David Cooper
MPl, mCIP, RPP
Principal & Founder
Since 2005, David Cooper has contributed to numerous transformative transportation initiatives across Canada. David is the founder and principal of Leading Mobility, a transportation planning firm that offers strategic and planning support for public transit, infrastructure delivery, stakeholder support, and government relations projects and initiatives.
David's distinctive experience as the only urban planner in Canada who has practiced in the public sector in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto provide clients unique perspectives on how to successfully shepherd politically sensitive projects through large municipal and regional governments. Through his work in these three major cities, David has been integral in all stages of planning, procurement, delivery, and commissioning for multiple rapid transit projects.
Some of David's significant transportation contributions include: planning the Relief Line Subway and King Street Pilot in Toronto; procurement support for the Broadway Subway Project and development of TransLink's Battery-Electric bus program in Vancouver; implementation of LRT/BRT expansion and regional transit in Calgary. David recently authored the Canadian Urban Transit Association's COVID-19 National Recovery Strategy, a foundational plan which has helped to obtain emergency operational funding to maintain transit service during the acute stage of the pandemic and to secure long term capital funding to position public transit at the centre of economic recovery.
David firmly believes in supporting and facilitating success for new community builders. Through his work teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Calgary, University of Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University, he instructs future planners on transportation policy, planning processes and public consultation.
David's contributions to city building and transportation have been nationally recognized. He was the recipient of the 'President's Award for Young Planner of the Year' granted by the Canadian Institute of Planners, the 'Individual Leadership Award' from the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and received Mass Transit's 'Top 40 Under 40 Award' in North America.
