Goals and Targets

By 2040, we want 10% of all trips by walking, 6% of trips by cycling, 15% of trips by transit, 7% of trips by carpooling, and 60% of trips by driving.

Do you think these targets are too ambitious or not ambitious enough?

Overview

Mode share is a key performance indicator (KPI) that indicates the proportion of trips made by a specific mode of transportation (walking, cycling, transit, driving) relative to the total number of trips made in a community. The below figures summarize Whitehorse's existing and proposed future mode share.

Setting goals and targets is just as much of an art as it is science. If we set our goals and targets too high, the risk of failing to meet those targets increases if the targets are set arbitrarily high and not grounded in the reality of what can be accomplished within the current context. Targets that are set too low are subject to scrutiny and criticism for not being ambitious enough in moving towards goals. However, if goals and targets that are set low are achieved, this can often bring about positive reinforcement and momentum towards pursuing those goals even further. A common framework for setting goals is the S.M.A.R.T. framework. The smart framework for setting goals and targets is summarized in the figure below.

Source: Canadian Management Centre

When we set goals and targets, we need to balance realism and idealism, capacity and constraints now and into the future to bring about the change we wish to see in our transportation network.