The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Dr. Ted Hewitt, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), announced funding for up to 10 Knowledge Synthesis Grants on mobility and public transit. The projects will focus on consolidating and reviewing existing research findings, knowledge and data to better understand transit issues at the community level, leading to better, more strategic infrastructure investments.

Researchers will examine topics such as the social and economic implications of unequal access to public transit, including in rural communities, the environmental and land use considerations around integrated transit planning, and will identify the challenges for transit services to maintain public health and safety in a post-COVID-19 world. Summary reports of the research will be made available to the public to assist in developing future research agendas and support evidence-based decision-making.

SSHRC has opened a call for proposals to the Canadian research community. Applications are due by December 17, 2020, and evidence briefs summarizing the findings and policy implications will be made available in Fall 2021.

Infrastructure Canada is providing $300,000 to SSHRC for up to 10 research grants that are each $30,000. SSHRC will commit up to $25,000 for the organization of a Knowledge Mobilization Forum in Fall 2021.