The Town of Tillsonburg retained Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited to develop the Town of Tillsonburg’s first Transportation Master Plan (TMP).The Transportation Master Plan has now been completed and was endorsed by Council during the July 13th, 2026 Council Meeting.
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
Following completion of the Transportation Master Plan, individual recommendations may be advanced through future studies, detailed design, capital planning, and implementation projects as funding and priorities permit.
Why did 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.
The Transportation Master Plan considered current trends, anticipated future transportation needs, and developed recommendations to improve how residents, businesses, and visitors move throughout the community.
More specifically, Tillsonburg's first Transportation Master Plan does:
- 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 provides a roadmap for developing an integrated transportation system that supports the community's future travel needs while balancing growth, affordability, sustainability, and quality of life.
Transportation infrastructure typically refers to physical things such as:
- roads and intersections
- sidewalks
- bike lanes
- trails
- parking lots
- traffic signals
- transit stops
- signs
It may also refer to features that make facilities accessible for those with special mobility needs.
Transportation services include services typically delivered by the Town or the County for use by the public to help them move around the community. This could include:
- public transit
- crossing guards to help children cross busy roads near schools
- traffic enforcement (by police) to ensure laws are followed
- parking enforcement to ensure local rules (by-laws) are obeyed
- issuing permits for use of the roadway (like oversize loads)
- development of education programs for various users to improve safety
- maintenance of the physical infrastructure items
What did the Transportation Master Plan involve?
The Transportation Master Plan assessed the existing transportation network to identify potential improvements to meet current and future needs. The completed plan provides a policy framework to support sustainable transportation practices and livable communities as the Town of Tillsonburg grows over time.
The study followed a four-phase approach:
- Phase 1 – Foundation Building
Project engagement planning, information gathering, data collection, and assessment of the existing transportation network and services.
(March 2024) - Phase 2– Transportation Vision and Needs Assessment
Development of the transportation vision, review of planning context, growth forecasts, and identification of transportation needs, opportunities, and constraints. - Phase 3 – Transportation Plan Development
Evaluation of alternatives, development of infrastructure recommendations, and preparation of supporting policies and standards. - Phase 4 – Transportation Plan Implementation and Reporting
Preparation of implementation priorities, cost estimates, monitoring framework, and the final report for Council consideration.
Note: Public engagement activities were carried on throughout the study in Phases 1 to 3.
Phase 1: Online Survey
(Closed July 12th, 2024)
Final Transportation Master Plan
Public consultation was an essential component of the Transportation Master Plan and helped shape the recommendations contained in the final document. Community input was gathered through online surveys, stakeholder engagement, and two Public Information Centres held throughout the study.
Where to get additional information about the Transportation Master Plan
For questions regarding the completed Transportation Master Plan, please contact:
The Town of Tillsonburg Engineering Department at Engineering@tillsonburg.ca