Canada’s rural and remote areas are not as well served by transit networks as its cities, though suburbs do have fairly extensive connections to the cities they adjoin. In larger cities and towns, experts predict a significant shift in “urban form” – all the structures, layouts, and patterns making up an urban centre. The majority of Canada’s population is urban – 81% of Canadians live in urban areas – and future growth will continue to be largely in city and town centres, as well as along urban corridors. Suburbs are expected to expand at similar rates to inner-city growth and urban form improvements will extend to suburbs as well. Rail commuter networks similar to those in use in Europe and the United Kingdom are a strong possibility, thanks to how successful these systems have been in other countries at allowing residents to live in the suburbs and work in the city without sacrificing large amounts of time to expensive and emissions-intensive commuting.

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In areas further away from urban cores, the existing railways serving small towns and communities are predicted to go greener through electrification, and as electric rail technology grows more affordable, the likelihood of these services expanding to connect more communities is high. Rural communities across Canada were hit hard by the phase-out of Greyhound bus services that many relied on, but regional initiatives are in development to fill the void with more expected to follow. Ideally, investment in these services will not only match but improve on the connectivity offered by Greyhound and make it safer, easier and more economical for residents of these remote and rural communities to travel when and where they need to.