Transport 2000 Canada Hot Line

9 October 2009

This is the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline, issue number 1041, for 9 October 2009.

In this issue...

1 - Calendar

2 - Getting traffic solutions back on track in Halifax: John Pearce, Transport 2000

"Regarding reconstruction of the Fairview overpass and six months of traffic delays: A partial solution to road traffic problems may lie under the bridge on the double track rail line. In Halifax, between the Rockingham CN station and the locomotive maintenance yard and former roundhouse at the end of Chisholm Avenue runs 2.7 kilometres of double-track railway. Self-propelled diesel rail cars holding up to 80 passengers each are available from Industrial Rail Service Inc. in Moncton. It should be possible to make a one-way trip on this line in three to four minutes. Allowing for loading and unloading, a return trip should take 12 to 15 minutes. Since the line is double track, a 15-minute frequency is possible, with freight operations continuing in modified form on the second track. Alternatively, 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., two rail diesel trains could operate a shuttle on both tracks with seven- to eight-minute frequency," Transport 2000's John Pearce wrote in the Halifax Chronicle Herald on October 8.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1146451.html

3 - Le retour du transport ferroviaire à Gatineau

« Le candidat à la mairie Roger Fleury dit qu'il en a assez du « protectionnisme » de la Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) et souhaite le retour du transport ferroviaire à Gatineau. Il accuse la STO d'empêcher le O-Train d'OC Transpo, le train léger d'Ottawa, de traverser la rivière sur le pont Prince-de-Galles. C'est d'ailleurs près de ce pont centenaire qu'il a tenu un point de presse, hier matin, en présence d'une dizaine de supporters » Le Droit publié le 04 octobre.

« Selon M. Fleury, autant la Ville de Gatineau que la Ville d'Ottawa auraient intérêt à s'arrimer sur le même plan de transport en commun. Il croit que le Rapibus de la STO est une bonne idée, mais n'aime pas qu'on enlève les rails existants pour paver des voies réservées aux autobus. Le train a encore sa place, estime-t-il. Dans l'optique de M. Fleury, il pourrait s'agir d'un train léger ou d'un tramway. L'enseignant à la retraite propose également que des rails soient aménagés sur le pont Cartier-MacDonald pour que ce service ferroviaire puisse « boucler la boucle ». Avec ce train urbain, le candidat croit que la STO pourrait étendre davantage son service aux municipalités limitrophes de Gatineau » François Pierre Dufault a écrit.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-droit/actualites/gatineau-outaouais/200910/04/01-908349-fleury-veut-que-le-train-vienne-a-gatineau.php

4 - Aviation Safety News: Watchdogs keep watch

On Oct. 8 Aviation Safety News reported on tougher rules for fatigue, airline emissions, FAA debris spotters, Who is in charge of aviation safety, TSB raises concerns about aging pilots, Airports cut back on security and poisoned by fumes. Aviation Safety News is a project of Transport 2000 Canada and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Public Interest Advocacy Centre monitors aviation legislation. PIAC has standing before the Canadian Transportation Agency and the courts. Transport 2000 Canada is represented on the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council. The Aviation Safety News readers' group includes top aviation safety authorities, industry and civil service professionals.

http://aviation.web.net

5 - Michigan puts the brakes on Detroit River International Crossing

"The Michigan Department of Transportation is the lead agency overseeing the Detroit River International Crossing road projects. A lack of funding on the U.S. side could slow DRIC road projects in Canada because the end-to-end proposal requires approvals and funding to cover the entire length from Highway 401 in Windsor to I-75 in Detroit. MDOT must also submit a new traffic study to the legislature by May 1, 2010, that provides a detailed border traffic projection for the ensuing 10 years," the Windsor Star reported on Oct. 8.

"Although DRIC is capped at $2.5 million in state funds, there will be roughly $12.5 million to spend on the U.S. side because of a 80-20 per cent matching funds arrangement with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration," the Star's Dave Battagello reported.

"But that pales in comparison to the contribution of the Canadian government. Ottawa has already committed $400 million to the project and recently spent another $34 million to buy property in Brighton Beach where the foot of the DRIC bridge will be on the Canadian side. The provincial government has also spent more than $100 million to date acquiring over 300 properties to help make room for the parkway. The total project is worth about $5 billion," the Star reported.

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Michigan+limits+border+funds/2080852/story.html

6 - $5 billion road project: Ontario should follow Michigan's lead

"We heartily agrees with the Michigan budget that calls into question the inflated traffic projections used to justify the construction of this very expensive project. The action taken by the Michigan Legislature addresses this issue head-on by requiring what DRIC supporters have never produced: an objective, accurate, investment-grade traffic study of all existing and planned transportation options for the next 10 years to 2019 that takes into account all available modes of transportation including: proposals for increased rail opportunities; additional capacity at expanded and modified crossings; and, existing capacity at all crossings located between Ontario and Michigan," Natalie Litwin, President of Transport 2000 Ontario said.

"We call on the Ontario government to show us a comprehensive study of cross-border traffic demand and capacity from Sarnia to Windsor before spending any more money on DRIC. Ontario should follow Michigan's lead," Litwin said in an Oct. 7 news release.

7 - DRIC opposition crosses border

Earlier this year Transport 2000 worked successfully with groups on both sides of the British Columbia-Washington border to expand Amtrak service. The same strategy is now at play in Windsor. Last month, Transport 2000 joined nine other groups including, Detroit's Transit Riders United, Citizens Environmental Alliance and the Ontario Smart Growth Network. They signed an Open Letter to Governor Granholm and Members of the Michigan State legislature opposing DRIC. The co-signers agreed to "Oppose an investment in Michigan's Department of Transportation's proposed DRIC highway project both at this time and in the foreseeable future."

The letter said MDOT and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation both have not been forthright with the Governor, the Premier, Michigan's and Ontario's legislative bodies, and the general public in disclosing available but unused highway capacity. It said that they also ignored the use of rail as a viable alternative and intermodal rail opportunities including a proposal by CP Rail for the construction of a high-clearance railroad tunnel. It also argued that the continuing decline in traffic on cross-border highways in recent years, and the decline in solid waste transportation across the international border due to legislative restrictions call into question the need for the DRIC project.

http://www.transport2000.ca/Hotlines/hl090925.htm

8 - Cambridge council gives Frito-Lay the right to run super-sized trucks

"Super-sized trucks proposed along Bishop Street have city council's blessing. Monday night, nobody voted against a request from Frito-Lay to use "long combination vehicles" to ship potato chips from its big plant on Bishop Street. The company wants to join in a provincial test by using two 53-foot long trailers pulled by a single tractor truck," the Waterloo Region Record reported on Oct. 5.

"It's very beneficial for our company to do this, as it would be for any company," said Terry Naugler, traffic manager at the Cambridge plant. Today, 250 trucks a day move in and out of the Bishop Street factory. The goal is to reduce that number by 15 per cent, thanks to fewer, longer trucks. Since July 1, the province has allowed some trucking companies to use the super-sized trucks on freeways and four-lane, divided highways. Local governments must approve off-highway routes, before the province considers them," the Record's Kevin Swayze reported.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/609031

9 - $50 billion in U.S. high-speed rail applications submitted

"The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan. A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration," Associated Press reported on Oct. 6.

"The $787 billion recovery act designated $8 billion for high-speed and other passenger rail projects. Interest in winning a share of the rail funds has been intense, not only by states, but by domestic and foreign rail, engineering and construction companies that want to build and operate the systems. The fierce competition means most applicants are likely to go away empty-handed. The $4.7 billion application from the California High-Speed Rail Authority alone totals more than half the available funds. California is aiming for bullet train service to eventually extend from Sacramento to San Diego," AP's Joan Lowy reported.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i0OD7AJj2mfsgxLnuvfyMrUSj75AD9B5S39G0

10 - On the Fast Track: North American High Speed Rail Summit: Nov. 2-3

This week the Railway Association of Canada released a participants list for "On the Fast Track". The event, which will be held at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau on Nov 2-3, to date has booked:

http://www.railcan.ca/site_rail_agm2008/default.asp

Thank you for calling the Transport 2000 Canada Hotline. For additional information, please contact our web site at:

www.transport2000.ca.