Transportation Progress Report - Edits in Progress

From Common Energy UVic

Editors note: Boxes in blue are suggestions.

Boxes in this colour will be questions

This is the progress report of the Transportation Working Group.

The question posed to the Transportation Working Group:

How can the University create a safe, efficient, and climate-friendly transportation system in the region?

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Section I: Transportation Infrastructure 3 Section II: Institutional Transportation 4 Section III: Individual Transportation Use 5 Beyond climate neutral: Transportation 6 References

[edit] Introduction

The Transportation Working Group's challenge, formulated in the question above, is wide ranging. Transportation is an integral part of our daily lives. We use it to get to and from work, school, appointments and many other activities. How we move about depends not only on our personal choices, but also on the way our communities are planned and the way their transportation infrastructure is designed. Transportation choices have a major impact on an individual's greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Capital Regional District's 2004 greenhouse gas inventory, 53% of emissions are transportation related.[1] However, reducing GHG emissions is only one factor in taking transportation beyond climate neutral. Designing a high quality, low impact transportation system also involves many other factors, such as integrated land use planning and community design. To implement such a system we must learn how how transit is governed in the region, and identify the factors that that inhibit or support the creation of an effective and sustainable transportation system.

Transportation choices have a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Capital Regional District's 2004 greenhouse gas inventory, 53% of emissions are transportation related.^[2] However, reducing GHG emissions is only one factor in taking transportation beyond climate neutral. Designing a high quality, low impact transportation system also involves many other factors, such as integrated land use planning and community design.

If CE is to have the necessary impact on transportation-related emissions, it will have to examine both the public transportation system and UVic issues, such as the University's vehicle fleet, student and faculty air travel, transportation education, and individual transportation choices.

This two page summary addresses these issues, and is divided into three main sections: Transportation Infrastructure, Institutional Transportation Use, and Individual Transportation Choices.

[edit] Section I: Transportation Infrastructure

The words "Context and Concepts" are unnecessary and I would suggest removing them for consistency with the other reports. Your opening sentence needs more explanation and a citation to back up the claim. With regard to part of the last sentence "and opposes road construction for the automobile" I would remove that and rephrase in a positive context. For example - CE supports public spending for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure and services that will provide the region with a quality transit system. This sentence focusses more on what we support and why, and takes the focus off of being 'anti-road'. This suggestion comes from the editors comments on going for generally positive language.

As a society, we need to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels, and thus gas-powered automobiles. Apart from concerns about peak oil and CO₂ emissions, the construction and improvement of arterial roads inevitably leads to more traffic and increased congestion. (See for instance http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=185) CE supports public spending for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure and services that will provide the region with a quality transit system, such as more bike paths, improved bus service, and Light Rail Transit. Improving the transportation infrastructure involves working both with the University and with various levels of government. Municipalities are responsible for local roads and bike paths, the provincial government controls the funding of public transit, and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) manages the regional bus system.

Actions: Lobby the VRTC to speed up the implementation of two new proposed routes, the 12 Kenmore and the 13 Cadboro Bay. The VRTC has recognized that the areas served by these routes “are currently beyond a reasonable walking distance to transit service” (VRTC, 2006) and that “most people are most likely to choose public transit as a travel alternative if it is available within 200 metres” (VRTC). The two new routes would service roughly 13,700 people. Moreover, as UVic would be a stop on both routes, and as Gordon Head is an especially popular neighbourhood for students, these routes would greatly benefit UVic. Lobby for the VRTC for greater bike capacity on bus racks, especially on new buses. Sportworks Innovative Product Manufacturing, and perhaps other manufacturers, make bike racks that have a capacity to hold three bikes. As Victoria’s climate allows for cycling almost year-round, greater capacity could result in more people cycling and busing. Engage the community about Light Rail Transit (LRT) by sponsoring a public lecture series and distributing promotional materials.

Actions:

• CE plans to lobby the VRTC to speed up the implementation of two new proposed routes, the 12 Kenmore and the 13 Cadboro Bay. The VRTC has recognized that the areas served by these routes “are currently beyond a reasonable walking distance to transit service” (VRTC, 2006) and that “most people are most likely to choose public transit as a travel alternative if it is available within 200 metres” (VRTC). The two new routes would service roughly 13,700 people. Moreover, as UVic would be a stop on both routes, and as Gordon Head is an especially popular neighbourhood for students, these routes would greatly benefit UVic.
• Secondly, CE will lobby the VRTC for greater bike capacity on bus racks, especially on new buses. Sportworks Innovative Product Manufacturing, and perhaps other manufacturers, make bike racks that have a capacity to hold three bikes. As Victoria’s climate allows for cycling almost year-round, greater capacity could result in more people cycling and busing.
• Thirdly, CE will start to engage the community about Light Rail Transit (LRT) by sponsoring a public lecture series and distributing promotional materials.

Proposals: Facilitate non-partisan all candidates’ forums on transportation issues. We expect that LRT will be an issue in the next municipal, provincial, and possibly federal elections. Advocate for more transit funding at the provincial and federal levels, specifically via the gas tax. In the long term, CE supports LRT on Douglas Street, along McKenzie Avenue to UVic, up the Saanich Peninsula, and to the Western Communities.

Proposals: We expect that LRT will be an issue in the next municipal, provincial, and possibly federal elections. We intend to facilitate non-partisan all candidates’ forums on transportation issues. CE will also advocate for more transit funding at the provincial and federal levels, specifically via the gas tax. In the long term, CE supports LRT on Douglas Street, along McKenzie Avenue to UVic, up the Saanich Peninsula, and to the Western Communities.

[edit] Section II: Institutional Transportation

This opener needs some more specifics and examples to flesh it out. Instead of "There are many changes that CE can facilitate" I would suggests listing the specific areas where CE can facilitate changes. Suggested new opeining section: There are several entry points for change that CE can facilitate within the university that will improve institutional transportation. As UVic is directly responsible for institutional operations, CE hopes to collaborate with Facilities Management and the office of the Vice-President Finance and Operations on these initiatives. These initiatives include: improving service to cyclists and creating alternatives to frequent faculty air travel through state-of-the-art video and teleconferencing services on campus. In his recent book Heat, George Monbiot explains that there is no viable way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions [to what?] by 2050 without stopping or drastically reducing air travel (Monbiot, 2006). [Sentence on the success of the current UPass program and TDM] Currently, all students at the undergraduate and graduate level receive a UPASS for roughly one fourth of the normal cost; with staff, faculty and administration eligible for monthly bus pass subsidies. A universal bus pass for the entire UVic community would be visionary and effective. [More comments needed on rationale for vehicle fleet changes and tiered parking]

There are several ways that CE can work with the University to improve institutional transportation. As the University is directly responsible for its institutional operations, CE hopes to work closely with the appropriate University offices on several initiatives, including improving services for cyclists and creating alternatives to frequent faculty and graduate student air travel through state-of-the-art video and teleconferencing facilities on campus. Air travel is a major contributor to greenhouse gases; in his recent book Heat, George Monbiot explains that there is no viable way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to acceptable levels by 2050 without stopping or drastically reducing air travel (Monbiot, 2006).

Currently, all undergraduate and graduate students receive a UPASS for roughly one fourth of the normal cost; with staff, faculty and administration eligible for monthly bus pass subsidies. A universal bus pass for the entire UVic community would be visionary and effective in increasing the use of public transit. Raising parking fees would also discourage the use of individual automobiles, but in order to be fair it would have to be "tiered" so that lower paid workers would not be unduly burdened.

The University's vehicle fleet includes many conventional gas and diesel powered vehicles. Replacing them with more CO2 efficient vehicles would both reduce the University's carbon footprint and serve as an example to the community.

Actions Facilitate the coordination and construction of a bike kiosk. A kiosk, designed to act as a service station for cyclists on campus, has been in the Facilities Management's plans for over a year, but has yet to be implemented. The Graduate Students’ Society has approved the kiosk. Lobby the UVic Undergraduate Students' Society (UVSS) to approve the bicycle kiosk. Lobby the UVSS to handle the day-to-day operations of the kiosk. Collaborate with UVic to reduce the amount of faculty air travel primarily through the promotion and use of tele- and videoconferencing services wherever possible. Advocate for the installation of more teleconferencing facilities and the training of staff and students in using these services effectively.

Actions:

• Facilitate the coordination and construction of a bike kiosk. A kiosk, designed to act as a service station for cyclists on campus, has been in the Facilities Management's plans for over a year, but has yet to be implemented. The Graduate Students’ Society has approved the kiosk.
• Lobby the UVic Undergraduate Students' Society (UVSS) to approve the bicycle kiosk.
• Lobby the UVSS to handle the day-to-day operations of the kiosk.
• Collaborate with UVic to reduce the amount of faculty air travel primarily through the promotion and use of tele- and videoconferencing services wherever possible.
• Advocate for the installation of more teleconferencing facilities, and for training staff and students to use these services effectively.

Proposals Recommend a campus-wide Universal Bus Pass (UPASS). Advocate for UVic to convert and replace its vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles. Support a tiered parking payment system.

Proposals:

• Recommend a campus-wide Universal Bus Pass (UPASS).
• Advocate for UVic to gradually convert its vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Advocate for a tiered parking payment system.

[edit] Section III: Individual Transportation Use

Education is a powerful tool for changing behaviour. Education about the risks of smoking have reduced a habit that was ubiquitous in Canada twenty years ago to a fringe activity. We believe that a combination of increased education and new incentives for using options other than single occupancy vehicles will lead members of the University community to make more environmentally sound transportation decisions

Actions: Work with SPOKES, UVic's bicycle bursary program, to increase student and faculty awareness of SPOKES, and increase the program's capacity by helping with recruitment of more mechanics and volunteers.

Proposals: Make a proposal to New Student Orientation (UVic’s student orientation program) for including in the student orientation package a brochure (to be produced by CE) describing the personal, societal and environmental benefits of alternative transportation. Promote awareness of carpooling and car sharing options in Victoria.

[edit] Beyond climate neutral: Transportation

[edit] References

1. ↑ Capital Region Community Energy Plan, Dec 21, 2006
2. ↑ Capital Region Community Energy Plan, Dec 21, 2006