Aug 31

Comments on Ontario Proposal for Intercity Bus Modernization

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

Ontario has been conducting public consultations on modernizing and appropriately regulating  the intercity bus regime to ensure it remains an attractive and affordable travel option for Ontarians.

Transport Action Ontario made a combined submission on behalf of ourselves, the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Alliance (SWOTA) and the Northern and Eastern Ontario Rail Network (NEORN).

The submission can be viewed here:  tao-busmodernization-2016-08-31

Aug 18

Strong Media Response to “Are We There Yet? The state of transit investment in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area”

By Transport Action Ontario | Latest News , Urban Transit

The Move the GTHA report “Are We There Yet?  The state of transit investment in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area”, released on August 16, 2016, was broadly covered by the Toronto and regional media, including at least 12 different print, radio and television reports.  One of the most detailed was in The Toronto Star, which can be viewed here:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/08/16/transit-renaissance-on-tap-for-gta-if-funds-found-report-finds.html

The report was also reviewed in Queens Park Briefing.   That important article, which speaks to the reaffirmation of the provincial commitment to transit,  can be viewed at the link below:

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MjMwNDMzMzg=

license.icopyright.net
Report from Move the GTHA reveals more than half of Ontarios planned transportation projects remain unfunded
Aug 16

“Are We There Yet? The state of transit investment in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area”

By Transport Action Ontario | Latest News , Major Reports , Urban Transit

The Move the GTHA collaborative, of which Transport Action Ontario is a key core member, has released its long-awaited report “Are We There Yet?  The state of transit investment in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)”.   The report  details the progress to date in funding and building The Big Move 25 year rapid transit plan, and quantifies the large capital and operating/maintenance/lifecycle rehabilitation  costs that still need to be funded.   There are over 20 signatories to the report.
We are calling for a Transit Summit by early 2017 among all stakeholders to discuss funding.  The timing is good because (1) Metrolinx has just released their discussion paper on The Big Move  (2) the federal government is planning for Phase 2 of their infrastructure investment plan,    (3) some municipalities, including Toronto and York, want to have an “adult discussion” on new revenue tools.
 The report received broad media coverage, and a positive response from Queens Park.  These will be covered in subsequent posts.
Aug 08

Panel Struck to look at Alternatives to GTA-West Expressway (Highway 413)

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges

 
Ontario has been conducting an Environmental Assessment on this $4B proposed new 6 lane expressway, running from Vaughan to Milton, since 2007.  Transport Action Ontario (TAO) has been participating in the public discourse.  Our position has been to emphasize that existing infrastructure (highways, rail) must be fully expanded first, and that an expressway only be considered after a broad range of other alternatives were studied.  For further details, see the TAO website.
In December, 2015, the province suddenly announced the suspension of the EA process.  The reasons cited were emerging technologies and the sharing economy, a commitment to public transit, the need for natural heritage protection (including Greenbelt) and the need to live up to climate change commitments.  We viewed this announcement as promising.  (see Ontario Report, November-December 2015, From the President, for more details).
This July, the province established a new advisory panel tasked with looking at alternatives to meeting the future transportation demand in this high-growth area.  According to the Toronto Star, the panel includes experts in the fields of urban, regional and transportation planning, environment assessment and protection and resource management.  The panel is expected to provide an update in the fall.  To be continued……..
Jul 27

Transport Canada Backs Away from Commitment to Sault Ste. Marie – Hearst Passenger Train

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

It has been over a year since the Algoma passenger trains stopped running.  The Algoma Passenger Train Working Group, including rail advocacy groups,  has come up with a proposal to run the service as a not for profit venture led by the Missanabie Cree First Nation with a Board of Directors representing the First Nations, municipalities and socio-economic stakeholders. The new Mask-wa Ootaban (Bear Train) will be more cost efficient while creating more employment and tax revenue.

The positive economic arguments became evident from a 2015 study undertaken by BDO Canada that conservatively estimates how the train creates direct and indirect economic activity in the range of 28 to 38 million dollars a year for the region’s severely challenged economy.  On top of that, the service supports 170-220 jobs, while generating those tax dollars that more than replaced the original yearly subsidy which was cut by the previous government thereby creating the whole problem in the first place.

After considerable community advocacy, the previous Harper government committed  to restore the subsidy for three years.  However, under the current Liberal government, Transport Canada has suddenly and without public consultation, backed away from this commitment, allegedly because the new proposal requests an on-going subsidy.  There is widespread public outrage on this decision.  The First Nation is approaching Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, to request that she work inter-ministries to garner the required funding.

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