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Apr 08

Public Transit Policy Survey for Federal Parties

By Transport Action Ontario | Urban Transit

With the upcoming federal election, April 28, 2025, Transport Action Canada and numerous other transportation-related non-government organizations have developed a poll to be filled out by all political parties. It focusses on the Canada Public Transit Fund and on investment in transit and active transportation and shifting funding away from urban highway expansion. It was sent to all federal political parties on April 2.

The survey is attached below. Members and subscribers are encouraged to use the survey with their local candidates and submit any responses to the addresses indicated.

Mar 21

Annual Meetings – April 5, 2025

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges , Intercity Rail and Bus , Latest News , Northern Ontario , Urban Transit

Transport Action Ontario (TAO) and Transport Action Canada (TAC) invite all members and supporters to join us for our annual public meeting on April 5, 2025, to be followed by the Annual General Meetings of both organizations. The meetings will be in hybrid format – in person in Kingston, Ontario and virtual using ZOOM, and will start at 1:00 pm.

The public meeting will feature key notes speakers Carl Fowler on cross-border passenger rail, Shawn Marshall on mapping Canada’s motorcoach network and a discussion of Kingston as a future regional hub for VIA Rail/Alto.

For further details and registration information for the public meeting, click here.

The public meeting will be followed by the Annual General Meetings for both organizations – between 3:00 pm and 3:45 pm for TAC and between 3:45 – 4:30 pm for TAO. Members in good standing have received separate invites for these sessions.

GO Train with locomotive 620 leading. Photograph by Chris Huggins.
Mar 12

Transportation in the GTHA – Status and Outlook

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges , Urban Transit

Transport Action Ontario recently presented a summary update of GTHA (Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area) transportation improvements and challenges to a Toronto-based seniors group. The presentation covered both public transit and expressways. It presents a useful snapshot of the current status of this vital public service, including:

  • Massive anticipated population increase and high levels of congestion are driving the need for more transportation capacity. Province is responding with both a large transit expansion program and a major plan to build more expressways.
  • Over $100 Billion of rapid transit capital investment since 2010, but more needed.
  • Smaller projects underway to improve transit, including priority bus features and on-request transit.
  • Federal government finally investing in VIA Rail, but operating challenges continue. New High Speed Rail (Alto) project has been announced, but is proceeding at very slow pace and very high cost.
  • Road widenings/new expressways are not the answer. Put the funds into transit instead.
  • Transit challenges include operational funding, reliability and escalating cost of construction.

The update can be viewed below.

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Long Bridge Groundbreaking Ceremony, October 2024 - Photo by Senator Mark Warner
Feb 12

Transportation Infrastructure: Virginia Invests while Ontario spends

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Latest News

Transport Action Ontario (TAO) remains deeply concerned about the direction of transportation congestion relief policies in Ontario. While the province is investing heavily in transit in Greater Toronto, the solution that elected officials promote and brag about is to spend billions on new highway infrastructure, and millions more on policies to lower costs for drivers – such as toll eliminations and gas tax reductions.

The State of Virginia is facing a similar congestion problem, and has chosen to invest in passenger rail rather than more highways and more lanes, for a variety of good reasons. TAO board member Ken Westcar attended a recent webinar from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, and has written an article contrasting Virginia and Ontario.

Ken’s article is attached.

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