By Transport Action Ontario | Latest News , Urban Transit
Just in time for the federal election, Transport Action Canada has produced an “Ideas in Motion” policy brief on federal support for urban public transit It has 6 recommendations that need to be acted upon regardless of which party forms government.
The policy brief is attached below.
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.
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.
By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Latest News
With the upcoming Ontario election, February 27, 2025, Transport Action Ontario has prepared a policy brief on increasing investment in intercity passenger rail in southern Ontario, as extracted from Transport Action Canada’s 2024 report “Beyond HFR: Advancing Passenger Rail Across Canada”.
The one-page brief has been sent to all political parties with members in the Ontario legislature. The brief describes the idea and the ultra-low costs involved.
The brief can be seen below.
By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges , Latest News
Highway 413, a proposed new expressway northwest of Toronto, continues to be a very controversial project with residents. Transport Action Ontario (TAO) has been actively proposing an alternative solution – more higher order transit to move people, and a toll discount for trucks to use the existing toll Highway 407. Our studies, confirmed by others, have shown that the truck toll discount is more cost-effective than building Highway 413.
There is growing interest in utilizing Highway 407, and Ontario Premier Ford has committed to a feasibility study on a buyback of the 407 concession agreement. A motion to support the provincial study, and to include a one year pilot on a truck toll discount, was brought before the City of Vaughan Council on December 3, 2024. TAO made a deputation in support of this study and also urged a prompt one-year pilot study on a truck toll discount in a dedicated truck lane on Highway 407.
The motion was passed at Vaughan Council on December 17, 2024. Our deputation is shown below.