Good Roads Podcast

A devastating rural intersection crash has renewed calls for better rural road safety. Alto's latest consultation results could reshape Canada's future high-speed rail network, and Ontario is expanding 110 km/h speed limits across hundreds of kilometres of provincial highways. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the biggest municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories shaping Ontario communities.

Could banning right turns on red make intersections safer? Toronto is handing off two major highways to the province. And municipalities are reporting troubling issues with chip-and-tar roads. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the biggest municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories shaping Ontario communities.

Could volunteers help fix potholes? Ontario is preparing new e-bike regulations. And a new report questions whether road expansion is worth the cost. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Canada Road Safety Week is back. Rideshare vehicles are flooding Toronto’s streets. And new research suggests car ads may be encouraging risky driving. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Highway tolling is back in the conversation. Lower speed limits are showing real safety benefits. And Ontario is testing rideshare solutions in the North. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Waymo is eyeing Toronto for autonomous vehicle testing. Ontario has finalized its Buy Ontario rules for municipalities. And SUVs may be making potholes worse. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Northern Ontario highways are under renewed scrutiny. New data reveals the most dangerous roads in winter. And transit agencies are exploring new ways to fund infrastructure. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Ontario is accelerating construction of roads into the Ring of Fire. Autonomous vehicles could make congestion worse. And excessive road salt is threatening Ontario’s watersheds. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and road safety stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Ontario is moving to mandate municipal road construction standards. Traffic fatalities are rising again. And the next phase of road safety funding is now open. Welcome to the Good Roads Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, road safety, and transportation policy stories — fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Rural road safety funding, Canada’s shifting EV strategy, and the true cost of world-class transit are all in focus this week. Welcome to the Good Roads Bulletin Podcast, where we break down the most important municipal infrastructure, transportation, and policy stories—fast, focused, and built for Ontario municipalities.

Why do so many infrastructure projects—big or small—go over budget, run late, or fall apart? And how can Ontario’s municipalities avoid the same fate? In this episode of the Good Roads Podcast, bestselling author, journalist, and human-behaviour expert Dan Gardner breaks down the real reasons projects fail—and the surprisingly simple principles that can make them succeed. Drawing from his book How Big Things Get Done, co-authored with megaproject scholar Bent Flyvbjerg, Dan explains why planning slow and acting fast, managing risk, and understanding human behaviour are essential for municipalities of every size. From California’s high-speed rail disaster to Morocco’s success story, Dan shows how politics, culture, and psychology shape project outcomes far more than engineering ever will. He also shares practical lessons for municipal leaders: building cohesive teams, defining clear project goals, maximizing experience, and creating a culture where every worker understands their role in the mission. Dan Gardner will also be the keynote speaker at the 2026 Good Roads Conference—catch a preview of his insights here.

In this powerful episode of the Good Roads Podcast, co-hosts Thomas Barakat and Andrew Blackburn sit down with Eleanor McMahon — founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and a former Ontario Cabinet Minister — to talk about the tragic loss that inspired a movement, and the decades of advocacy that followed. Eleanor shares her personal story of loss, the creation of Share the Road, and the fight for safer, more inclusive streets across Ontario. From legislative victories like Greg’s Law and the 1m Safe Passing Rule, to the rise of cycling tourism and infrastructure in rural communities, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in road safety, active transportation, and community well-being.

David Zipper, senior fellow at the MIT Mobility Initiative and transportation policy expert, recently joined Good Roads Podcast hosts Thomas Barakat and Andrew Blackburn. Zipper shared his insights on the future of urban mobility, from changes in U.S. transportation policy to Ontario’s bike lane battles. In this interview, we explore the big-picture shifts Zipper anticipates and the lessons Canadian cities might take from global trends.