Transportation Master Plan

The Town of Tillsonburg has retained Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited to develop the Town of Tillsonburg’s first Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The Plan will consider town-wide needs for all modes of travel and will guide future decisions on transportation improvements in Tillsonburg.

The project will begin in March 2024.

What is a Transportation Master Plan?

A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is a strategic policy document that guides how a municipality’s transportation system will grow and develop over the long term.

The plan works together with a municipality’s Official Plan, which directs land use and development patterns. It also considers other master plans such as those concerning municipal servicing, parks and recreation, and economic development.

Generally, Transportation Master Plans:

• examine current transportation issues within a community
• assess existing and future growth patterns
• determine the need for transportation improvements
• establish policies to support the plan and maintain the transportation network

After a Transportation Master Plan is developed, more detailed studies and design activities for individual improvements may be completed as separate projects.

Why does Tillsonburg need a Transportation Master Plan?

Tillsonburg is changing in many ways:

• With nearly 20,000 residents, Tillsonburg has seen significant growth (17.2%) since 2016 and was the fastest growing community in Oxford County between 2016 and 2021.
• Tillsonburg is poised for additional growth, with approximately 23,000 residents forecast by 2041
• The population is becoming more diverse.
• The average age of residents is getting older.
• The nature of work is changing and there are new opportunities on the horizon that may change where people live and work in the future.

A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) considers current trends, anticipates future needs, and makes recommendations to improve the way residents move around the community. 

More specifically, Tillsonburg's first Transportation Master Plan will:

• Guide transportation investment decisions over the next 10 years and beyond
• Recommend ways to optimize the performance of existing infrastructure
• Consider sustainability and be accompanied by a phasing plan tied to growth, affordability and community priorities

The Transportation Master Plan will help the municipality proactively develop an integrated system of infrastructure and transportation services that can support the travel needs of the community into the future.

What will the Transportation Master Plan involve?

The Transportation Master Plan will assess the existing transportation network to identify potential improvements to meet current and future needs. Ultimately, the integrated plan will also provide a policy framework to support sustainable transportation practices and livable communities as the Town of Tillsonburg grows over time.

The study will follow a four-phase approach:

• Phase 1 – Foundation Building, where the project engagement plan will be developed, information gathering and data collection will be completed, and assessments of existing transportation network and services will be carried out. (March 2024)
• Phase 2– Transportation Vision and Needs Assessment, where the current and future planning context for the community will be reviewed, a transportation vision will be developed to guide the plan development, growth forecasts will be assessed and Transportation Needs, Opportunities and Constraints will be identified.
• Phase 3 – Transportation Plan Development, where alternatives will be developed and assessed, infrastructure recommendations identified, and new policies and standards updated and developed to support the future transportation vision.
• Phase 4 – Transportation Plan Implementation and Reporting, where future costs will be estimated, priorities identified, an implementation and monitoring program developed, and final report prepared and presented to Council.

Note: Public engagement activities will carry on throughout the study in Phases 1 to 3.

How can I provide input on the Transportation Master Plan?

Public participation is an essential component of the Transportation Master Plan. Meaningful, two-way communication is important and will help ensure that the final plan aligns with the Town's vision and reflects unique community features.

Public and stakeholder engagement opportunities will include an online survey and two open house events where you can talk to the consultant team and Town staff. 

Phase One: Online Survey

Provide input on the Transportation Master Plan is by completing a short online survey. The survey addresses how residents travel in Tillsonburg and asks for ideas on how to improve our transportation network. Survey closes May 21.

Phase 2: Open House

June 2024

Phase 3: Open House

Fall 2024