gokw.org - Commuter transit news for Waterloo, Wellington, and Halton Hills regions

Live from Council: Guelph transit terminal “at risk”

shost — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:24:28 +0000

Live from Guelph city council meeting comes this report given by City staff, noting that the transit terminal is at risk to not be completed by the march 2011 deadline. *greements with GEXR, VIA and CN are not yet in place , but staff is confident agreements will be signed in time.

No desire for this Waterloo streetcar

shost — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:15:46 +0000

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/no-desire-for-this-waterloo-streetcar/article1656693/

“commendable in general, there’s little to recommend this plan in particular. Light rail transit makes great sense for large urban centres with dense commuter traffic travelling to a downtown employment core or other significant destination. This is not the case in Waterloo Region, which lacks a recognizable downtown and has a population of just 500,000. As it stands now, the train would run from a shopping mall in Waterloo to a shopping mall in Kitchener. Most area jobs are distributed throughout the suburbs, and few commuters use existing bus services. Building a train track will not change this reality.”

Oh really? Edmonton, Population 730,000, has light rail. Calgary, population, 1,000,000 has light rail. These systems were built 25 years ago when the cities were much smaller. Can you fault Waterloo region for thinking ahead? Places to Grow requires urban intensification and Light Rail will enable this to occur. Again, think of this as an investment in the future.

”

From Monday’s Globe and Mail

Waterloo Region in southwestern Ontario is widely known for its vibrant high-tech sector, universities and think tanks. The Queen took a day trip to the area for a tour of Research in Motion, manufacturer of the BlackBerry, during her Canadian visit. Stephen Hawking was recently in residence at Waterloo’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

This week it was Michael Ignatieff’s turn to drop by. In an effort to court local favour, the federal Liberal Leader threw his support behind the region’s $800-million light rail transit commuter proposal. “I am a passionate believer in light rail,” he said, promising to “make this happen.” For an area with such a reputation for intelligence and education, however, the region’s train plan is a surprisingly poor idea. And an issue of national significance.

While Mr. Ignatieff’s passion may be commendable in general, there’s little to recommend this plan in particular. Light rail transit makes great sense for large urban centres with dense commuter traffic travelling to a downtown employment core or other significant destination. This is not the case in Waterloo Region, which lacks a recognizable downtown and has a population of just 500,000. As it stands now, the train would run from a shopping mall in Waterloo to a shopping mall in Kitchener. Most area jobs are distributed throughout the suburbs, and few commuters use existing bus services. Building a train track will not change this reality.

Waterloo Region’s light rail transit proposal may not make any practical sense; however, it holds considerable attraction for municipal politicians. And while the area’s four MPs are all Conservative, some won by rather slim margins in the last election. Hence Mr. Ignatieff’s enthusiasm for local trains.

The regional government’s plan requires that capital costs be shared fully between the province and Ottawa. Both have spoken in favour of the project, but Ontario recently offered just $300-million, due to budgetary concerns. This suggests the project will only survive with massive support from Ottawa. An announcement is expected shortly.

Given equivalent fiscal constraints at the federal level, the inappropriateness of Waterloo Region’s $800-million rail project assumes national importance. That money would be better applied to other, more pressing transportation needs”

Like what? Another 100 KM double lane divided highway into Northern Ontario (Think Highway 400 to Sudbury, Highway 11 through to North Bay which is presently being twinned through canadian shield at an estimated cost of $1b, annually)

Light Rail is cheap by comparison, on a per person basis.

- Steve

Dispute between VIA and GEXR stalls improvements

shost — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:08:21 +0000

Quoted from the article:

“An ongoing dispute between VIA Rail Canada and Goderich-Exeter Railway (GEXR) over track usage fees has stalled long-sought infrastructure improvements that could see increased passenger service through St. Marys and Stratford”

..Currently, the number of trains passing through Stratford-St. Marys is not enough to meet demand during peak times, he adds.

“It’s frustrating,” says the mayor. “We’ve advocated for this, VIA agrees with us and they’re at the implementation stage, and we’re stalled.”

Full article here:

http://www.stratfordgazette.com/news/article/91340

VIA 86/87 changes (Toronto commuter train)

shost — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:53:42 +0000

Trains 86 and 87 will operate modified summer schedules to accommodate ongoing work programs

TORONTO, Aug. 10 /CNW Telbec/ – VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise travellers that due to ongoing work programs along the rail line between London and Kitchener, certain VIA trains travelling between Toronto and Sarnia, and between London and Toronto, will operate using modified temporary schedules. Effective Monday, August 16, Train 86 travelling from London to Toronto and Train 87 travelling from Toronto to Sarnia will operate with earlier departure times.

Train 86 will depart London at 04:45, arriving at Kitchener at 06:23, Guelph at 06:58, and terminating in Toronto at 08:20.

Train 87 will depart Toronto at 17:40, arriving at Guelph at 18:49, Kitchener at 19:18, London at 21:08, and terminating in Sarnia at 22:19.

VIA anticipates that travel times on these routes will be improved once the track work has been completed. At that time, VIA will re-evaluate and adjust its timetables.

GOKW note: The translated reason for the schedule change is poor condition of GEXR track, temporary slow orders on many portions of the line are causing the delay.

Metrolinx takes over Airport Rail Link from SNC-Lavalin

shost — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:26:31 +0000

The long planned, but delayed Airport Rail Link, which was awarded to SNC Lavalin, has been transferred to Metrolinx.

News reports SNC Lavalin failed to raise the funds necessary (from Lenders) to proceed with the project. Now it will be a Taxpayer project.

The Airport Rail link will utilize the same rail line that the North Mainline trains take to Toronto, and may provide our regions a direct rail connection to the Airport.

- Steve

Waterloo Region gets $300M towards Light Rail system from Ontario Government

shost — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:46:26 +0000

http://www.news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2010/06/largest-transit-expansion-in-waterloo-history.html

”

Ontario is providing the Region of Waterloo with $300 million to build rapid transit.

The project would be the largest single investment in transit infrastructure in the history of Waterloo region and includes light rail transit in both Waterloo and Kitchener, and bus rapid transit in Cambridge.

These transit improvements will:

better connect the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge

link to Grand River Transit and park and ride facilities

connect to future GO Transit services. “

City of Guelph to acquire VIA Station and other lands for Transit Hub operations

shost — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:35:00 +0000

From the Guelph Mercury, June 29:

GUELPH – The city will expropriate about four parking spaces’ worth of land from a downtown hotel if it is not able to amicably reach an agreement on the property, city councillors voted last night. At issue is a 571-square-foot triangular parcel of the Travelodge parking lot, at the intersection of Carden and Macdonell streets. The city needs it to realign Carden Street and create two bus bays adjacent to the hotel as part of the construction of an intermodal transit hub along the eastern end of Carden. Council also voted to enter agreements with Via Rail to acquire the train station and with Canadian National Railway to acquire the land under the train station as well as the former site of Locomotive 6167, which was recently moved to the south side of the tracks. A staff report noted the Via station will require upgrades and renovations to, among other things, make it fully accessible and create Guelph Transit office space and a drivers’ lunch room. These renovations are expected to cost about $600,000 which will be funded from an infrastructure stimulus fund contingency, if available, “otherwise staff will identify an alternative source of funding such as the Hydro note fund,” the staff report indicated.

Commuter and travel alert: G20 to impact VIA/GO in Toronto June 24-27, 2010, plan ahead!

shost — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:32:24 +0000

Wow: So the G20 is effectively going to cancel ALL VIA train service and frustrate passengers looking for connections in Toronto Why? Because we only have one hub for rail travel, and it’s Toronto.

Is there a better illustration of why we need multiple hubs (like we had in the 1950’s) than this? VIA Rail has this to say:

All VIA trains between Toronto and Sarnia via Kitchener and London (â€œnorth main lineâ€) and points enroute will originate/terminate in Brampton. The VIA/GO Transit station is located at 31 Church St. West, Brampton.

All VIA trains between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Windsor, London and points enroute will originate/terminate in Oakville. The VIA/GO Transit station is located at 200 Cross Ave., Oakville.

All VIA trains between Toronto and Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, GaspÃ© and points enroute will originate/terminate in Oshawa. The VIA/GO Transit station is located at 915 Bloor St. West, Oshawa.

I can translate this: Toronto is closed for business between June 24-27, and good luck if you plan to travel by train.

However, GO Transit will operate into Union, and VIA ticketholders will be allowed to transfer for free, to GO services. As well, VIA will provide shuttle services to those making connections. For example, someone travelling from Guelph to Montreal will be taxi’ed from Brampton to Oshawa (at VIA’s discretion of course)

VIA Rail also plans to operate weekend schedules for these dates.

.. Amazing!

Guelph: Tribune readers weigh in with opinions on Guelph’s station plans

shost — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:16:44 +0000

What? No parking?

http://www.guelphtribune.ca/opinions/article/209984

Busing to GO the way to GO:

http://www.guelphtribune.ca/news/article/210030

“No parking will Kill GO in Guelph”

http://www.guelphtribune.ca/news/article/209161

VIA/GEXR Dispute: “Friends of the North Main Rail line” start petition to be sent to John Baird, minister of Transport.

shost — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:37:06 +0000

This from Paul Langan:

“VIA Rail and Goderich Exeter Railway is currently having a dispute that is preventing the introduction of a total of 20 VIA Rail and GO Rail trains on the North Main Rail Line that runs from London through Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton into Toronto.

The Friends of the North Main Rail Line, which I am a member of are asking Minister John Baird to intervene to resolve this issue. The petition is located at http://www.petitiononline.com/via2010/petition.html

please sign it, we do appreciate it.”

Spread the word, this may force VIA or GEXR to the table to resolve the dispute.. and improve commuter transit possibilities in our cities and regions.