green mobility strategy for Nova Scotia For the equivalent cost of one-quarter tank of gas per person per year, Nova Scotia’s government can quadruple its contribution to sustainable transportation. 3 green mobility strategy This report is dedicated to the approximately 30 percent of Nova Scotians who do not drive or who rely on alternative means of transportation. 24 About us coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre between 2000 and The Ecology Action Centre 2002 and between 2005 and 2008. (EAC) has acted as a voice for She is currently working on her Nova Scotia’s environment for doctorate in transportation plan- over 35 years. The EAC’s mis- ning at Oxford University. sion is to encourage a society, which respects and protects Laena Garrison Nova Scotia’s environment and Laena has an undergraduate provides economically sustain- degree in Kinesiology from able livelihoods. Since 1971, the Simon Fraser University and is EAC has been working to build pursuing a Masters of Education a healthier and more sustainable through the University of Victo- Nova Scotia. The EAC’s earliest ria. Laena’s work at the Ecology projects included recycling and Action Centre focuses on the composting, now commonly promotion of active transporta- practiced activities. Today the tion. She “walks the talk” as her EAC has over 1400 members, two feet and her 18 year-old bi- 250 volunteers, 30 staff and 7 cycle are her primary vehicles. active committees. Our current Laena has been a transportation areas of focus include trans- coordinator with the Ecology portation, built environment, Action Centre since 2005. Lack of public marine, coastal, wilderness, food transport is a and energy issues. Jennifer Powley Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts, significant barrier Authors an after-degree in Journalism, and is currently completing her to employment in Stephanie Sodero Masters in Land-Use Planning at Nova Scotia Stephanie has a Masters degree in Dalhousie University. Jen brings a Environmental Studies. Her Mas- different perspective to the work communities. ters research focused generally of TRAX. She has worked exten- on sustainable urban transporta- sively advocating for equal rights tion and specifically on encour- for persons with disabilities and aging transit use at universities. ensuring that transportation sys- Stephanie was a transportation tems are inclusive. Jennifer joined 35 the transportation team at the holder meetings and shared their and Roxane McInnis - for being a Ecology Action Centre in 2008. unique perspectives and insights sounding board throughout the on transportation with us. Thank development of the strategy. Tim Crabtree you to volunteers Alex Dumeresq Tim has a Bachelor of Arts in and Jesse Joice for their research Funders Sociology from the University and contributions. Thank you to of York (UK), with a focus on our Citizen Advisory Committee Thank you to Environment social movements and environ- - Jim Farrell, Ruth Mitchell, David Canada, Conserve Nova Scotia mentalism, and a Master of Arts Mooney, Catherine O’Brien, and Nova Scotia Health Promo- in International Development Judith Peach, John Pearce, Jenni- tion and Protection for providing Studies from Dalhousie Uni- fer Powley, Claredon Robicheau the Ecology Action Centre with versity, with a focus on worker and Bill Zimmerman – and our the funding to enable this project! cooperatives in Argentina. Be- Community Partners – Dodie tween 2007 and 2008, Tim was Goodwin, New Glasgow; Chris Design a transportation researcher with Milburn, Sydney; Dana Morin the Ecology Action Centre and and Jim Outhouse, Brier Island; Thank you to Aaron Harpell of Transport 2000 Atlantic. He Claredon Robicheau, Clare; Carol Hammerhead Design for design- traveled Canada and England, Hill-Bojarski, Yarmouth; Stefan ing this document. researching models of rural Sofer, Chester; Peter McCracken, public transportation and devel- Bridgewater; Jennifer Weisner, oped a Rural Transit Handbook Kentville; Andrew Fry and Bill for Nova Scotia. He researched Zimmerman, Wolfville – for their and wrote the case studies on time, commitment and enthusi- Yarmouth and Kings County in asm. Thank you to our colleagues the Green Mobility Strategy. - Maggy Burns, Brendan Haley, Scott Gillard, Amanda O’Rourke, Acknowledgements Susanna Fuller and Janet Barlow – for their support, contribu- The authors have received help tions and edits to the document. on the development of the Green Thanks to our TRAX Advisory Mobility Strategy from a number Committee - Christene Almon, of people. First and foremost, Wayne Barchard, Jody Conrad, thank you to the 260 Nova Sco- Peggy Crawford, Hal Dobbelstyn, tians who attended our public Marcus Garnet, David MacIssac, consultation sessions and stake- Nadine MacKay, Lisette Cormier 6 Executive Summary Transportation, moving people Transportation for sustainable and goods, is essential for our prosperity must focus on reduc- economic and social well-being. ing greenhouse gas emissions Currently, the majority of Nova and air pollution, minimizing Scotia’s citizens use a private au- land use and improving citi- tomobile as their main mode of zen health, safety and access to transportation. But our depen- amenities and services. A trans- dence on the private automobile portation strategy for Nova is no longer socially, economically Scotia requires regional, urban, or environmentally sustainable. and rural solutions, including better land-use planning, more Climate change poses a serious sustainable transportation op- threat to our economy, our live- tions and vehicle efficiency. The lihoods, our ecosystems and our purpose of the Green Mobility health. The transportation sector, Strategy is to facilitate increased including passenger and freight provincial investment in sustain- movement, accounts for 27 per- able passenger transportation cent of Nova Scotia’s greenhouse for Nova Scotia. The Ecology Only 16% of gas emissions. Gas prices are the Action Centre recognizes that a highest they have ever been in sustainable freight transporta- children and youth in Atlantic Canada, and are pre- tion strategy is also required in Nova Scotia walk dicted to continue rising. High Nova Scotia, but that is outside gas prices are hurting individuals, the scope of this document. or bike to school, auto manufacturers and trucking companies. Lack of transporta- There are eight key recommenda- compared to the tion is increasingly a barrier to tions in the Green Mobility Strat- majority of students achieving employment and to ac- egy. Each recommendation is ac- cessing education, health care and companied by a series of suggested a generation ago. social opportunities. Our depen- action steps. The process used to dence on the private automobile develop and prioritize the recom- for transportation contributes to mendations in the Green Mobil- increasing rates of physical inac- ity Strategy involved extensive tivity and chronic disease. research, convening and gathering 7 Sustainable transportation... • allows the basic access needs of individuals and societies to be met safely, in a manner consistent with human and ecosystem health, and with equity within and between generations; • is affordable, operates efficiently and offers choice of transport mode; • supports vibrant local, regional and national economies; • identifies and accounts for the full costs of transportation systems in an equitable manner; • limits emissions and waste to levels within the planet’s ability to absorb them; • uses renewable resources at or below their rates of generation and uses non-renewable resources at or below the rates of development of renewable substitutes; • reuses and recycles its components; and • maintains the integrity of ecosystems and minimizes land use and noise. input from a citizen advisory com- appropriate level, all investments and Manitoba, the two provinces mittee, and public consultations in sustainable transportation with populations closest in size to in nine Nova Scotia communities: - transit, car pooling, rail, active Nova Scotia’s, between 2003 and New Glasgow, Sydney, Clare, Long transportation - should be con- 2006 was $10.95 per capita; the Island, Yarmouth, Chester, Bridge- sidered. Canadian Urban Transit average investment of all provinc- water, Kentville and Wolfville. Association tracks provincial in- es, excluding Nova Scotia, during vestment in public transit. the same period was $19.87 per Recommendations capita (Table 1). Currently, funding for transit by 1. Create an annual, predict- the province of Nova Scotia is sig- There is a lack of data readily avail- able source of sustainable nificantly lower than that of other able on provincial investment in transportation funding provinces. This comparison does other sustainable transportation One approach to determining not include municipal contribu- modes, such as active transporta- an appropriate level of provin- tions. In 2008, funding from the tion. Therefore, for the purpose cial investment in sustainable Nova Scotia government for tran- of establishing an estimate, The transportation is to calculate the sit and community-based trans- Ecology Action Centre recom- average amount invested by other portation, such as dial-a-ride, mends that Nova Scotia’s govern- provinces and apply this formula was $3.79 per capita.1 The aver- ment use the provincial average to Nova Scotia. To ascertain an age investment of Saskatchewan for transit investment in Canada 8 TABLE 1: Provincial transit investment Year Area Per Capita NS Total 2 2007 Nova Scotia $1.38