TRANSPORT ACTION ONTARIO Advocating for Integrated Public Transportation Across Ontario
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TRANSPORT ACTION ONTARIO Advocating for Integrated Public Transportation across Ontario http://ontario.transportaction.ca Statement on Northern Policy Institute report on Passenger Rail in Ontario’s Northern Regions July 16, 2020 On July 16, 2020, the Northern Policy Institute, an independent think tank with offices in Sudbury and Thunder Bay, released its report The Thin Case for Passenger Rail in Ontario’s Northern Regions. The report concluded that the economic case for passenger rail was not strong, but was counterbalanced by other rationales, especially improved connectivity for First Nation communities. Overall, the study found there is no definitive answer about the strength of the case for passenger rail in Northern Ontario. Transport Action Ontario welcomes analysis of this type. We strongly believe in evidence-based decision making. However, these techniques must be applied to the right question. In Northern Ontario, we believe the question should not be how to cheaply provide basic service to a region in that has suffered decades of political neglect, but rather: What would it take to strengthen the Northern Ontario economy by an order of magnitude, in a sustainable and socially inclusive way that advances reconciliation with First Nations? We concur with the report that complementary or supporting freight rail would be an important supportive factor for passenger rail in the region. However, the important question of needing to maintain rail connectivity for heavy freight and heavy industry, in order to fulfill economic development goals, is not addressed. For most corridors in this region, freight is not using the full capacity of the rail corridor, and passenger operations are thus only an incremental cost. The report overstates the problems with track geometry that would exist in Northern Ontario. CN’s and CP’s nominal track geometry is good for up to 80 mph and 70 mph passenger operation respectively, more than adequate for regional passenger rail. Furthermore, track maintenance to at least class 3 standards for passenger rail would benefit freight movement and significantly reduce the risk of freight derailments. We concur that financial subsidies for Northern Ontario passenger rail will continue to be needed, just as they are across the world. However, the comparison of subsidy levels used in the report between remote-service trains and Ontario Northland’s line-run buses between norther population centres was 1 not an apples-to-apples comparison. VIA Rail’s transcontinental service currently serves less than 15% of the northern residents it would serve if it operated on the Thunder Bay route. Subsidies are tolerated because of other benefits they bring to the communities who ultimately pay for them. In Northern Ontario, these benefits include more travel choices for residents of all ages and abilities over longer distances, bringing visitors and tourists to the region, promoting economic development, and connectivity to remote communities and First Nations. The Missanabie Cree First Nation have taken the initiative of preparing a business plan and acquiring a rail operating license in order to return passenger rail service to their communities. It is not appropriate for a government in Toronto or Ottawa to reject that choice. We also concur that bus networks should be a significant component of the public transportation matrix in Northern Ontario. However, this is best offered as a part of rail-bus network, involving bus feeders and a rail spine, as is done by GO Transit in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Buses alone can not provide a dependable travel network in the north, with Highways 11 and 17 being closed more than 60 times last winter. The report falls down by analyzing the current economic and social activity level. Demographic trends are only loosely touched upon, and the question of what it takes for young people to feel they have attractive economic and social opportunities in the north is not considered. International tourism, known to prefer rail rather than bus, is also not considered. Without an effective northern transportation network, Ontario's population growth will continue to be clustered along the US border, driving continued economic and social disparity between the north and the south. -30- For further information, please contact: Peter Miasek President, Transport Action Ontario 416-526-9132 Terry Johnson President, Transport Action Canada 519-350-4192 2 .