EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
challenges confronting basic local services are nested within complex federal systems that devolve authority in varying degrees across basic local service sectors. Management and financing models in both countries are heavily influenced by institutional frameworks and governance models, and for this reason these issues are dealt with together in this report. Governance, management and financing Urban transportation North American local and state/provincial governments have lead responsibility for
surface transportation—roads, highways, and bridges are shared between levels of government. Local, state, and federal governments play a variety of roles from the raising of revenues, to spending on constructing and operating transportation systems. Most local roads fall under the jurisdiction of local governments. However, while local governments have most of the authority over local roads, the funding comes primarily from other sources, like state and metropolitan/regional planning authorities/organizations. This creates a hybrid system where local authority is deeply entwined with the U.S. federal system.
2009: public transit in the U.S. was provided by nearly 8,000 different organizations ranging from large multi-modal systems to single-vehicle service providers. most transportation and transit infrastructure, but the federal governments in both nations have important regulatory and fiscal influence roles. In the U.S., the federal government often plays a significant role in multi-jurisdictional projects and planning. This role has evolved over the past century, and currently includes investing in new infrastructure, maintaining existing transportation infrastructure, and regional and multi-jurisdictional coordination. In Canada, these functions are generally performed by provincial governments. No single level of government has the fiscal capacity to cover the full range of transportation needs. However, while governance and finance cross levels of government, neither country has a cohesive national transportation plan.
Highways are provincial responsibilities with no Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Interstate Highway System or regular federal presence in the creation and maintenance of urban expressways. Most of Canada’s roads and bridges are owned and operated by local governments. Many new municipal roads, however, are built through public-private partnerships. In both Canada and the U.S., most new suburban areas (subdivisions) are built by developers as a result of an agreement with the relevant municipality. The agreements usually require the developer to build the public infrastructure (roads, water-supply pipes, and sewers) and, as the project nears completion, give ownership to the municipality.
Roads and highways The U.S. has an extensive federal Interstate Highway System and responsibilities for
Transit As with roads, the Canadian federal government has no programme that Âspecifically