Metrolinx updates metro Toronto LRT plan
Ontario regional council spurns LRT referendum
Ontario province’s Waterloo-Kitchener-Cambridge Regional Council on June 2 voted 7-3 not to reopen the debate on its regional transportation plan via a referendum, despite calls for such a move by some municipal officials, led by Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran.
Ontario business leaders back LRT-based plan
Ontario business leaders have added their voices to an ongoing debate over establishing light rail transit and Bus Rapid Transit outside of Toronto proper—in general voicing strong support for a proposed regional transit plan with LRT at its core.
Metrolinx orders 12 DMUs for Toronto airport line
Ontario regional transport agency Metrolinx on Friday said it has entered into a C$53 million contract with Sumitomo Corp. of America to supply 12 diesel multiple-units (DMU) trains for the Air Rail Link (ARL) between Toronto’s Union Station and Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Sumitomo will be joined by Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. in the effort.
Metrolinx, TTC explore 3P approach for three projects
Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission are reaching out to the private sector for possible design-build-finance approaches to advance three rail projects. TTC would operate and maintain the new lines, eschewing half of the “DBOM” (design-build-operate-maintain) approach, but the agency duo still seeks to employ a private-public partnership to expedite construction.
Merger planned for GO Transit, Metrolinx
Ontario provincial leaders have introduced legislation to merge GO Transit, the transit system serving metropolitan Toronto, with Metrolinx, the regional planning agency charged with growing public transit in the Greater Toronto Area.
Freight traffic declines again (Feb. 21, 2009)
The slump continued for U.S. railroad freight traffic during the week ended February 21, compared with traffic in 2008, the Association of American Railroads reports. U.S carload freight fell 14.2% from the comparable week in 2008, with declines of 12.8% in the West and 16.0% in the East.
Freight traffic on U.S. railroads struggles
U.S. railroads reported that freight volume during the week ended Feb. 14 was once again down in comparison with last year, according to the Association of American Railroads. Carload freight fell 12.2% from the level achieved in the comparable week of 2008, though AAR noted carload volume for the week reached its highest level so far in 2009 and was up 6.2% from the previous week ended February 7.
Weekly freight traffic still trailing 2008 levels
Freight traffic on U.S. railroads during the week ended February 7 was off again in comparison with last year, although “up slightly” from the previous week ending Jan. 31, according to the Association of American Railroads. Total volume of 28.2 billion ton-miles was 15.1% lower than the comparable week in 2008.