Transportation, mobility and inclusivity in rural communities: MUI students place 2nd in U of T competition

Nathalie Estephan and Kevin Shi are excited about finding creative ways to help people move around cities.  As second-year Master of Urban Innovation (MUI) students, both have a track record of contributing to the transportation ecosystem in the greater Toronto area; Nathalie completed her MUI co-op with the Ministry of Transportation’s System Planning Branch, and Kevin, with Metrolinx.   

From gridlock to subways, from pedestrian pathways to bike lanes, Nathalie and Kevin’s expertise in innovative approaches to community challenges were on display as they placed second this fall in the 2024 New Frontiers in Transportation Student Competition hosted by the U of T Transportation Alumni Network.   

They were inspired to join the Competition to both flex the knowledge and skills each has gained so far in their master's degrees and previous experience, and to contribute to the building of resilient, equitable communities.  “What better way”, says Nathalie, “to put key learning outcomes and takeaways together in perspective and delve deep into a thinking exercise that pushes our boundaries, gets at the core of the issue and develop a deeper understanding of the industry, its’ challenges, but also its potential?” 

The focus of the 2024 Challenge was Supporting Complete Communities with Mobility, in which students presented solutions to improve how mobility functions in communities, including tackling issues like the first- and last-kilometer problem (how far is it from a commuter’s home or destination point to the place they can access transit?), transit deserts (places with poor infrastructure), and urban sprawl (continued expansion of our regions).  For many communities in Canada, these issues are a daily challenge, and Nathalie and Kevin set out to find some solutions. 

Over a two-month window, the team dug deeply into the literature and interviewed leading experts in the field.  The team was able to speak to individuals with “extensive exposure to research and practical experience in the mechanisms behind on-demand transit struggles for [remote] communities”, and challenges for both local transit and inter-region transit.  The team was inspired by their interactions; "the successful qualitative aspect of our research was probably the best surprise!”, says the team.   “We were not expecting such cooperation, enthusiasm, and will to support [us]”. 

Nathalie and Kevin’s final presentation, Bridging the Divide: Empowering Ontario’s Rural Transit for Inclusive Mobility, outlined key issues, pointing to available, reliable transit in rural regions as critical for job opportunities, healthcare services, essential needs, economic development, and more.  Specifically, the team drew attention to the critical need for transportation in remote areas to support vulnerable populations, including Indigenous women and girls.  Gaps in rural transit, and under funding, they argued, were at the root of the inability for many communities to provide basic and essential transportation services. 

Through a deep analysis, the team made recommendations to resolve the issue, both at local and regional levels.  Their robust recommendation portfolio included elements such as integrated maps, subsidies, cross-border services, integrated fare platforms, and dedicated funding programs. 

Ultimately, their integrated approach landed them in second place. 

Both Nathalie and Kevin strongly recommend that other students engage in opportunities like the Competition.  “The whole purpose of our professional program is to build a generation of individuals who can go into the workforce with a stronger understanding of current issues and challenges and have the ability to analyze problems and think of transformative solutions, while referring to the right tools”, says Nathalie.  Kevin agrees, adding that the opportunity to “pitch our ideas in a safe space, to have access to mentorship throughout the process from professionals in the industry, and to get feedback and genuine opinion” was invaluable.  Both agree that the connection to industry was invaluable – from a learning perspective, and to open doors in their future careers. 

“The results are rewarding”, says Kevin.  “We learned so much...and it will give you a great sense of accomplishment.”  Nathalie agrees, encouraging students to dive deeply into opportunities like this in grad school.  “It’s the perfect time”, she says, crediting the MUI team in encouraging them along.  “[Don’t] miss out on these academic streams of exposure, to be able to learn as much as possible, connect as much as possible, and fulfill MUI’s purpose to its fullest extent” 

Learn more about the MUI Program and the U of T Transportation Alumni Network  

About Nathalie and Kevin

Nathalie holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture & Diploma in Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut and is working toward her Master of Urban Innovation at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. Nathalie’s work experience as a landscape architect has taken her through different paths, from not-for-profits to entrepreneurial free-lancing, to finally, years of design practice / engineering consultancy in the private sector, leading on several master planning projects across the Middle East, and gaining practical knowledge in community-sensitive design and placemaking among other takeaways. Nathalie’s aspirations of making an impact on communities, interests in how cities function, thrive, and grow, and quest for ways to build more prosperous regions led her to the selection of this interdisciplinary master program. At the intersection of innovation, economic development, technology, planning, policymaking, and management, Nathalie found her passion fulfilled in working on urban solutions in different contexts, including the transportation policy world for her summer co-op, but also several other urban consulting and conversational opportunities facilitated by the MUI Program. She recently wrapped up her internship at the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s System Planning Branch, further enhancing her skills in public policy, transportation planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She looks forward to completing her capstone project and master’s degree in the year to come! 

Kevin grew up in China and moved to Canada in 2018 for his undergraduate studies at McGill University, Montreal, where he double majored Urban Studies and Sociology. During his studies, he gained quantitative and qualitative research skills as well as the use of GIS software through various projects related to public transit expansion and its impact on neighbourhoods. He moved to Toronto last year to pursue a Master of Urban Innovation at UofT. He is actively involved in many volunteering roles supporting events at the MUI program. He just recently completed his summer internship at Metrolinx, where he worked at the Subways Sponsor Office supporting the extension of Yonge North and Scarborough subway lines. He looks forward to completing his Capstone project and master’s degree in the year to come.