Ontario has the best transportation system in Canada while British Columbia and Newfoundland have the worst, according to a new study that compares the transportation infrastructure of the 10 Canadian provinces
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According to the stuy by independent research organization the Fraser Institute, Ontario is followed closely by Nova Scotia in second spot and Quebec in third, while Saskatchewan is ranked slightly ahead of British Columbia and Newfoundland.

"A province's transportation system is a critical factor in fostering a positive investment climate and facilitating economic growth and prosperity," said David T. Hartgen, emeritus professor of transportation studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and lead author of Transportation Performance of Canadian Provinces.

Hartgen's study looks at the extent, use, accessibility, cost, safety, and condition of each of different modes of transportation in each province. Two categories of transportation performance are assessed: passenger transportation (highway, transit, air, and ferry service) and freight transportation (highway, air, rail, and marine service) across the 10 provinces. A combined overall ranking on transportation performance is also calculated. A total of 23 specific measures of performance are developed for each province.

Nova Scotia has the best performance for freight transportation with top ratings for rail and marine transport. New Brunswick is a close second for freight, due to its superior rail service, although it is ranked fourth for marine service.

British Columbia is rated third overall for freight transport, with high marks for its air and rail transport, but is ranked seventh for marine freight transport. Newfoundland & Labrador is rated 10th for freight, the result of limited air and rail freight service.

The report is available for free download at /www.fraserinstitute.org/researchandpublications/publications/6266.aspx.