OUR VISION
We believe in CLEAN.
A Corridor that’s Livable, Electrified, and Accessible for all Neighbourhoods
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Category:
Organizations - Community Organizations
Description:
The Clean Train Coalition represents communities along the Union-Pearson rail corridor who believe that a healthy environment and vibrant neighbourhoods depend on smart public transit infrastructure investment.

OUR VISION
We believe in CLEAN.
A Corridor that’s Livable, Electrified, and Accessible for all Neighbourhoods


Ontario's "Big Move"

The planned Metrolinx Union-Pearson railway corridor expansion anticipates more than 400 diesel trains travelling the corridor every day, spewing fumes... (read more)
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The Clean Train Coalition--a community response to Metrolinx's plans

 

Basic Info
 

Name:
The Clean Train Coalition--a community response to Metrolinx's plans
Category:
Organizations - Community Organizations
Description:
The Clean Train Coalition represents communities along the Union-Pearson rail corridor who believe that a healthy environment and vibrant neighbourhoods depend on smart public transit infrastructure investment.

OUR VISION
We believe in CLEAN.
A Corridor that’s Livable, Electrified, and Accessible for all Neighbourhoods


Ontario's "Big Move"

The planned Metrolinx Union-Pearson railway corridor expansion anticipates more than 400 diesel trains travelling the corridor every day, spewing fumes... (read more)
Privacy Type:
Open: All content is public.

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Recent News
 

News:
Below is a brief update on our continued advocacy work for the electrification of the Georgetown rail corridor.

The Current Status

As most of you are aware, Metrolinx’s proposal to expand rail service along the Georgetown Corridor was approved last October, subject to some conditions imposed by the Minister of the Environment. Briefly, those conditions require Metrolinx to use low-emissions, Tier 4 train technology “when commercially available” and they require Metrolinx to develop and implement a monitoring program to measure air quality adjacent to the corridor.

We can consider these two stipulations to be victories won as a result of all of our efforts. However the conditions do not go far enough, and they don’t address all of the other benefits of electrified service. First of all, Tier 4 technology is not currently available and there is no guarantee that it will be available by 2015 when expanded rail traffic is expected to begin. Secondly, while Metrolinx is required to develop an air quality monitoring program, that program does not include any mitigation measures; it will simply measure how poor air quality is becoming.

The Minister’s conditions confirm that there are serious adverse health impacts associated with Metrolinx’s plans to expand diesel train service. Yet they fall short of mitigating these impacts by mandating that the corridor be electrified which would result in zero emissions of toxic pollutants in neighbourhoods along the corridor. Electrified rail service is better for the environment and better for the communities of west Toronto. It is also the most prudent choice from an economic standpoint due to lower operating costs. Therefore the Clean Train Coalition encourages everyone to join us as we continue to advocate for electrified rail service along the Georgetown corridor. The quality of life in our region is at stake.

The Spin Continues

Many of you recently received an update from Metrolinx concerning the Georgetown South project. The Clean Train Coalition wants you to be aware that Metrolinx’s claims to have consulted community groups in drafting their air quality monitoring plan is highly misleading. The final draft of the plan was presented to a few members of the Clean Train Coalition and other community groups as a fait accompli and so therefore no real consultation took place.

Metrolinx has once again asked for input from the public – this time on their plans for an air quality monitoring program. We encourage you to submit your comments. The more comments they receive the harder it is for them to ignore the real issues.

Go to http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/default.aspx to voice your concerns, and to tell them that you will not settle for anything other than electrified service.

Upcoming Milestones

With both provincial and federal Environmental Assessments approved, the next critical deadline for this project is the completion of the system-wide electrification study which is looking at the costs and benefits associated with electrifying GO’s entire network. The electrification study is due to report back in December 2010. We look forward to the completion of this study as it will no doubt recommend electric trains.

Even though we believe the study will recommend electrification, there is still much work to be done. We have to keep up public pressure to make our politicians understand that it is imperative that the study’s recommendations to electrify are implemented immediately upon its completion, and that no new diesel trains be purchased in the meantime.

The electrification of GO’s services has been studied numerous times. All of the previous studies have concluded that, while electric trains are vastly superior when it comes to the health of communities and the environment, they cost more upfront. And so the studies have been ignored, and each government has placed political expediency ahead of responsible environmental and economic planning. We need to make sure things are different this time.

When you are speaking with your neighbours, your city councillor, or any political candidates, tell them that we need a champion at the municipal and provincial level. We know that this is a provincial issue and we know that city council unanimously endorsed a motion to urge Metrolinx to electrify. But we also know that our municipal representatives could do more – they could be more vocal and really stand up for their constituents.

We have several other initiatives in the works including conducting our own economic/cost-benefit analysis and articulating our vision of vibrant and sustainable communities living adjacent to an electrified rail corridor. If you are interested in getting involved, you can email us at info@cleantrain.ca

We are winning this fight. Clean Transit is possible!