Category Archives for "Latest News"

Truth in Advertising for High Frequency Rail

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

Transport Action board members Terry Johnson and Peter Miasek recently published an article in the March/April 2023 edition of Renew Magazine advocating for increased federal transparency for the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project. This project appears to be rapidly increasing in scope and complexity versus what was proposed in 2017 by VIA Rail, including higher potential speeds and more complex routes into Montreal and Toronto city centres.

We urged the release of the $71M study completed by the Joint Project Office in 2021, an updated cost estimate and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis.

The article can be read here.

The Economic Case against Highway 413 – Toronto Star Op-Ed

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges , Latest News

Ontario’s Highway 413 project continues to be actively discussed in the media. A recent op-ed (February 18, 2023) in the Toronto Star by Tom Rand summarized the economic case against the Highway. It extensively utilized research and reports by Transport Action Ontario, namely:

• For the same capital cost of the Highway (about $8B), various rapid transit lines could be built which would have a capacity to carry about 4 times as many people per hour as the Highway
• Providing a toll subsidy for trucks on the 407ETR toll road would be much more cost-effective than building the Highway to move freight.

The author also reviewed the value of the lost agricultural and ecosystem services provided by the lands that would be paved over by the Highway.

The article can be viewed here

Update Needed on Gardiner Expressway Elevated Link Project

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges , Latest News

With the huge 2023 budget challenges being faced by the City of Toronto, Transport Action Ontario (TAO) is joining dozens of other non-government organizations calling for an update on the costs and foregone revenues to build a new elevated link between the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, rather than linking with an urban boulevard at grade.

This matter was extensively debated in 2009-2015. See TAO postings on this website. Both city staff and a stakeholder advisory committee, which included TAO, supported the urban boulevard approach, due to significant cost and revenue advantages totaling about $1 billion. However, in a narrow vote, Toronto Council chose the elevated link.

A letter has been sent to Toronto Council outlining the reasons why the boulevard makes more sense than ever, and urging a staff report. It can be viewed below.

Comments on Draft Transportation Plan for Eastern Ontario

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

In April, 2022, Ontario released the last of its regional transportation plans – this one for Eastern Ontario. Transport Action Ontario (TAO) has reviewed this plan. In general, we find it to be long on ideas but short on specific actions. The highway-centric nature of most of the actions is a concern. TAO feels that more emphasis on public transit, intercommunity public transportation and freight rail is needed.

Our comments can be viewed below.

Federal Study of Southwestern Ontario Passenger Rail Enhancement – update

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

On August 30, 2022 Federal Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced a one-year study by a 3rd party advisor on enhancing passenger rail services in southwestern Ontario (SWO). The advisor will examine both near-term improvements and longer-term integration into High Frequency Rail. While this news was welcomed, our concern is that there have already been numerous studies on SWO passenger rail, and this latest study means that additional services are still years away. See our post on the Transport Action Canada website for more details.

One September 26, representatives from Transport Action Ontario (TAO) and Transport Action Canada (TAC) met with senior staff at Transport Canada to review the scope of the advisor’s work. The procurement document was posted on the buyandsell.gc.ca website on September 9, and can be viewed by searching for “T8080-220058”.

We learned that

• Advisor will examine previous studies and welcomes additional input
• Advisor will consult with Metrolinx to understand their plans for SWO and any track access issues
• Advisor will largely focus on the South Main Line (Toronto – Brantford – London – Windsor) and London-Sarnia, recognizing provincial interest in the North Main Line (Toronto – Kitchener – London)
• Advisor will contract with CN for it to assess what infrastructure investments are needed for 2-3 service enhancement scenarios
• Advisor will develop demand forecasts, as that is needed for Business Case development
• Advisor will be made aware of Amtrak Chicago – Toronto interest

Transport Action will continue to engage with Transport Canada staff on this issue. We have sent them material from TAO’s submissions to the province’s SWO Transportation Task Force that lists lower cost infrastructure improvement ideas. We also anticipate participating in a stakeholder roundtable to be held in early 2023.