THE ISSUES

Energy
Transportation is the largest single user of energy in Canada. The oil shortages of the seventies and early eighties proved that our supply of fossil fuels is far from secure.

Regulation
Changing economic and political goals have resulted in a significant reduction in the role of government regulation in transport planning and operations. Transport 2000 monitors the impact on communities, users, and assists these groups as they prepare their responses to changes such as rail line abandonments, loss of air service, and increased highway use.

Accessibility
Many groups rely on public transportation because they either cannot or choose not to invest in private transport, such as the automobile. Transport 2000 defends the right of the disabled, the young, and the elderly, those who are economically handicapped, and those who live in rural or remote areas.

Intermodal Cooperation
Transport 2000 encourages intermodal cooperation. Coordination of transport services so that they complement, not compete, with each other is the norm in many countries. It allows the most frequent and convenient transport connections and reduces operating costs, and therefore costs for the carriers.

Environment
Transportation, as a significant consumer of fossil fuels, is therefore repsonsible for much of our air-borne pollution, noise, and congestion in our cities and towns. Transport 2000 promotes the use of those transport modes which cause the least damage to our atmosphere and quality of life. In addition, highway and roads have claimed enormous amounts of valuable commercial, agricultural, residential, and recreational land. Transport 2000 believes that wise land use is of primary importance in the planning of new transportation alternatives.

Safety
Public safety is of paramount importance to all forms of transport. Transport 2000's objective is improved safety standards in all modes. It encourages the development of those modes with superior performance.

Consumer Advocacy
Transport 2000 represents consumers and relays their complaints and requests to carriers and media, and public agencies and assists groups and communities in the development of applications and interventions before various regulatory bodies.

Research
Transport 2000 undertakes original research on matters related to users of public transport services. Major research papers are made available to the public and relevant agencies. Research is also undertaken under contract for other organizations.

Public Hearings
Transport 2000 and its regional associations appear before federal, provincial and municipal regulatory agency hearings to defend the public interest in matters related to service changes or rail abandonments, applications for new services, fare increases, complaints about carriers and other matters.