Marginalized Communities and Transit Development: A Study of Light Rail Transit Lines in Toronto, Canada and Area

The Province of Ontario, Canada is preparing to update their transportation infrastructure to accommodate a projected increase in the province's population. Connecting people, reducing congestion and emissions in the Toronto area is the main focus of these transit development projects. It is understood, however, that upgrading infrastructure is a vital undertaking for every community. However, it seems as though decision makers don't always consider the effects these projects have on racialized and/or low-income people in their communities. When making plans, are enquiries made to see if benefits from these networks are evenly distributed and experienced? Studies examining neighbourhood change are numerous. Indeed, the effects, both negative and positive, and their outcomes are widely studied. However, this study considers neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) where transit development will have an influence on particular communities. Additionally, this study's primary focus is Light Rail Transit (LRT). It looks at marginalization in GTA communities (as defined in the Ontario Marginalization Index) in relation to light rail transit development in construction, or planned, to see if they are more likely to be impacted at a regional level. The spatial patterns of these populations are explored through Global and Local Moran's I. Although observations are made on a regional scale, the local case of Cooksville, Mississauga is also explored to provide context.