyst for community development and growth. In addition to providing new transit services to connect communities, Metrolinx projects also support communities and residents during construction and beyond through the Community Benefits and Supports (CBS) Program – the province’s first community benefits program, which is marking its tenth anniversary in 2024.

This year, Metrolinx is releasing its first-ever Community Benefits and Supports annual report for 2023-24. This document details the progress the organization and its contracting partners are making towards its commitment to supporting and strengthening communities as it builds much-needed transit.

The organization’s Community Benefits and Supports Program is driving economic change by creating jobs and training opportunities for equity-deserving communities, promoting the use of social enterprises, supporting local businesses during construction, implementing public realm improvements in partnership with municipalities, and working with communities to better understand their needs and ensure their voices are heard.

Key highlights from 2023-2024

The annual report not only reflects the work that happened in 2023-2024 but also outlines the historical achievements of the program. Within the report, readers can find initial data on the community benefit impacts of many Metrolinx projects, including the following results from the past year:

• Combined spending of $35.7 million on local businesses and social enterprises across the region.
• There were 148 public realm improvements incorporated into projects, including $173.2 million in active transportation investments (such as bike storage rooms and multi-use pathways) and $127.7 million in local access and accessibility improvements (such as new bridges and streetscape enhancements).
• On the LRT projects, 29.1 per cent (169) of new hires by project contractors came from BIPOC communities and 21.9 per cent (164) self-identified as women.
• On the Subway projects, 62.5 per cent (90) of new hires by project contractors came from BIPOC communities and 35.7 per cent (55) self-identified as women.
• These hiring results exceeded our aspirational goal of 10 per cent.

Supporting communities

As Metrolinx works to bring more transit options closer to where people live, the organization is proud to be the first transit agency in Ontario to offer a community benefits program that helps to mitigate community disruption and enable better connections between residents and important services and jobs across the region.

The Community Benefits and Supports program is now a part of all major Metrolinx transit projects and the organization is already seeing the impacts a program like this can have first-hand – from individuals who have had the chance to start their careers and grow their businesses, to passionate and engaged community groups collaborating on construction approaches and designs that will benefit them for years to come.

Lovleen Sarah, a third term Carpenter’s Apprentice with Local 27 who worked on the Hazel McCallion LRT project and is now progressing towards her Red Seal certification, is a testament to the success of this initiative.

“Growing up in Brampton as a first-generation Punjabi, we didn’t have connections to the industry; I was the only girl in my co-op class and I’m often the only young, woman of colour on site…. This is why apprenticeship opportunities and diversity are important for our field.”

“When people see how good you are, it drives them to encourage others, especially women, to join the trades. It also gives other generations of tradespeople the opportunity to train and mould the people who will take their place in the future. There’s so much we can learn from each other” said Sarah.

Successfully providing community benefits across the region, as Metrolinx builds much-needed transit, is critical in ensuring strong, successful communities through construction and beyond.

For accredited journalists, you can contact our media team at mediarelations@metrolinx.com.

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