Ontario transit promises, Plan métropolitain d'aménagement et de développement

MPP Frank Klees at
Transport
Action Ontario's
Sept. 8 election debate.

Reports on the Maritime transportation system by John Pearce, Rapibus, Translink funding and more in today's Transport Action Hotline.

Transport Action Ontario report cited, No little plan

"Ontario’s New Democratic Party said Monday it will oppose current plans to initiate diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train service linking Toronto’s Union Station with Lester B. Pearson International Airport, based on environmental concerns.  NDP also said the current plan “calls for building the ARL twice—first as diesel, and then converting to electric. The process will take up to 10 years and add significant costs, according to a recent report by Transport Action Ontario,” Railway Age reported on Sept. 26

Transport 2000 Québec, Plan métropolitain d'aménagement et de développement


On doit mettre fin au développement de la capacité routière Le Devoir a rapporté « Bien qu'elle déplore que le PMAD reste silencieux sur les aspects socioéconomiques, Transport 2000 Québec reconnaît une meilleure volonté d'intégration des transports et de l'aménagement dans l'avenir, comparativement à ce qui était pratiqué jusqu'à maintenant. «L'évolution des tendances et le leadership d'un certain nombre de municipalités peuvent créer un contexte favorable pour l'avenir, explique Normand Parisien, directeur général de l'association également membre de Transit, qui ajoute toutefois qu'il est de la responsabilité conjointe de la CMM et du ministère des Transports de proposer un plan de transport intégré des personnes et des marchandises dans la région métropolitaine, «chose qui n'a toujours pas été faite malgré la création de la CMM, il y a 10 ans.» Malgré que l'objectif de regrouper 40 % des nouveaux développements autour d'axes de transport en commun puisse paraître ambitieux, l'association considère néanmoins comme réaliste la mise en oeuvre du PMAD sur 20 ans.

« Côté aménagement, M. Parisien considère que les priorités énoncées dans le PMAD sont restreintes. «La CMM et Transport 2000 Québec convergent avec certains objectifs, malgré une dissidence observée parmi des municipalités, dans la banlieue nord surtout. Des divergences qui portent davantage sur l'accessibilité aux moyens de transport en commun, car les politiques tarifaires pratiquées sont quelque peu dissuasives pour les navetteurs qui utilisent fréquemment l'automobile ou pour les populations appauvries, ajoute-t-il. Ainsi, Montréal a été la ville la plus vorace en matière de hausses de tarifs depuis 10 ans et les municipalités membres de la CMM, qui en auraient pourtant le pouvoir, ne désapprouvent pas ces hausses... Les besoins en transport sont considérables, mais, à ce niveau, la balle est dans le camp du gouvernement», conclut ce dernier, en indiquant toutefois qu'il s'agit là d'une tout autre question... » Valérie R. Carbonneau a écrit le 24 septembre 2011 pour Le Devoir.


Transport Action Atlantic, Loss of rail service will hurt Maritimes

J. Goss+ joins Google+

J. Goss+ joined Google+ last week.  The address is:

https://plus.google.com/107410133753245160111

After starting the account searches seem to find the + identity easily.

The Google+ hangout (live video conferencing) looks useful. Eleven video feeds. The person holding hangout can share the screen with documents (especially Google docs) and video (especially Youtube).

Somewhere there is a recording function with a Youtube connection. Notes taken be easily saved as google docs.

The author hasn't yet gone to someone else's hangout nor found a gadget (badge) to put on the side of this Google blog to follow J. Goss on Google+.

Research will continue with the expectation of:

- finding someone out there who is using the technology
- recording a hangout of a transportation or telecommunications discussion

Updates will be added as comments to this post.

Safe roadways? Priorités essentielles pour Montréal, and more transport action

Transport action on trucking safety, Pie-IX, train de l’Est, Saskatchewan Transportation Company, Ottawa bus terminal, Swissair Flight 111, the Intercolonial railway and more in today's Transport Action Canada
Hotline 1132,  Sept. 23, 2011.

Transport 2000 Québec, Les priorités essentielles pour Montréal

L’association Transport 2000 Québec s’inquiète devant le spectre de compressions budgétaires éventuelles dans la modernisation et le développement de certains services de transport collectifs incluant des projets déjà annoncés, tels que le service Pie-IX dans la Métropole, le moratoire dans la réalisation du train de l’est, entre autres.

À l’occasion de l’ouverture de la Semaine des transports collectifs et actifs, les membres du conseil d’administration de Transport 2000 et de la direction générale ont signé une lettre ouverte pour faire part solennellement de leurs préoccupations à cet égard au Gouvernement et à la population, lettre qui accompagne le présent communiqué.

D’ailleurs, les administrateurs du groupe se réuniront pour une retraite vendredi prochain afin de faire le point sur les priorités stratégiques nationales, en plus d’une participation aux activités prévues à Québec et à Lévis toute la journée de mardi, dans la région de la Capitale.  Les priorités actuelles sont les suivantes : modernisation du service d’autobus en site propre sur le boulevard Pie-IX à Montréal, réalisation du train de l’Est entre le centre-ville et la région de Lanaudière via le segment Montréal-Repentigny, amélioration des services de train dans l’ouest de l’île de Montréal, les deux lignes principales de tramway à Québec et à Montréal, modernisation des services ferroviaires pour passagers dans l’axe Québec-Windsor, prolongements ciblés du réseau de métro, reconstruction du pont Champlain et amélioration des liens de transport collectif entre Montréal et la Montérégie.

Ron Haskell elected president of Transport Action Prairie

Transport Action Prairie members, at the AGM on Sept.17, elected Ron Haskell, former VP Sask.and present supply teacher in Melville  as President.  Don Mitchell, former mayor of Moose Jaw, then federal NDP candidate, will assist with Communications. Catherine Verrall, as Past President,  will  deal with membership.

Dean Madsen, our longtime friend in the STC (Saskatchewan Transportation Company) gave encouraging insights into our own Crown Corporation bus company, whose ridership , in the past year, has increased 13%. Lori  Reichert told about the growing Regina Car Share Cooperative.  "Cool Youth"  Piper Burns, aged 18 and usually a bike/ bus/foot traveller ( sometimes when needed, his parents' car) shared a youth's view .about non-car transport   ( He found the whole meeting "interesting... pretty cool ").

Len Boser, former insurance man until a stroke) had come from Saskatoon on his motor chair on the STC bus to share his  Disability Awareness
(see his website www.lenboser.com). Good connections were made among attendees).

Transport Action fights for downtown Ottawa bus terminal

How does Armine Yalnizyan know more about what's going on than anyone else?

Armine Yalnizyan at a workshop on income inequality in 2000 

Three stories this morning raised the question.

Ex-top statistician slams scrapping of long census
The Canadian Press,  Sep. 21

Carol Goar: Recession word off limits in campaign
Toronto Star, Sep. 20 2011

A problem for everyone
Armine Yalnizyan, National Post, Sep. 21, 2011

In her National Post story Armine Yalnizyan reports the Conference Board of Canada knows the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor is bad for business. The Canadian Press report is about Munir Sheik and the long-form census. In the Toronto Star Carol Goar notes that during the 2008 federal election no party talked about the financial implications of the ongoing meltdown of the global banking system.

For some years now, Armine Yalnizyan has been ahead of the curve on the wealth distribution problem.  The Globe And Mail, May 2, 2008. The Canadian dream? The median income in 1980 was $41,348. In 2005, it was a mere $41,401.

She was the among first to raise the alarm over the demise of the long-form census. André Picard, Globe and Mail, July 7, 2010. Ottawa should come to its census: Stop dogging Statscan

With her colleagues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives she called the massive 2008 federal deficit well before the business community did. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), November 25, 2008. Federal deficits could be much larger than anticipated

How does she know more about what's going on than anyone else?

Swissair 111 wiring, Ottawa bus terminal rezoning

The success of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company 

Transport Action on rural transportation. 

"STC: Saskatchewan Success Story will be the theme of the annual meeting for Transport Action Prairie on Saturday. The business meeting starts at 2 p.m. and the speakers will be at 3 p.m. It will be held at Knox-Metropolitan Church, 2340 Victoria Ave. Everyone is welcome For more information, call 569-7699," the Leader-Post reported on Sept. 16.

Swissair crash caused by wiring Lynn Romano says

"Allegations by an investigator who looked into the crash of Swissair Flight 111 near Peggy's Cove, N.S., that it might have been caused by an incendiary device are sparking surprise and anger," CBC News reported.

"In an interview with The Fifth Estate, Lynn Romano, who lost her husband in the crash, said she stands behind the investigation "I'm convinced with everything that I've learned that a wiring issue took this plane down," she said," CBC News reported on Sept. 15.

In August 1999 a Transport 2000 symposium identified kapton insulation as a major factor in the Swissair 111 tragedy. Lynn Romano was a keynote speaker at the event and remains a friend of Transport Action.

MP calls for higher speed rail

On Sept. 12  Brian Masse announced the ‘Need for Speed Campaign’ urging the Federal Government to prioritize rail investment in Canada.  The Windsor-West MP  has written the Minister of Transport Infrastructure and Communities Denis Lebel advising him to move decisively toward augmenting Canada’s rail capacity by investing in higher speed rail. "Today I am calling on the Minister to create a working group of stakeholders along the Windsor to Quebec City corridor from government and the private sector to work to ensure that higher speed rail investments become a reality and are implemented effectively,” he said.

Higher speed rail plan is a good Transport Action says

"This is the right way to move it forward: with a vision of where we want to get to, and the manageable steps along the way to make progress. Brian Masse's suggestion of a permanent working group of regional stakeholders is a good start. A project of such scale, that affects so many people, with so many choices to make along the way, needs a stakeholder group to work on it and move it along," writes Justin Bur, Transport Action Canada vice-president.

"Queen's Policy Review Vol. 1, No. 1 (spring 2010) "High Speed Rail in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor: A Case for Public Investment

VIA Fast Report

Land value capture, Sam Hamad, Ottawa valley mayors

Albert Koehl from Ecojustice
asked tough questions at the
Transport Action forum.

Transport action on reliable public transit, les taxis collectifs, Ottawa valley mayors work to preserve rail line and more in today's Transport Action Canada Hotline 1130.


Ontario Political Parties on Transportation Policy

Cheri DiNovo, NDP MPP for Parkdale-High Park, Frank De Jong, Green Party for Davenport and Frank Klees, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora spelled out their positions on Metrolinx, light rail transit, high speed rail, rural transit, sustainability and traffic congestion at a Transport Action Ontario forum on Sept. 8. All three political representatives made excellent points. The proceedings, attended by about forty people, were recorded and are available in two big mp3 files. Transport Action Ontario will provide a more detailed report later this month.

In summary Peter Miasek, president of Transport Action Ontario, noted areas where all three party representatives agreed including:
- the importance of cost-effective urban transit systems
- get transit project implementation beyond politics
- land value capture revenues
- support for the Ontario Northland Railway
- interconnected, affordable and reliable public transit is the key to a sustainable transportation system in Ontario.

Transport 2000, Le ministère des Transports Sam Hamad

En pleine crise des infrastructures routières et de la congestion, Sam Hamad perd le ministère des Transports. M. Charest assure qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une rétrogradation. Il refuse de le critiquer pour son travail aux transports. Transport 2000, une association qui défend les usagers du transport en commun, refuse de se réjouir du départ de M. Hamad. «Nous n'étions pas déçus de son travail», assure son président Robert Dubé. Il n'impute pas la responsabilité de la crise du transport à M. Hamad, avec qui il dit avoir eu de bonnes relations.
Paul Journet, La Presse,  jeudi 8 septembre 2011

Interprovincial rail service proposed by mayors group 

"Communities in west Quebec and the Ottawa Valley are lobbying for a commuter rail service.  Mayors from Arnprior, Smiths Falls, Casselman, Montebello, Wakefield and Norway Bay met with federal officials Friday to propose three lines of service with a hub in Ottawa. "We have a fairly large component of people travelling into the city now for work," said Arnprior Mayor David Reid. "This commuter rail service would also help seniors, which is a growing segment of our town, for doctors appointments. . . as well as students going into college or university," CTV News reported on Sept. 2.

CP rail is in the process of taking out track in the area after it abandoned its rail service last year. It's tearing up a stretch of track between Renfrew and Pembroke.

Transport Action's Barry Wellar, GIS Hall of Fame 

$5.8 billion reasons why the CWB matters to Ontario farmers

Brandon Sun Photo

Canadian Wheat Board, Commission canadienne du blé, Minister discounting farmers' vote, Winnipeg Free Press

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz fired off a letter Tuesday discounting the results of a vote on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board before they've even been released. Results of the plebiscite to determine whether Prairie farmers want to eliminate the board's monopoly on wheat and barley sales are to be made public Friday.

Ritz expects the results will show more farmers support keeping the monopoly than those who support ending it. CWB chairman Allen Oberg said he expects the results will show strong support for keeping the monopoly on wheat but it will be close for barley. But he said whatever the results are, the CWB will abide by it and he expects the government should do the same.
Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free Press, Sept. 8, 2011

Ontario Farmer, Editorial, Farmers need to stick together

Faced with poor treatment by buyers and being under cut by cheap imports, Canadian farmers, over the last 75 years, have worked together to create and build several orderly marketing institutions. …Although, some orderly marketing institutions have fallen by the wayside or changed their mandate, single desk selling by the Canadian Wheat Board and supply management in dairy, eggs, turkeys and chickens are still alive, at least for the moment. These 'made-in-Canada,' farmer-controlled institutions operate on a non-profit basis, returning all of the market revenues, less marketing costs, to farmers. Key to the creation of orderly marketing, was farmers willingness to work together for the wellbeing of all farmers, as opposed to using market choice to compete against, and when necessary, undercut neighbours and fellow farmers.
Ann Slater, Ontario Farmer, Sep 6 2011

Ontario Farmer, The fight to save the CWB matters in Ontario

The federal government says it will end the CWB's single desk by August 2012. It also says it is committed to maintaining supply management. … Once the CWB is gone, how long before some of the same people who pushed for the elimination of the CWB turn their attention to supply management? … With government agriculture policies focused on trade, how long before the government decides it has to open the Canadian border to more imports of dairy and chicken to get a trade deal signed? …  In solidarity with prairie grain farmers, Ontario farmers who believe in the need to rebalance power in favour of farmers, and who support supply management, need to voice their support for the CWB as a tool which gives farmers the collective power to counteract the corporate-controlled grain trade. Down the road, if the push to eliminate supply management continues to grow, we may need the support of prairie grain farmers to help Ontario farmers keep the power and control we have through supply management.
Ann Slater, Ontario Farmer, Sep 6 2011

Toronto Star, Conservative opposition to supply management boards

Behind the scenes in Ontario, the PCs have been fighting a rearguard battle of their own with a rural rump known as the Ontario Landowners Association. Its roughly 15,000 members have tied the Tories up in knots over the past decade with their libertarian crusade.  Many Tories believe Hudak owes a debt to another former Landowner chief, Randy Hillier, who backed him at the 2009 Tory leadership convention. Now a Tory MPP, Hillier holds the riding adjacent to Sterling’s and worked behind the scenes to topple him. They strongly oppose municipal amalgamation, post-Walkerton measures to safeguard water, the greenbelt, supply management boards, and many wildlife and conservation policies.
Martin Regg Cohn, Toronto Star, Aug. 3, 2011

La Terre de chez nous, Syndicalisme Agricole, la Fédération canadienne de l'agriculture

Fondée en 1935, la Fédération canadienne de l'agriculture  regroupe 22 organisations provinciales et spécialisées (lait, oeufs, poulet, etc.), qui représentent 200 000 agriculteurs. Ces organismes affiliés versent à la Fédération des cotisations selon une formule "complexe", selon sa directrice des communications, Jessica Goodfellow. Le principal élément du calcul demeure toutefois le nombre de membres. La FCA possède également des partenaires corporatifs tels que les compagnies Syngenta et Pioneer, de même que Financement agricole Canada. Côté financement, la FCA bénéficie d'un budget de tout près de 1,4 M$ pour 2011. Elle anticipe des surplus d'un peu plus de 13 000 $, après avoir enregistré un déficit d'environ 40 000 $ en 2010.
Julie Mercier, La Terre de chez nous, jeudi 1 septembre

La Terre de chez nous, NFU cotisation est de 195 $ par famille

Trans States United Express Ottawa airport skid

 CTV News Photo

A United Express flight lies in the grass at the Ottawa International Airport after skidding off the runway in the CTV News Sept. 4 photo.

On Sept. 5 Harry Gow wrote, "I am not surprised that a small airline like Trans States is running out of credit with the senior carrier. There has been a lot of action in the USA with this kind of secondary outfit using junior aircrew and making them work long hours to the point that fatigue blunts perceptions and hinders reactions something like intoxication can.

There have been issues with recording of maintenance and safety checks with a number of lower-tier carriers flying in Western Canada in the past.

 Gow is the founding president of Transport Action Canada

On 5 Sept. 5 Gerry Einarsson wrote:

In some ways, this incident reminds me of the Air France accident at Toronto. Weather, pilot decisions to land and a long landing were factors Toronto; and possibly in Ottawa. Firstly, I believe that there is no fundamental problem landing on that runway with an Embraer 145 – the aircraft is capable, and the runway length supports landings under adverse conditions.

 The next questions arise as to whether the conditions were accurately reported, and if so, was the crew decision to continue correct. Some special conditions might include micro-bursts / downdrafts, vortexes created by previous landing aircraft (especially if they were heavies), amongst other conditions. If so, then one has to consider the Crew, and the Equipment. If the Crew were not incapable for some reason (illness, training, fatigue etc.) then did the equipment fail (brakes, tires, reverse thrusters, spoilers, flaps etc.).

Hydroplaning was suggested. Training should cover that, indicating that it is important to bleed off enough speed to allow the tires to come in contact with the concrete. Unequal traction from side to side of the aircraft does tend to destabilize the Was there any FOD on the runway – say from a previous flight or maintenance? Usually the runways are swept and the friction coefficient known / established. If for some reason that were significantly reduced, the landing would be at risk.

Because of the usual complexity of aircraft incidents, the TSB investigation tends to be lengthy, although they often release preliminary indications if he evidence is compelling.

Although I rarely like to speculate on probable causes, considering that the weather didn’t appear to be particularly remarkable (we only got a brief shower in BBH), I would have to suggest that the incident would likely point to some decision made by the crew or equipment failure. Factors to consider regarding the crew decision to continue the landing would have to be; experience, training, fatigue etc. It might be one bearing some similarity to the Buffalo incident, although the crew in this incident appear to be mature enough that they should have significant flight experience.

I’m sure that other possibilities will surface as the investigation proceeds, but at the moment – these cover the waterfront from my perspective at this point in time. Other factors were that this is the third such incident with the same airline and aircraft type at Ottawa. There are also questions about whether the passengers were evacuated promptly. (There was a fuel spill and risk of fire). 

Gerry Einarsson covers aviation issues for Transport Action.

David Jeanes noted: I have not heard how quickly the airport firefighters responded. Other factors were that this is the third such incident with the same airline and aircraft type at Ottawa. There are also questions about whether the passengers were evacuated promptly. (There was a fuel spill and risk of fire). 

David Jeanes is the national president of Transport Action Canada. Same jet, same firm in three accidents


Ottawa Citizen, Trans States Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways


The United Express plane that slid into a field Sunday was the third Embraer 145 jet from the same company, Trans States Airlines, to overshoot the runway at Ottawa International Airport while attempting to land during rain. Trans States Airlines is a regional carrier headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri, that operates as United Express for United Airlines and US Airways Express for US Airways.
Carol Thompson, Ottawa Citizen, Sept. 6



Transport Action Canada  and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre cover Aviation Safety News. 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. 

Mobility and crash risks, Ontario election questions

Stories on STM's Michel Labrecque, electric vehicles,  Louis-François Garceau, aerodynamic stalls and more.


Transport Action Canada
Hotline 1129, Sept. 2, 2011


Sept. 8, Public debate, Ontario Political Parties on Transportation Policy

Transport Action Ontario wants your questions for Ontario politicians. The watchdog group is holding a public meeting featuring Ontario provincial election candidates at:
Metro Hall, 55 John St., Toronto, Rooms 308/309 on,
Thursday, September 8, 2011, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This week Transport Action Ontario released background information on six key issues:
1. Metrolinx funding
2. Light rail transit versus subways
3. High speed rail
4. Rural transit
5. Sustainability
6. Traffic congestion

Members are urged to promote the event by using facebook, twitter, blogs and emails.  Old fashioned ways of turning out a good crowd like phoning, postering and making your kids come are also encouraged.

Research on Electric Vehicles Won’t Take  One Car off Our Roads  

"Why is Ontario subsidizing Magna International to the tune of $48 million that it admits it doesn’t need, to develop electric cars? The problem is not about clean or dirty cars – it is about the number of cars. Endless streams of traffic have given the Toronto area at eighty minutes round trip the longest commute times among twenty world cities," says Natalie Litwin, Transport Action Ontario president emeritus.

"According to the Toronto Board of Trade, that long commute saps our productivity and lowers our GDP. Even if all our cars were clean, our roads would still be congested. That $48 million and much more should go to building an efficient transit system," Litwin says.


Transport Action President David Jeanes, Emergency Detour Route signage works for Toronto 

If you're confused as to what those new EDR signs mean, you're not alone. … Traffic and transportation analyst and Transport Action spokesman David Jeanes said the EDR program has been very successful in Toronto. He said one sore point locally is a lack of public consultation - not everybody would be happy if their road or street suddenly became an EDR," Doug Hempstead reported for the Ottawa Sun on Aug. 30, 2011.

"Especially if it meant rescinding any traffic-calming measures," he said. Jeanes figures about 90% of highway drivers are unfamiliar with alternate routes and backstreets, and therefore supports the initiative," the Ottawa Sun reported.

Normand Parisien Transport 2000 Québec, New STM trash and recycling plan needs promotion

You'll have to hang on to your trash a little longer when you're on the métro. Waste bins are being removed from the platforms in all 68 stations, forcing riders to shlep their junk upstairs to throw it out. … Normand Parisien, executive director of Transport 2000 Québec, a transit users lobby group, said the STM must ensure commuters don't end up littering the platforms more than they do now. "There needs to be a sustained awareness campaign and they should provide the same level of service and bins as before," Max Harrold wrote for the Montreal Gazette on Aug. 30, 2011.

"The Toronto Transit Commission made a similar move in 2005, removing bins from platform levels in the TTC's 69 stations in part out of concern that
the large trash containers could be used to hide bombs, Danny Nicholson, a TTC spokesperson, said. But it put trash and recycling receptacles back on
the platforms in 2008, this time with clear plastic bags showing the contents more easily," the Montreal Gazette reported.

4 000 participants, Le Festirail continue de cheminer avec succès