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| Transport Action Hotline - 3 September 2010 | |||||||||||
In this issue...This is the Transport Action Hotline, issue number 1080, for 3 September 2010.
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1 - Calendar
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2 - La climatisation du métro est un gaspillage énergétique, dit Transport 2000« Le groupe Transport 2000 n'est pas convaincu que la climatisation du métro soit la bonne solution pour améliorer le confort des passagers. L'organisme, qui représente les usagers des transports en commun montréalais, estime que la climatisation entraînerait un «gaspillage énergétique considérable » Jeanne Corriveau a rapporté pour le Devoir le 1 septembre.«Cette solution est très tentante, reconnaît Normand Parisien, directeur général de Transport 2000. C'est vrai qu'il fait très chaud dans les voitures actuelles, mais avec les nouvelles voitures, on devrait faire des gains importants.» M. Parisien croit que la chaleur dégagée par les rames climatisées fera en sorte que la température grimpera indûment dans les tunnels et les stations. Il se dit toutefois inquiet quant au confort des usagers dans le contexte de réchauffement climatique » le Devoir a rapporté.
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3 - No vision for road safety: Ministers to meet in HalifaxTransport ministers are expected to approve the next version of Canada's road safety plan at meetings in Halifax on September 29-30. None of the targets set in the old plan, Road Safety Vision 2010, were met. Canada's international safety ranking declined. The data lag problem worsened. It is expected the Council of Ministers for Transportation and Highway Safety and the Council of Deputy Ministers Responsible for Transportation & Highway Safety will approve a less ambitious new plan for the next ten years.In 2007, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 2,767 people died on the road. A Transport Canada study estimates of the total cost of collisions at $62.7 billion a year. http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/tp-index-45.htm
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4 - BC nixes support for Vancouver Island railway: $1.184 billion for the South Fraser perimeter road"The provincial study on the future of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway (now owned by the Island Corridor Foundation) on Vancouver Island was released this summer. The study basically concludes that it is not worth investing any money in the railway corridor. ... One of the main problems with the rail corridor is that right of way is overgrown, tracks are worn out and years of deferred maintenance have taken their toll. Train speeds must be reduced due to the poor quality of the roadbed. This further diminishes the competitiveness of the rail service. The Island Corridor Foundation was hoping to get an investment from senior level governments to upgrade the line so it could support better VIA Rail service, commuter rail in the Victoria area, re-open the Port Alberni line and attract more freight service," Transport Action B.C.'s Matthew Buchanan wrote on Aug. 25."It is disappointing to public transport advocates that the province of BC has no problem dropping $24 million on new interchanges (eg. McTavish Rd in North Saanich). The province, with help from the federal government will spend $1.184 billion on the South Fraser Perimeter Road (expressway). These road projects seem to get announced every week with no year-long half million dollar studies, but for non-highway projects the province isn't interested in supporting them," Matthew Buchanan wrote on the Transport Action B.C. Blog. http://transportactionbc.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/vancouver-island-railway-study-released/
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5 - Greg Gormick joins the staff of Dean Del Mastro, MPOn Aug. 27 Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro announced Greg Gormick has joined his staff. A Peterborough Examiner report quoted Del Mastro, "Gormick is leading and coordinating the creation of a non-profit organization that would own the rail corridor between Peterborough and Toronto ... He's working in support of the re-establishment of commuter rail between Peterborough and Toronto's union station," he said. "He has significant experience. He's a passionate supporter of the re-establishment of this line.""Gormick has worked as a communications adviser or writer for organizations and companies such as Bombardier Transportation, Canadian Urban Transit Association, Ontario SuperBuild Corporation, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway" Brendan Wedley wrote for the Examiner. "Del Mastro said Gormick would support his efforts as chairman of the national rail caucus." http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2733641
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6 - Stewart Southern Railway: Saskatchewan's 11th shortline railway"It was an exciting day in Fillmore Friday, as the Stewart Southern Railway officially chugged into existence on a 132 kilometre stretch of track previously owned by Canadian Pacific Railway," the Leader-Post reported on Aug. 28."Stewart Southern Railway will be the 11th shortline railway in Saskatchewan. And (president Blair) Stewart said the success, in getting the new shortline railway established should provide encouragement to other areas of the province that they can do the same thing. ... Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter also expressed support for the project," Neil Scott reported for the Leader-Post. Transport Action's Catherine Verrall notes the organizations initiatives including a symposium on short-line railways have played a part in preserving rail infrastructure in Saskatchewan. http://www.leaderpost.com/Stewart+Southern+Railway+track/3455062/story.html
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7 - Transport Pontiac Renfrew negotiating purchase terms for Ottawa to Pembroke rail line"Transport Pontiac Renfrew, a community-based non-profit corporation ... has been working for a couple of years now to take over the old CN Beachburg (Ottawa to Pembroke) line. If the organization succeeds, the long-term plan is to not only operate it as a commuter line, but also use it for freight transportation and tourism," Theresa Fritz reported for Arnprior EMC on Sept. 2."We (Transport Pontiac Renfrew) are deep in negotiations with CN to purchase the railway," Arnprior mayor Terry Gibeau told his council colleagues Aug. 23. "We are at the offer/counter offer stage." ... With the Quebec government in support of the rail initiative, Gibeau said he and (Carleton-March councillor Eli) El-Chantry would work hard to ensure that same level of support exists in Ontario," Arnprior EMC reported. A number of Transport Action members are involved in this effort to keep the rail option alive. http://www.emcarnprior.ca/20100902/news/Group+negotiating+to+purchase+CP+rail+line
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8 - Transport 2000 Quebec: Montreal Council of WomenThe Gazette reported Transport 2000's Myroslaw Smereka presented a Vision of Public Transport to Montreal Council of Women meeting on Sept. 2. In Montreal and in communities across Canada, Transport Action members are working in to improve the way we move around.
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9 - Hwy. 407 Environmental Assessment: Transport Action Ontario"(Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency) funding is being provided to help the recipients (including Transport Action Ontario) in participating in upcoming steps of the comprehensive study process, including the review of the comprehensive study report. ... The CEAA is reviewing the environmental effects of the project and measures to address those effects," Jeniffer O'Meara reported for durhamregion.com on Sept. 1."The next step is public comments on the draft study report, then a final report is written and public comments are gathered. A decision will then be made on whether the project can move forward. ... the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's plans for an east extension of Hwy. 407 include the extension of mainline 407 from its current end at Brock Road in Pickering all the way to Hwy. 35/115 and two north-south links connecting Hwy. 401 to the proposed extension of Hwy. 407," durhamregion.com reported. http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/160971
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10 - Aviation Safety News: runway lengths, fatigue regulations and moreThe Sept. 2 edition of Aviation Safety News included stories like: SMS regulations cover 95% of the revenue miles flown, draft TSB Cougar Helicopters Flight 491 report, CATSA turns over screeners and CEO, Continental Flight 3407, Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act, Float-plane safety, Air India Flight 182, Air Canada Flight 190 and Air France Flight 358.Aviation Safety News is a project of Transport Action 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 Action 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.
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11 - Ottawa's next city council will be the one to approve the $1.2 billion light-rail plan"CTV Ottawa has obtained letters from the federal and Ontario governments that tell Mayor Larry O'Brien a business plan for light rail will be required before their contributions will be released. That business plan can't practically be completed before the October municipal election. The conditions are included in the letter from Infrastructure Minister Chuck Strahl. They include the submission of complete project designs, budgets and construction timelines. The letter from Ontario Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli stresses that any cost overruns will be the responsibility of the City of Ottawa," CTV Ottawa reported on Sept. 2.
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12 - Edmonton LRT ridership on the rise"Edmonton is bracing for a flood of new LRT riders over the next week. With the city's post-secondary students heading back to class Sept. 7, transit workers estimate the system could see over 100,000 riders a day. ETS estimates that nearly 50,000 students from the University of Alberta, Grant MacEwan University and NAIT will pick up their student transit pass once classes begin," CBC Edmonton reported on Sept. 1.
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