Events:
Partnering for Sustainability – Success Stories
Smart Commute Initiative – as presented by Don Houston, Executive Director
“Partnerships are always difficult. They’re always difficult to create; they’re usually more difficult to keep and maintain. They’re always necessary as well – and often times, they’re the best part of the work.”
The Smart Commute Initiative is a partnership of 11 regional and municipal governments across the GTA and Hamilton, as well as the Federal Government, non-profit groups, and businesses who are working to make commuting more energy efficient through options including car and vanpools, special shuttle services, and tele-working.
It is perhaps the only working partnership of local governments across the GTA. This partnership is possible because all the players share a common interest.
How does it work?
Funding: Smart Commute Initiative receives the majority of its funding from Transport Canada as a Carbon Dioxide emissions reduction strategy.
The Smart Commute Initiative develops innovative strategies to reduce single occupancy vehicle commuting by:
- Setting up local smart commute groups
- Developing GTA wide carpool and car matching programs
- Developing modules that help the local smart commute groups work
- Marketing efforts across the GTA
- Capturing and sharing the lessons learned
- Develop a risk management strategy from the beginning – don’t get stuck relying on a partner who doesn't do their part
- Use good practices and processes – don’t get hampered by bad processes
- Don’t become over-dependent on one partner for funding or anything else
- Partners must have a clear understanding of roles, responsibilities and relationships
- Successful partnerships must deal with conflict effectively
- Partners don’t need to have the same goals, just a common interest in using the same means.
Link back to Partnerships home