Two years and waiting...

As this decade draws to a close, there is one wish that I have for the next one; sustainable transportation options for the South Fraser region. Back in early 2008, then Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon promised to study light rail options for the South Fraser region. This promised study changed its scope from the South Fraser to Fraser Valley Regional District by late 2008. In February 2009, South Fraser OnTrax delivered a presentation to the FVRD study group and was told the study would be ready by December. Still no word on this study and still no light rail study for the South Fraser.

We have come far in raising awareness of the lack of quality transit options in the South Fraser this decade, the ball is now in the Province's court to do something about it in the coming decade.

Citizens Conservation Councils on Climate Action Report

Around Christmas Eve, the province released a report from the Citizens’ Conservation Councils on Climate Action. The report didn’t receive much press coverage, but I wanted to highlight some of the recommendations in the report.

The council is highly supportive of the carbon tax, and recommends that is continues. It also recommends that zero/low-emission vehicles and higher-emission vehicles should be licensed under one license to promote the use of zero/low-emission vehicles in many parts of BC where higher-emission vehicles may be needed during the winter. The council recommends providing incentives to allow for home energy-saving retrofits. The Province’s LiveSmartBC had such a plan, but it has been canceled.

The council recommends that climate action plans be developed on a region-by-region bases and recommended the following for Metro Vancouver:

Reduce the convenience of single occupancy vehicle travel
Government should promote alternative transportation options beyond transit through programs such as carpool services, bike rental programs, and car co-op programs. Government can also make single vehicle occupancy less convenient by:
1) Encouraging the installation of parking meters in all commercial areas;
2) Reducing highway speed limits; and
3) Encouraging local governments to create more transit only lanes.

Develop or support incentives to encourage people to live closer to their place of employment
Government can help encourage people to live closer to their place of employment by:
1) Working with financial institutions to provide incentives such as location specific mortgages to make it easier for people to purchase housing close to their place of employment; and
2) Using fiscal incentives to encourage businesses to locate in places close to housing suitable to the average income of their staff,
3) and encourage businesses to provide financially competitive alternative transportation

Light Rail Ottawa

We have been following the story of what was once called the BRT capital of North America; Ottawa's change to light rail technology. This started in 2001 with an 8km diesel light rail line. This pilot project was a huge success and because of that the City of Ottawa is now committed to light rail.

Over the last year, they finalized their new $2.1 billion light rail plan which includes: 12.5 km of new electrified light rail and a 3.2 km long twin tunnels under the city’s downtown core.

“The flexibility of the LRT system is a good fit for Ottawa’s transit needs in and outside the core,” said Transit Committee Chair Councillor Alex Cullen. “LRT can achieve the high capacities needed on grade-separated track and provide service outside the core by operating at-grade with vehicular and pedestrian traffic."

On December 18th, the Province of Ontario committed $600 million to the project and according to the CBC, it appear the federal government will be matching that:

Ottawa's light rail project could receive a funding commitment from the federal government early in 2010, says federal transport minister John Baird.

Baird said Wednesday there is already hundreds of millions available for the project, but he and other Ottawa-area MPs will "go to bat" to get more.

Separated Bike Lane in Victoria

I am in Victoria today enjoying the holidays, but I thought I would post some pictures. One of the things that I am a big supporter of is separated bike lanes. In Victoria, they have an extensive network of separated bike lanes and paths. I happen to be staying at a friend's house who lives right next to one of these lanes. Wouldn’t it be great to see something like this in the South Fraser?




Interesting to people in Langley is that horses also use the lane and as you can tell, they don’t clean up after. Apparently, this is an on going problem.

This can be a hazard for cyclists and I believe that is one of the issues that will need to be worked out as Langley builds its trail and bike network.