Partnerships Program

Metrolinx has two programs through which it offers support for projects related to transit and transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA): the Strategic Partnerships Program and the Community Partnerships Program.

Strategic Partnerships

Metrolinx is bringing about a new era of integrated and improved transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), and is interested in fostering dialogue about issues relating to transit and transportation in the region. We periodically seek expressions of interest from potential partner organizations that are interested in initiating projects to increase this dialogue.

Projects will be assessed with regard to their potential suitability and effectiveness at advancing one or more of Metrolinx’s strategic priorities:

∙  Building a comprehensive regional rapid transit network
∙  Enhancing and expanding active transportation
∙  Improving the efficiency of the road and highway network
∙  Creating an ambitious transportation demand management program
∙  Creating a customer-first transportation system
∙  Implementing an integrated transit fare system
∙  Building communities that are pedestrian, cycling and transit-supportive
∙  Planning for universal access
∙  Improving goods movement within the GTHA and with adjacent regions
∙  Committing to continuous improvement

By June 2013, Metrolinx must provide the province and heads of municipalities with a funding plan for The Big Move, our 25-year, $50 billion regional transportation plan. The Big Move is an integrated transportation plan that strives to enhance the region’s quality of life, its environment, and our prosperity.

As a result, in this round of the Strategic Partnership Program, we are particularly interested in projects which, within the context of the strategic priorities listed above:

∙  Build awareness about regional transportation issues;
∙  Bring a diverse range of communities into the conversation about transportation investment;
   and/or
∙  Consider creative means of funding/supporting the implementation of the Big Move projects and
    programs.

Projects should include clear deliverables proposed within a set timeline, should be relevant to the entire GTHA, and the sponsoring organization should have a broad and diverse membership drawn from across the region.

Metrolinx strongly prefers to contribute financially to initiatives that leverage other financial commitments, and will not enter into strategic partnerships intended to produce profit for the partner organization. Co-funders should be clearly identified, as well as a scalable plan to accommodate varying funding levels should other funding not yet be confirmed.

Resources are limited for the Strategic Partnerships Program and Metrolinx’s financial contribution to individual projects ranges from approximately $1,500 - $50,000, with the majority of projects receiving $10,000 or less.

The current round of applications will close on March 23, 2012.

If you’d like to discuss your proposal, or have any questions about the Strategic Partnerships Program, please contact Dina Graser at dina.graser@metrolinx.com.

Apply now using the online form.

If you are experiencing any difficulties submitting your application using the online form, please contact Andrea Gusen at andrea.gusen@metrolinx.com to ensure your submission was successful or to arrange an alternative method of submission.

Community Partnerships

The Community Partnerships Program is designed to support local community-based initiatives across the GTHA in areas where transportation improvement projects funded by Metrolinx are underway. Each round of the program will focus on a different geographic area.

Projects will be assessed with regard to their potential suitability and effectiveness at advancing one or more of the following objectives:

∙  Building communities that are pedestrian, cycling and transit-supportive;
∙  Promoting or enhancing active transportation, carpooling, and other forms of transportation
    demand management;
∙  Promoting education or dialogue about the role of transit and transportation;
∙  Beautification or safety initiatives in areas near transit stations or transportation corridors.

To be eligible, projects must:

∙  Have a measurable outcome or deliverable; funding will not be provided to support the ongoing
    operations of an organization.
∙  Be non-profit in nature
∙  Avoid replicating benefits or services already delivered by existing organizations in the same  
    community, unless a clear justification for doing so is provided
∙  To be proposed within a set timeline.

Funding of up to $1,000 per project is available.

Metrolinx will not be the sole supporter of projects; therefore, evidence of other support for a project, whether in cash or in the form of in-kind goods or services, must be provided with the application.

The next deadline for this program will be announced in spring 2012.

If you’d like to discuss your proposal before submitting an application, please contact Dina Graser at dina.graser@metrolinx.com.

Rob MacIsaac Innovation Fellowship Program

The Rob MacIsaac Innovation Fellowship program is a unique opportunity to develop and apply research in a public sector setting, and positively impact the region.

There are two fellowship positions available and can be in any area of Metrolinx. These positions start as research terms (from January to April) under an academic supervisor with a background in your area of interest, and is followed by a work term in a Metrolinx department (May to August) that will allow you to apply your research and build on your report with additional information from practical experience.

We are looking for candidates from all fields of study, with a fresh perspective and creative ideas related to transportation. Candidates must be enrolled in their final year of post-secondary studies or a master’s program.

Stay tuned for information on the 2013 Rob MacIsaac Fellowship program.

For more information on the program and to see if you qualify, click here.