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I appeal to you to take action on modernizing Canada’s transportation infrastructure, as an essential component for achieving environmental sustainability. Canada is lacking behind most other industrialized nations in this area and needs visionary and determined leaders to catch up. I believe that creating an environmentally friendly and convenient public transportation system is not only critical for reducing energy consumption and fighting climate change, but also for many other reasons, such as meeting the needs of a rapidly growing senior’s population. Of all modes of transportation, air travel generates the most air pollution per passenger, seconded by the automobile. Therefore high speed trains would provide an environmentally friendly, efficient and convenient alternative for many passengers, especially in a large country like Canada. They would facilitate communication and pull the country together, which historically is not a new idea. I suggest a Trans-Canada train with Maglev technology, German or Japanese. Using existing highways more efficiently, by incorporating a Monorail with latest technology, such as Maglev (Magnetic Levitation), would make common sense. With high speeds, of up to 500 Km/hr, it would especially benefit a large country like Canada, by facilitating communication and pulling the country together (not a new idea). There would be no need for additional land and no environmental impact study. The existing carpooling parking lots and overpasses at main intersections could be connected to the train stations to be built above the highway. These shall be prefabricated structures as well. Furthermore, the entire structure can be prefabricated, transported and constructed with minimal disruption to the highway traffic. A specially developed erection crane and drilling machine could access the median from the shoulder without having to close any lanes. The cost of the plant and equipment shall be viewed as a onetime long-term investment. The system of piers and beams could support a more conventional train, but it would make sense to be designed for a possible future conversion to Maglev. It could be manufactured in Canada, possibly by Bombardier. A transportation system constitutes the arteries and veins of the urban body. Their clogging threatens urban health and prevents healthy growth. Probably the best example in Ontario is the increasing volume of traffic through the "golden horseshoe", which by the way is an international artery. Here the high number of commuters in GTA is compounded by the truck and tourist traffic with US and visitors to Niagara Falls. The main issue in “clearing this artery” is the environmental impact of expanding the existing highway or of developing a parallel highway and/or railway. I am presently also promoting the concept for “Reunification” of Oakville, which could apply to many other municipalities that face the same problem of being severed by a major highway. A station for a future monorail could also be incorporated. The potential is enormous for reclaiming thousands of acres of highway lands for urban development, instead of continuing urban sprawl. I urge you again to plant the fast train “seed” in Canada. You may consider an initial line from Toronto to Niagara Falls, developed above the median and shoulders of the QEW. Furthermore, the Americans may want to cooperate and extend the line on their side of the border, something you may want to discuss with the President and the Governor of New York. Of course, there should be a long term plan for developing the Trans-Canadian Fast Railroad. Public investment in modern railways would have great positive spin-offs for society, such as: economic (manufacturing and construction), environmental (reduced pollution), social (improved quality of life) It would also help re-establish public confidence in the will of governments to make a difference. Not surprisingly, the counter argument I've been receiving is the prohibitive cost. This argument should have stopped Sir John A. Macdonald from building the Trans-Canadian Railroad; but it didn’t because Sir John A. Macdonald had a vision for Canada. We live in challenging times and need visionary leaders who can think and act out of the box. Respectfully, Nicholas Varias, Dipl. Arch., OAA, CBCO |
Last updated on January 27, 2007