Expect another flurry of announcements from some of Toronto’s high profile mayoral candidates again on Tuesday and in the days and weeks ahead of the June 26th byelection.

But when it comes to promises around major transportation and transit projects, at least one local expert says voters have good reason to be skeptical.

Dr. Murtaza Haider is the research director at the Urban Analytics Institute at Toronto’s Metropolitan University.

He told The Morning Zoom with Sam and Jane, the candidates are not receiving guidance from transit experts on their commitments.

“Oh no, never,” Dr. Haider explained, “This is mostly motivation or interest from special interest groups who have a vested interest in promoting one project versus the other. I have never seen a proper transport plan or a transit plan or infrastructure plan or forecasting plan, or even anyone who’s said I’m a transport export and I have developed this plan.”

Dr. Haider says a good plan is when a Toronto mayoral candidate promises to get more out of our bus network and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.