Submission about Pickering Airport to 2015 Greenbelt Plan Review

By Transport Action Ontario | Aviation

The Ontario government is conducting its 10 year review of the Greenbelt Plan.   Transport Action Ontario made a submission to the province concerning the proposed Pickering Airport.  Although the presence or absence of this airport is not within the scope of the Greenbelt Plan Review, we believe that this airport will have a major deleterious effect on the Greenbelt lands.

Our submission can be viewed here:  TAO-Greenbelt(Pickering)2015-05

SWOTA presentation to SWEA on Network Southwest Plan

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

As readers know, Transport Action Ontario is part of the Southwestern Ontario Transportation Alliance (SWOTA).  In the past, SWOTA has worked closely with the Southwest Economic Alliance (SWEA) to improve public transportation in the region.  SWEA is a coalition of the public sector (municipalities), private sector and civil society (social non-government organizations, universities) founded to advocate for  improved conditions for economic vitality in the region.   With the retirement of its president in November, SWEA is now in the process of re-evaluating its mission and approach.

Improved public transportation remains a focus for SWEA.  SWOTA president Terry Johnson and Transport Action Ontario president Peter Miasek presented a summary of our Network Southwest plan at SWEA’s Board Meeting on May 14.     The presentation can be viewed here:  SWOTA Presentation to SWEA 2015-05-14

The Network Southwest plan and program appear to fit very closely with SWEA’s mission and approach.  SWOTA looks forward to continued cooperation with SWEA on this vital advocacy program.

Transport Action comments on Amtrak Derailment in Philadelphia

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus

On May 12, 2015 at 9:20 pm, an Amtrak Washington to New York train with 7 Amfleet cars plus locomotive derailed catastrophically in Philadelphia.  Eight persons were killed, and a large percentage of the 240 passenger plus 5 crew on the train were hospitalized.

Transport Action Past President, David Jeanes, was interviewed on CTV Television regarding this tragedy.  His interview can be viewed here:  http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=612974

Submission to Toronto Council Committee on Gardiner Expressway Reconfiguration

By Transport Action Ontario | Highways and Bridges

Transport Action Ontario (TAO) has been participating as a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) in the consultations for the Gardiner East EA since its inception in 2009.   Our last position paper was published in March, 2014, where we supported the “Remove” option.  Subsequently, Council directed staff to undertake several additional studies – primarily to evaluate a new “Hybrid” option, and to study traffic mitigation steps for the “Remove” option.

During the past year, the SAC continued to meet to review the new findings.    A public meeting on the new results was held in April, 2015.   The matter came before Toronto’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on May 13, and will go to Council in June.   As input to these deliberations, TAO issued an updated public paper.

The paper concluded that the “Hybrid” option is not appreciably different than the “Maintain” option, other than relocated access ramps.  It also noted that a small reconfiguration of the urban boulevard in “Remove” has reduced the auto and truck travel time penalty to only 3 to 5 minutes, as verified in two independent studies.    Therefore TAO continues to urge Council to advance the “Remove” option as the preferred alternative for completing the Gardiner East EA.

Our updated position paper can be viewed here:  TAO-GardinerEast2015-05-11

Federal Government’s Defeat of VIA Rail Bill is Misguided and Destructive

By Transport Action Ontario | Intercity Rail and Bus , Press Releases and Open Letters

On April 24, 2015, the House of Commons, voting on party lines, defeated private members Bill C-640, known as the VIA Rail Canada Act.    The bill received unanimous consent by the NDP, Liberal and Green parties, Bloc Quebecois and Forces et Democratie, plus two independents. However, the Conservative majority and two former Conservatives who now sit as Independents voted against it.

This Bill drew heavily on the Amtrak working example in the U.S. and a previous bill that another Conservative government introduced in Parliament in 1986.   It would have established VIA’s mandate, rights and obligations in legislation.  Transport Action Ontario has long seen such an act as a vital component in establishing a modern intercity passenger rail service in Canada.  The proposed bill would have met many of the required legislative needs.

Our media release on this matter can be viewed here:    TAO VIA Rail Act Release 2015-04-30