Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

2 February 2002

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 639, recorded on 2 February 2002, David Leibold reporting.

In this issue...

1 - Ontario Superbuild means more superhighways, less super transit

The Ontario government announced 29th January that its SuperBuild program will fund $127 million in road and convention centre projects in Ottawa. Most of this, $57 million, is for widening the Queensway or 417, the city's major superhighway. $45 million is for mostly road widenings, plus a rail grade separation for Woodroffe Avenue, near the Fallowfield transitway station and a proposed new VIA station stop.

There is concern that future transit money, if any, will be extremely limited. Recent reports indicate there will only be $250 million in Ontario transit funding over 10 years for regions outside the Greater Toronto Area.

The announcement was made the same day a regional provincial workshop on future transportation strategy was conducted, also in Ottawa. That event suggests a focus on maintaining road networks, but the consensus of participants did seem to open the door for further support to transit, rail freight and inter-city passenger transport services.

2 - North American report includes call to reduce car use

Last month, the Commission for Environmental Co-operation released its study of current North American environmental conditions, containing numerous warnings of serious continent-wide environmental problems. Among its conclusions was that the level of automobile ownership (90% of North American households) was unsustainable, while use of passenger transport modes has dropped in recent decades.

3 - Inquest to review risks of older drivers

An Ontario inquest in March will examine the risks of elderly drivers. This resulted from an April 2000 case where an 85-year-old driver killed a pedestrian who was crossing a street on a green light. The driver was convicted of criminal negligence causing death, but was given only a 15-month conditional sentence.

The inquest will deal with whether aged persons can drive safely, and if so, under what conditions and licencing regime.

4 - End of bus pass funding for BC seniors

BC Transit announced that the province has cancelled the annual BC Bus Pass for senior residents who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Year 2002 passes are not affected, but the cancellation takes effect as of 2003.

The 30 000 seniors eligible for the $45 annual pass would have to pay $480 next year. Some seniors are now trying to protest the province's decision.

5 - More Greyhound travellers can enjoy senior discount

The minimum age for Greyhound Canada's senior fares was lowered from 65 to 62 effective 25th January. Senior fares are at a 10% discount from regular fares.

The bus line is also promoting its own version of "red caps", whose job includes assisting seniors with luggage and bus boardings. They are identified by red blazers and are available at the major bus terminals in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa.

6 - Clean-up from CPR disaster in North Dakota

As of 23rd January, Canadian Pacific Railway reopened service through Minot, North Dakota, where a derailment 18th January emptied at least 8 cars of their dangerous cargo of anhydrous ammonia gas.

After the wreckage was cleared, about 20 homes were still declared evacuation zones. There are also concerns that limited amounts of anhydrous ammonia will still be detected for some time.

7 - Quebec school bus safety campaign

L'Association du transport écolier du Québec is conducting its annual school bus safety campaign from 4-15 February. The goal is to increase awareness among students, parents and motorists of safe practices around school buses.

8 - St-Hilaire line ridership remains strong

The commuter line between Montreal and Saint-Hilaire now carries 2200 daily passengers. Commuter operator AMT hopes to increase this to 8000 daily riders with schedule changes and new South Shore stops. (courtesy Train Scan).

9 - Nova Scotia shortline labour dispute

Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia (CB&CNS) Railway crews could be going on strike over pay which is lower than in the rest of Canada. As of the end of last month, no job action was yet taken. CB&CNS is owned by RailAmerica (courtesy Train Scan).

10 - Canadian Tire on the tracks

Canadian Tire opened a new distribution centre in Calgary last month, with connection to Canadian Pacific's intermodal rail facility. CN had wanted the distribution plant to be built in Edmonton to connect with CN tracks there. (courtesy Train Scan).

11 - CP closes off car trace website

Canadian Pacific's car trace website is being closed to the public, similar to restrictions placed by CN on its car trace site last fall. Only registered customers will be able to perform car trace inquiries for the two major Canadian railroads. Security concerns since September have been blamed for the site shutdowns. (courtesy Train Scan).

12 - Truck hours petition circulating

A petition opposed to 84-hour trucker work weeks is making the rounds. A modest 250 drivers have signed up so far. Details on the long trucking workweek may be found at the http://www.truckerhours.ca website.

13 - Toronto to test hybrid transit bus

The Toronto Transit Commission is testing the Orion VII Hybrid Bus, which uses a battery pack charged by the engine/generator which then powers the electric drive motor of the bus.

14 - Y2K2 bug hits Toronto paratransit

Toronto's Wheel-Trans paratransit service was crippled by a failure in its reservation computer on 11th January. Only pre-booked passengers were able to make trips that morning, until the system was restored in the early afternoon, allowing the trips scheduled from that time to proceed.

15 - New scanners for Vancouver port cargo

New container screening technology was introduced by the Vancouver Port Authority and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency in recent days. The facilities are intended to provide better scanning for contraband.

16 - More plans and cities for Air Canada's Tango

Air Canada will be upgrading its Tango discount airline with an added 8 Boeing 737 jets that were to be used for a second discount carrier. There will also be additional Canadian destinations served.

Air Canada is not proceeding with the second discount carrier due to concerns that the federal government could react to Air Canada's huge market share.

17 - Canada 3000 Cargo still flying

While Canada 3000 airlines went bankrupt in November, a separate but related freight company, Canada 3000 Cargo, remains alive.

It plans to change its name to avoid association with the failed passenger carrier. There are still plans to bring a new airline into service in May out of the ashes of Canada 3000.

18 - Ferroequus seeks Pacific port access

Ferroequus Railway wants the rights to use CN's line into Prince Rupert, BC for grain shipments through the Pacific. CN and CP are trying to fight this, claiming Ferroequus does not have to own and maintain rail infrastructure.

19 - Calendar

Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline. Thanks also to Louis-François Garceau and Train Scan for sources of additional material. For additional information, please contact our web site at:

www.transport2000.ca.