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Pending Events
Go to Calendar link above for details.
Traffic Warning - Western communities! - 22 Feb - 31 Dec 10
People are encouraged to carpool - or use public transit - and ask your councillors for E&N commuter service ASAP!
BC Sustainable Energy Association - and Solar Days
Johnson Bridge Update
Johnson Street Org Info Package -incl Form for comments prior to 3 August!
City of Victoria Information Package
Victoria Downtown Core Plan
Invitation to respond to the draft plan
Speak out on the issues!
Enter the debate today!
If you have not already made your views known remember to record them:
CFAX 250.381.6397
or, CBC's local "talk back" 250.360.0614
or, Better Still,
Island Transformations Organization
Our Vision
A coalition with a vision to dynamically transform the way Vancouver Islanders live, work and play in their communities. We envision Vancouver Island being a safe, progressive, environmentally sensitive, energy self sufficient and life‐sustaining place for all its inhabitants.
Your turn to Speak Up on Transportation Issues
The Transportation Blog
This is where you will have your chance to ask additional questions, or make a statement about any aspect of our transportation objectives that you wish.
In the short term, we are urging municipal and provincial action on a light rail option for Victoria and the CRD; but we want to move ahead on associated issues such as: (for the detailed discussion of each, simply click on the titles below)
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Feeder Service, (example New Hampshire)
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Management, etc. (Seattle shows the way) and (Seattle's Mayor)
Here are some of the references that may be useful background for such matters:
The Victoria Prospective on Rapid Transit Options - September 2003
Victoria CRD - The ITO Proposal for a Regional Transit System - a video presentation:
A Transportation Architect's Summary of Societal Needs and Systems that Work!
Current Status of the Victoria Region Rapit Transit Project - August 2009
ITO's Motions for Change in Project Guiding Principles And, Results
The Politics of Parking - Focus Oct 09 - Robert Wipond
"We’re paying a lot for parking. An awful lot."
Additional references:
Business Case for Sky Train, and Expert's Critique of Sky Train v.s. LRT
Rail v.s. Bus Deliberations by other Cities:
Hamilton, Ontario - (Plans) Waterloo, Ontario - (Rail won) Ottawa, Ontario - (Rail won)
But, look at what is happening now in Seattle! (Rail July 2009)
And, look at South Africa's Gautrain (2008 award winner)
Or, Valencienne, and Brest, France (our size), or Phoenix, Arizona
The future transit for and livability in Detroit!
Portland Oregon sets another LRT standard - free zone service!
Having seen all of the above, we invite you to:
Tell BC Transit what you think is needed for Vancouver Island
Comments
With rails IN PLACE on a right-of-way that is available NOW, and with an overwhelming expression in the Region FOR rail transit, it's time for Premier Campbell show his worth by living up to his words.
Let's see an immediate start on Commuter Rail on OUR Island tracks!
Transportation
Enhance the role of rail in moving people where there are existing tracks. Rationale: on Vancouver Island the E&N corridor is within half an hour of 80% of Vancouver Island residents. This year 4,000 more passengers have used the E&N, even in it poor state and with the train runninng the wrong way. Rail service would reduce greenhouse gases over 50% more than travel by bus; when tidal and wind power is accessed, diesel could be replaced by electrical energy for zero emissions.
Looks like we will have to open a separate thread of discussion just for the transportation options.
Bill Draper's reference to the mass transit success of Bogota deserves some debate.
Just a comment on the Waterloo Transit situation. The comment from the so-called "expert" that buses can do everything the LRT can do and more is nothing but "rubbish".
Follow the questions. Look at the answers. Draw your own conclusions.
Can buses carry more people than LRT? NO!
Are buses safer than LRT? NO!
Do buses run on a dedicated track? NO!
Do buses run on roads paid for by bus operators? NO
Is LRT subject to road congestion? NO!
Does electric rail produce harmful emissions? NO!
Are emissions(CO2) produced by most buses harmful to our environment? YES!
Will the cost of fossil fuel increase as we come out of recession? YES!
Do buses use fossil fuel? YES!.
As the cost of fuel for buses rise, will the cost of operating buses rise? Yes!
Will the future cost of oil rise to $2 a barrel? Probably
Will the fuel of fuel at the pump hit $2 a litre. Probably
Will more cities and urban areas turn to LRT? You Bet. They are doing so now!
I hope Waterloo has other knowledgeable transit "experts" giving advice. Hope they vote for LRT !!
Fantastic story, I did not thought this would be so awesome when I klicked at the title with link.
