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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!
CRD Pedestrian and Cycling Masterplan - 11 March 10
Next IslandCorridor Workshop: Nanaimo 24 March 10
Fuel - a BCSEA Presentation - 25 March 10
Energy
Solutions for Vancouver Island - TBA April 2010
Speak out on such 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 and, Join the BC Hydro GHG Savings Program
Island Transformations Organization
IslandTransformations.Org is a coalition with a plan to dynamically transform the way that Vancouver Islanders live, work, and play in their communities.
Current Polls
Knowledge of ITO Rapid Transit Proposal for Victoria CRD
Additional Polls and Surveys
2010 Transit Alternatives Survey for Victoria CRD (click title for a printable form to mail in)
sponsored by: IslandTransformations.org and Greater Victoria Light Rail Society
All who have browsed the links and articles on the Island Transformations Home page should now appreciate that our Vancouver Island needs traffic systems that provide more reliable means of integrating communities without the use of single occupant vehicles, especially those that rely on fossil fuels for power;
And, you will have seen the importance of those transit systems and daily efforts to reduce our use of non-renewable energy to limit contamination of our environment with GHG (mostly CO2) emissions; e.g. Did you know that the emissions of an average gasoline powered passenger car are: 5.46 metric tons CO2E /vehicle/year? Hydro Que translates that as 214 grams CO2E per km when carrying just one person!
Therefore, even the least GHG efficient public transit vehicle may take a driver off the road some of the time; however, the most efficient and comfortable vehicle will prompt many more drivers to use public transit; so, given the following vehicle characteristics (note GHG counts exclude vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure emissions):
Diesel Bus, max capacity 60, capital cost $700k*, life cycle 15 years, noisy, GHG 32 gms per passenger/km;
Electric trolley bus, max capacity 60, capital cost $900k*, life cycle 25 years, quiet tires, GHG nil;
Electric Sreetcar, max capacity 180, capital cost $3.5m, life cycle 40 years, quiet rail, GHG nil;
* remember that either bus option means 3 buses are needed to carry the same load as one streetcar and will need to be replaced mid-way through the life cycle of one streetcar; in addition, buses will require more manpower to drive and maintain.
We have the following questions to pose and would sincerely wish to hear of your views and constructive solutions to the livability objectives of the CRD and, in deed, all of Vancouver Island!
