This morning I attended the Metrolinx media preview of the draft Regional Transportation Plan (“RTP”) and Investment Strategy at the Delta Chelsea in Toronto, where chair Rob MacIsaac presented and took questions. Here’s how Metrolinx framed the media event:

The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

The headlines tomorrow will probably read something like “Metrolinx defers controversial revenue measures”. The most significant new information is that the Investment Strategy to fund Phases 1 ($750 million) and 2 ($17.5 billion) of the RTP through 2015 will be funded from existing commitments of Ontario provincial funding. Around 2013, the whole investment strategy for Phase 3 will be revisited, including consideration of the full gamut of revenue tools that were the source of some controversy during recent leaks. Rob MacIsaac explained that the people of the GTA and Hamilton need to see some real change on the ground before they will back any new ask for additional public investment.

Andrae was there, and he’ll be doing a more thoughtful post on the contents of these draft plans for Friday.

This post is about me watching the watchers. How does Media think about and inform the majority of the public who will never attend a public meeting or download a PDF? Most citizens will never dive into planning documents with gusto.  I think the questions that were asked provide some clues to how the media will frame this next period of conversation around Metrolinx plans.

My reflections and analysis after the jump… (more…)