Canadian Suburb Sets Sights on 'Mobility Orbit'

The town of Innsifil, Ontario, located to the north of Toronto, has approved a truly ambitious, futurists vision for its future, centered around public transit and called "Mobility Orbit."

1 minute read

December 5, 2019, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The GO train has left the station and is headed into orbit. Next stop, Innisfil, the 'squircle' city," writes Shane MacDonald.

If that sounds like science fiction, it's practically is. There are two pieces to this puzzle: the first, a GO transit station, which now has an endorsement from the Innsifil Council and a full funding commitment from the developer, Cortel Group. The second piece is the larger development plan called Mobility Orbit—the "squircle" extending out from the station. Both components have a futuristic appearance, as shown in the renderings made available by Innisfil. Eventually, Innisfil hopes 150,000 people will live in the squircle defined by the Mobility Orbit plan.

"Innisfil partnered with Toronto-based architecture studio Partisans to help launch the idea," according to MacDonald, who also includes a lot more detail on the development plans for both the station and the larger Mobility Orbit plans.

As described in a column on Innisfil [paywall] by architecture critic Alec Bozikovic, Mobility Orbit is Innisfil's plan to become the suburb of the future: built around transit, cycling, and walking.

The Orbit: Innisfil GO Station (All images: The Orbit: Innisfil)

The Orbit: Innisfil—ground level.

The Orbit: Innisfil—bird’s eye angled.

Thursday, November 28, 2019 in Innisfil Journal

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nilu Jenks wears a long gray coat and speaks with one man and two women outside.

Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember

Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.

November 8 - Reason

People sit on wooden benches on a bus in Miami

New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks

Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade homeowners $2,700 in 2028.

November 8 - Miami New Times

Two men install solar panels on the roof of a house.

Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms

The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.

November 8 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.