Vancouver has taken second place on and index of the best large Canadian cities for public transit. Toronto ranked first, while Montreal placed third.
The report was released by Redfin, a tech-powered real estate brokerage firm that also produces Walk Score, which measures the pedestrian-friendliness of cities.
Transit scores were calculated based on convenience and frequency of service.
The ranking looked at big cities with populations of over 300,000. The three top Canadian cities had Transit Scores of 78, 74 and 67, respectively.
With a score of 78, Toronto outranks several large U.S. cities including Boston (72), Washington D.C. (71) and Philadelphia (67), as does Vancouver, with a score of 74.
Analysts credited public transit officials for expansion projects that aim to take more cars off the road and create a more efficient system.
“Significant growth requires major transit infrastructure, and the city has recognized that and is investing in transit. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates in the city, and plans to expand the light rail and subway service. GO train, our commuter rail system, is also undergoing a significant expansion, to make it even more accessible to those living farther out,” said Blair Anderson, Redfin market manager in Toronto.
“Some people moan and complain about public transit, but Toronto’s system is one of the better transit systems in the world. It’s highly ranked, runs well on a timely basis, and doesn’t have many problems. And without it, the city would shut down.”
Top Canadian cities for public transit
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Montreal
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Winnipeg
- Calgary
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Markham
- Quebec
- Surrey
- Laval
- Hamilton
- London
With files from Relax News.
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This story has been updated since first published.
