Transit: Key to municipal sustainability Presentation by: Dave Thiele Presentation to: AUMA Regional Sessions

Outline Special Assignment Background Transit and Municipal Sustainability –Land use –Environment –Social –Economic Light Rail Transit Connections to regional transit systems Provincial Transit Strategy

Special Assignment AUMA Board created the assignment with a mandate to: –Update and expand the Association’s current Policy on LRT –Clearly articulate the requirement for transit funding separate from MSI transfers –Explain the role of LRT in enhancing regional transportation systems –Include future work that can be done around the role of buses in creating a robust public transportation system in the Province.

Transit and Municipal Sustainability

Land Use Transit Oriented Development –Key to the success of public transit High density near major transit stations (LRT stations and major bus stations/transfer areas) –Economic benefits of reducing sprawl Reduced infrastructure needs in terms of roads, sewers, other utilities and maintenance

Source: Calgary Transit. Transit Friendly Design Guide. April 2006

Land use cont’d –Walkability Pedestrian routes to transit centres key to making transit more attractive Walkability is an alternative for smaller centres for whom large scale transit is not an option AUMA to release information on how to make your community more Walkable.

Photos courtesy of the Calgary Downtown Association Airdrie Walkability

Transit and the Environment Climate Change –Transportation is the largest single source of GHG emissions in Canada, accounting for 27 percent of total emissions (Natural Resources Canada) –The Premier sees transit, and the expansion of LRT in particular, as one way to offset emissions from the oil sands

Environment Air Quality –Reducing Particulate Matter, Nitrogen Oxides, Volatile Organic Compounds, Carbon Monoxide in addition to Greenhouse Gases –Human health benefits Studies by the BC Lung Association and Provincial Health Officer show almost as many British Columbians die from air pollution as die in car crashes.

Social Transit will help to meet the needs of Alberta’s shifting demographics –Youth and Senior segments of the population growing. –Immigration key to population and economic growth –Disabled people seek participation in labour market and social activities Public transit reduces barriers such as costs, physical limitations and inability to drive

Courtesy City of Edmonton

Social Cont’d Quality of life issue –Traffic congestion increases stress and decreases productivity Contributes to healthy communities –physical activity, walking to transit stops –Improved air quality Reduces cost of living –Many struggling to afford rising home and gas prices

Economic Global competition for business and labour Savings for individuals Savings for municipalities –Costs of transit need to be weighed against cost of maintaining current road infrastructure. For example, huge costs of grade separations Facilitates movement of goods by reducing congestion

Economic Cont’d. Peak oil –Cost of fuel only going to increase in the future –If communities are not transit oriented and walkable, will they be affordable in the future? Community development –New research on community development shows asset building is key to strengthening the ability of communities and individuals to address their own needs and development (Canadian Policy Research Network, 2008)

Culture and Governance –Requires willingness of municipalities to lead cultural change away from auto- oriented urban planning and lifestyles Transit and transit oriented development must be well planned in order to avoid concerns about urban areas becoming overcrowded

Light Rail Transit Long term investment –London Underground since 1863 –Canadian Urban Transit Association formed in 1904 for streetcar infrastructure Calgary Electric Streetcar railway 1909 Calgary Transit

Calgary LRT Major LRT expansion required to address the needs of established communities and business areas, and keep pace with development that will occur based on approved Calgary growth plans The plan includes extension of existing CTrain lines and the addition of two new lines. Current estimations place the costs of expansion at over $3.6 billion.

Calgary LRT: Ride the Wind

Edmonton Currently expanding existing line to the south and have studies underway for further expansion of the existing line to the northeast and south. Also planning the addition of new lines to the north, and west. South extension currently underway at an estimated cost of $595 million Cost estimates for the other extensions or new lines currently in the planning stages are anticipated to be completed in 2008.

Edmonton: Integration of LRT, walkability and land use planning

Connections to Regional Transit If we are able to develop strong regional transit system in the Edmonton and Calgary regions these systems can then be expanded to other areas. Facilitates transit between regions LRT benefits Albertans from other communities who may drive, bus or fly into the cities and then travel by transit to access services and leisure activities and entertainment.

Regional Transit Master Plan Courtesy Region of Waterloo

Provincial Wide Strategy British Columbia announced a $14 Billion Provincial Transit Plan in January 2008 –strategy to double transit ridership by increasing travel choices for people around the province –$11.1 billion in new funding Province committing $4.75 billion Remainder from partners, including the federal government, TransLink and local governments. –4.7 million tonnes in transportation greenhouse gases (GHG) will be reduced by Alberta?

Thank you How could your community benefit from a province- wide transit strategy? What alternatives to auto travel could you implement in your community? What are your thoughts the benefits of transit in regard to municipal sustainability? Do you or would you use LRT in Edmonton and Calgary? In advocating for a province-wide strategy, how can AUMA best represent the diversity of its members?