Mr. Speaker:Thank you Councillor. Thank you Mr. Ternette very much. On the same side of the same issue, Mr. Jim Jaworski. You have a five-minute spot. Jim.
Mr. Jim Jaworski For light rail transit activists such as myself, a question must be asked forthwith. Is it time to dance in the streets of Winnipeg yet? I say, not quite yet. A few things must happen before we can.
Firstly, the main problem with getting light rail transit off the ground here has always come down to that agreement signed by former MP Lloyd Axworthy, signed on December 8, 1983. His so-called deal precluded any other mode except diesel buses for use in the Southwest Transit Corridor.
I've concluded that a person could talk to the politicians until blue in the face on the benefits of rail transit but until the Liberals do something about their "busway or no way" attitude, nothing will help resolve this issue.
In order to "fix" this problem then, the Liberal Party of Canada and possibly the provincial branch, must revise its policies to include rail based transit for Winnipeg.
The idea was that New Flyer, being based in Manitoba, could build fancier diesel buses or electric trolleybuses because they would be eligible for federal funds from the Western Diversification Fund.
The problem with buses though is that they aren't very comfortable for its passengers, mainly when accelerating and decelerating, cannot easily position itself reliably close to the curb, will last only 12 to 20 years, and cost 3 times as much in labour costs to haul 150 passengers.
The two largest rail transit manufacturers, namely Bombardier, and Siemens can build an LRT vehicle that lasts for 40 years and costs $1.50 million. A diesel bus for the Southwest Corridor was recently estimated to cost $1.25 million each.
The important thing to understand is that if Winnipeg goes with light rail for its rapid transit system, New Flyer will not be in a disadvantage. They will remain the leading bus manufacturer in North America. Nothing is going to change that soon. And they can still manufacture regular diesel buses for use on feeder bus routes to rapid transit stations and for other cities urban transit fleets. New Flyer won't go out of business when Winnipeg chooses LRT.
Rail transit can attract more riders than BRT ever will — other rail transit systems have proven that more than 50% of new riders in the short term are auto-capable but choose to leave their autos at home. In the longer-term, rail-based transit can double the system-wide total passengers. Imagine Winnipeg Transit reporting 90 million passengers 10 years from now, rather than the 38 million they do now. And in our Winter climate, only a rail-based vehicle can pass through blizzard conditions. A rubber-tired bus will get stuck in a blizzard, relegating it to no better operating conditions than the private auto.
And staying on the topic of Winter, diesel buses need heated indoor storage, or else their engines won't start. In comparison, a rail vehicle can stay outdoors, because it's propulsion is electricity. Thereby making it cheaper to store.
Secondly, Mayor Sam Katz's Rapid Transit Task Force must be very careful to whom it tenders its consulting work.
The consulting company who wrote the Cost-Benefit Analysis released this year on the Southwest Corridor was selected by Winnipeg Transit administration.
That is, pro-busway consulting company McCormick Rankin of Ottawa Ontario. Winnipeg Transit must not be allowed to be directly involved in this part of the process, else its inherent lack of objectivity will see busways recommended again.
The same company had also been given the consulting job for the Downtown Connector Service, and whose still unreleased recommendations were weak in reviewing streetcar, tram, and "tarted up buses" as options.
Mayor Katz, please, please, please, be careful out there when choosing consultants regarding rapid transit. You're on the right track here (pardon the pun).
Consultants get paid too much to begin with, and it'd be too bad if they came out with weak recommendations or the persons writing the report had some strange connection to McCormick Rankin or their like.
Thirdly, Calgary's C-Train recently upgraded its system to use wind power to generate electricity to run its light rail vehicles. I hope that Winnipeg's light rail line can be operated using renewable wind energy too.
In 2002 The Victoria Transport Policy Institute did a study saying that an 18 kilometre light rail transit line would cost $350 million to install and $12 million per year to operate, would attract 15,000 daily trips and grow to 30,000 trips within 10 years. That's the power of rail-based transit to enhance an urban area's travel options.
Councillor Gerbasi: Mr. Speaker, are we going to have everybody speaking beyond their time today. That could create a precedent.
Mr. Speaker: Fine.
Mr. Jim Jaworski: Okay, one more quick thing. Thank you so much City Councillors for holding to the idea that BRT won't work and keeping the flame alive for light rail transit in Winnipeg. Thank you.