APRIL 14, 2015 Page 1 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2015 Pettapiece presents Network Southwest plan to transport minister (Queen’s Park) – When it comes to improved local transportation options, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece wants to get the province on board. Today in the legislature, Pettapiece presented Steven Del Duca, Ontario’s transportation minister, with a copy of the Network Southwest plan unveiled March 18 in St. Marys. “I explained to the minister how important this is to many in our community,” said Pettapiece. “He was very receptive,” he added. The MPP also wrote to the minister on behalf of the 86 people who signed postcards to support the Network Southwest plan. He presented all the postcards directly to the minister along with a full copy of the plan. The postcards state: “High quality intercity transportation, based on rail and bus, is a necessity of any modern nation. Southwestern Ontario has a particular need, due to high road congestion, population density and diverse economic activity.” They also call for a definitive study on the concept plan as outlined by Network Southwest. Pettapiece has written and spoken many times about the importance of improved transportation options – and, in particular, the need to extend GO transit service through Perth-Wellington. Last year the MPP took the extra step of submitting an Order Paper question on the Premier’s stated intention of extending GO transit service to our riding. Pettapiece was not pleased by the response, which made no mention of rural transportation challenges, focusing instead on the government’s promises for the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area. “No one is questioning the need for better transit in the GTA, but we often need to remind the government that we in southwestern Ontario must not be left out of the discussion,” Pettapiece later said. “I will not let that happen.” - 30 - APRIL 14, 2015 Page 2 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO Attached: Pettapiece’s letter to the Minister of Transportation Network Southwest plan: http://www.swota.ca/network-southwest/ Randy Pettapiece, MPP | 416-325-3400 | www.pettapiece.ca Both Randy Pettapiece with his appeal to the Provincial Minister of Transport, Steven Del Duca and Gary Schellenberger with his appeal to Federal Minister of Tranpsort Lisa Raitt, are urging governments to provide improved transit for Perth Wellington. In addition, the Town of St. Marys and the City of Stratford both pledged funds to the completion of the NSW report (may be viewed at savevia.ca) Attached is Randy’s letter and Save VIA’s letter being sent to MP’s Canada wide. APRIL 14, 2015 Page 3 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario March 25, 2015 The Hon. Steven Del Duca, MPP Minister of Transportation 3rd Floor, Ferguson Block 77 Wellesley Street West Toronto ON M7A 1Z8 Hand-delivered to the Minister in the Ontario Legislature Dear Minister: On February 12, 2015, I was pleased to attend the Network Southwest – Stratford Public Forum. It was a good opportunity to discuss the future of public transportation and to hear from those who passionately believe in improving access to transportation services. As you know, I have written and spoken many times to you and your government about the importance of improved transportation options for rural Ontario – and, in particular, the need to extend GO transit service through Perth-Wellington. As you are also aware, last year I took the additional step of submitting an Order Paper question to ask you to please clarify the Premier’s stated intention of extending GO transit service to our riding. Your response did not answer our question; it also did not even mention rural transportation challenges, focusing instead on your government’s promises for the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area. Enclosed you will find a large number of postcards I received from organizers of Network Southwest. They state: “High quality intercity transportation, based on rail and bus, is a necessity of any modern nation. Southwestern Ontario has a particular need, due to high road congestion, population density and diverse economic activity.” Signatories are urging you to promptly initiate a definitive study on the concept plan as outlined by Network Southwest. I would ask you to please review Network Southwest’s plan; a copy is enclosed. Further information is available online at www.swota.ca. Thank you for your consideration. I hope you will acknowledge the importance of improved transit services in our area and the need for leadership from the provincial government. Sincerely, Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington Enclosures c: Network Southwest organizers and postcard signatories APRIL 14, 2015 Page 4 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO March 26, 2015 Susan Truppe, MP Dear MP Truppe: Greg Gormick’s workable plan to connect Ontarians by mass transit, the report “Network Southwest” has just been released. It is available for viewing at savevia.ca. If the plan is accepted in Ontario, it can be used Canada wide. Passenger rail is absolutely critical for communities: trains built our past and following Europe’s lead, they can and will build a prosperous, successful future. Towns and cities on rail lines grow, others stagnate. Further, we ask that you support the work of MP Philip Toone, Gaspesie-Iles-De-La-Madeleine and the need for both guaranteed funding and a clear mandate for VIA rail. Support bill C640! Take a look at the increasing list of names of Members of Parliament who have demonstrated the need for enhanced VIA service. Jean-Francois Fortin Christine Moore Malcolm Allen Alexandre Boulerice Bruce Hyer Alex Atamanenko Charmaine Borg Françoise Boivin Paulina Ayala Tyrone Benskin Carolyn Bennett Denis Blanchette Irene Mathyssen Rathika Sitsabaiesan Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet Robert Chisholm Frank Valeriote Ruth Ellen Brosseau Ted Hsu Yvon Godin Guy Caron Mike Sullivan Elizabeth May Sylvain Chicoine Hoang Mai Philip Toone Francois Choquette Jean Crowder Robert Aubin Raymond Cote John McKay Peter Julian Don Davies Isabelle Morin Megan Leslie Ryan Cleary Peter Stoffer Patricia Davidson Andrew Cash Niki Ashton Francine Raynault Tarik Brahmi Geoff Regan Sylvain Chicoine Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe Gary Schellenberger Charlie Angus Dennis Bevington David Christopherson Joe Comartin Nathan Cullen Libby Davies Anne Marie Day Paul Dewar Pierre Dionne Labelle Chris Charlton John Rafferty Irwin Cottler Jean Francois Fortin Jasmir Sandhu Fin Donnelly Wayne Easter Jonathan Tremblay Kennedy Stewart Romeo Saganash Jean Rousseau Mathieu Ravignat Murray Rankin Rosane Dore Lefebvre Matthew Dube Linda Duncan Pierre Luc Dusseault Mylene Freeman Randall Garrison Rejean Genest Jonathan Genest-Jourdain Alain Giguere Claude Gravelle Sadia Groguhe Dan Harris Jack Harris Anne Minh-Thu Quach Francois Pilon Eve Peclet Annick Papillon Jose Nunez-Melo Jamie Nicholls Peggy Nash Pierre Nantel Thomas Mulcair Marie-Claude Morin Marc-Andre Morin Dany Morin Christine Moore Elaine Michaud Brian Masse Pat Martin Wayne Marston Laurin Liu Helene Leblanc Helene Laverdiere Alexandrine Latendresse Jean-Francois Larose Francois Lapointe Matthew Kellway Pierre Jacob Carol Hughes BOX 1197 449 QUEEN STREET WEST ST. MARYS, ONTARIO N4X 1B7 TELEPHONE (519) 284-3310 FACSIMILE (519) 284-3160 APRIL 14, 2015 Page 5 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO With your help and commitment, we can get on with it! Yours sincerely, Chris West, P. Eng, Save VIA Cc: Monte McNaughton, MLA Joanne Vanderhyden, warden, Middlesex County Bill Rayburn, CAO, Middlesex County Kathy Bunting, clerk, Middlesex County BOX 1197 449 QUEEN STREET WEST ST. MARYS, ONTARIO N4X 1B7 TELEPHONE (519) 284-3310 FACSIMILE (519) 284-3160 APRIL 14, 2015 Page 6 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO Southwestern Ontario’s Passenger Rail and Bus Service Action Plan Network Southwest Prepared by Greg Gormick On Track Strategies March 2015 APRIL 14, 2015 Page 7 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO APRIL 14, 2015 Page 8 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO Funding for this report has been generously provided by The John McCullum Research Fund Transport Action Canada © 2015 By Greg Gormick, Southwestern Ontario Transportation Alliance and Transport Action Ontario i APRIL 14, 2015 Page 9 of 93 11. C.23 - CW INFO TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ................................................................................................... v Preface by Terence Johnson ..................................................................................... xiv 1.0 Southwestern Ontario at the Crossroads ........................................................... 1 2.0 Southwestern Ontario’s Mobility Gap ............................................................... 2 2.1 VIA Rail Canada .................................................................................... 3 2.2 Intercity Bus Service ............................................................................. 6 2.3 Urban Transit ........................................................................................ 9 2.4 Intermodal Connectivity ..................................................................... 11 3.0 Progressive Provincial Initiatives ..................................................................... 14 3.1 GO Transit Expansion and Regional Express Rail ................................... 14 3.2 Southwestern Ontario High-Speed Rail Proposal ................................. 17 4.0 The Power of Rail-Based Mobility ..................................................................