From Ambition to Experience: Key Takeaways from the UITP North America Forum 2026
©️ ARTM
How can public transport investment deliver better journeys, stronger communities and more connected cities?
This was a central question at the UITP North America Forum 2026, which brought together public transport leaders, operators, industry experts and academics from across North America and beyond in Montréal on 28–30 October.
Hosted by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), the Forum provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, explore innovative approaches and learn from some of the world’s most ambitious public transport projects.
From modernizing existing networks and delivering major infrastructure to improving regional governance and embracing new technologies, one message emerged: successful public transport is ultimately measured by the difference it makes to people’s everyday lives.
Building Better Cities Through Public Transport
Public transport does more than move people. It connects communities, supports economic development and shapes how cities grow.
The Forum opened with a keynote from Jean-François Monteils of Société des Grands Projets, sharing insights from the Grand Paris Express, one of Europe’s largest infrastructure programmes.
The opening plenary, Building Better Cities Through Public Transport, brought together leaders from RTD, STM, Société des Grands Projets and CTA to explore how investment, modernization and institutional leadership can create more connected, accessible and prosperous regions.
Major investments can transform how people experience their cities, opening access to jobs, education and opportunities. But realizing these benefits requires more than infrastructure: it takes a long-term vision for the communities that public transport serves.
Modernizing Networks and Delivering Major Projects
Across North America, public transport authorities face a common challenge: maintaining reliable service today while investing in tomorrow’s networks.
In Modernizing Existing Rail Networks for the Future, representatives from UITP, Network Rail, WMATA and CPCS explored how agencies can balance infrastructure renewal, state-of-good-repair needs and emerging technologies.
Joining the discussion, UITP President Gautier Brodeo emphasized the importance of putting people first in public transport planning and investment, reminding participants that the true measure of a successful network is how well it serves passengers and communities.
With growing demands for network expansion, electrification and digital transformation, agencies must make difficult choices about limited resources, ensuring that modernization and new technologies ultimately translate into better, more reliable services for passengers.
The Forum also showcased major infrastructure projects from Montréal, Paris and New York.
Delivering Major Transit Projects brought together experiences from the REM, STM’s Blue Line Extension, the Grand Paris Express and the Hudson Tunnel Project, part of the Gateway Program.
While each project faces different challenges, speakers emphasized the importance of identifying risks early, establishing clear responsibilities and creating the conditions for successful delivery.
Projects such as the REM and Grand Paris Express also demonstrated how strong governance and innovative financing approaches can help attract long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure.
Thinking Regionally: The Importance of Governance
As metropolitan areas grow, transport networks increasingly cross municipal and institutional boundaries. But governance structures do not always evolve at the same pace.
Evolving Transit Governance for Growing Regions explored how regions can strengthen coordination between authorities, operators and governments.
A key takeaway was the need for a regional approach reflecting how people actually live, work and travel.
Passengers rarely think about which organization operates a service. They expect a connected, reliable journey, even when crossing several municipalities or networks.
Achieving this requires clear institutional roles, shared objectives and accountability, alongside meaningful involvement from communities and passengers.
Making the Most of New Infrastructure
Opening a new metro line or rail connection is a major achievement. But how can cities ensure these investments deliver their full potential?
Maximizing the Benefits of New Transit Infrastructure explored how new projects can be integrated into wider mobility networks.
Montréal offered several examples. With the REM’s expansion, STM is redesigning its bus network to improve connections. BIXI is extending the reach of public transport through shared cycling, while the Agence de mobilité durable is exploring multimodal mobility hubs.
Québec City’s RTC also shared its progress in accessibility, having increased the number of accessible bus stops more than fivefold since 2020.
These examples demonstrated that the benefits of new infrastructure extend well beyond stations themselves. Connecting rail, buses, cycling, walking and other mobility services makes the entire network more useful and attractive.
Innovation Through Collaboration
Innovation rarely happens in isolation.
Driving Innovation Together explored how public transport organizations, universities and industry can collaborate on applied research, workforce development and technology transfer.
With evolving workforce needs and rapid technological change, these partnerships can help develop new capabilities and turn innovative ideas into practical solutions.
Sustainability was another recurring priority. Rather than treating it as a separate objective, speakers emphasized integrating sustainability into planning and decision-making from the outset to improve efficiency, strengthen public acceptance and deliver long-term value.
Turning Ideas into Action
Throughout three days in Montréal, the Forum demonstrated the value of international exchange and learning from different perspectives.
Participants also experienced Montréal’s public transport transformation firsthand through technical visits, including the REM, STM’s Métro and bus infrastructure, and other mobility initiatives across the region.
Despite challenges around funding, modernization and institutional coordination, the discussions offered reasons for optimism. Cities continue investing, new approaches are emerging, and opportunities to improve services and attract passengers remain strong.
As Nadine S. Lee, Chair of the UITP North America Division, emphasized in her closing remarks, the value of international exchange comes from bringing ideas home, empowering teams and challenging established ways of working.
This is the role UITP plays: connecting public transport authorities, operators, industry and academia across cities and countries to turn shared experiences into practical solutions.
Our sincere thanks go to ARTM for hosting the Forum, and to our partners, speakers, moderators, participants and the organizations they represent for sharing their time, knowledge and expertise.
We look forward to continuing these conversations at the UITP Summit in Hamburg in June 2027, and welcoming the public transport community again at the next UITP North America Forum.