[All] Fw: Rapid Transit Funding Update

Fri Sep 3 02:15:45 EDT 2010

Thanks Lulu. Really great news, finally, especially because the need  
to be frugal can lead to significant technological innovation as in  
India and China. See http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8551 
  & http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6762f77a-77de-11df-82c3-00144feabdc0.html

If so,  things will get even more interesting as the Region hopefully  
struggles to avoid designing an LRT system that -- on detailed  
analysis -- can unfortunately be considered a potentially very costly  
"white elephant". I prefer potentially moderately costing successful  
"green elephants" that can fly fast (between terminals at Northfield &  
Ainslie) carrying many and many types of people on their back while  
very conservatively (my tip of the hat to Stephen Harper) using only  
renewable energy (via solar cells -- for UltraBattery charging -- 
covering the terminal areas).

Will our Regional Government have the necessary insight, vision and  
wisdom to dream such a "green elephant" into reality? Or will a dream  
of a potential "green elephant" be forced to become a "white elephant"  
out of conventional bureaucratic fear of thinking outside-the-box? It  
is indeed unfortunate that  our Regional Government in not supported  
in such potential creative innovation by a community culture of World- 
class pioneering innovation!

I particularly appreciated the implied openness to some new  
possibilities in Chair Ken Seiling's statement, "Now that we know the  
amount of the federal and provincial funding, we can proceed to  
determine the best balance between available funding and the long- 
term, best interests of our community.”

A key question is, "To help prevent our community's perceived  
innovative potential from being stomped on by a costly "white  
elephant", what IDEAS within the current LRT system design need to be  
enhanced -- with minimum disruption of the existing Environmental  
Assessment -- by better IDEAS (that have become apparent in recent  
months) for successful goal realization so as to be of an affordable  
cost and serve in a timely and equitable manner "the long-term, best  
interests of our community.”

Robert (definitely not in support of same old, same old -- unless  
appropriately enhanced)

P.S.: 1. Check out first how advanced some key Japanese LRT  
manufacturers (especially Kinki Sharyo) are in battery powered LRT  
vehicles, then second the now proven UltraBattery that would likely  
enable my suggested terminal to terminal on-board (braking enhanced)  
electrical energy storage requirements to be met. (The increased  
demand for air conditioning could be supplemented by solar cells on  
the LRT roof and heating for the coldest days
supplemented by heaters that burn air pollution free hydrogen [that we  
produce ourselves from solar cells over our major land-fill sites].
i) http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008250414.html (I've been  
invited to take a ride on it when they come to the US in late fall,  
viz. "We will again present this vehicle at Innotrans and will have a  
scale model of the vehicle in our exhibit.  At that time, the whole  
rail industry will become aware of the vehicle.  We plan to  
demonstrate this vehicle in Charlotte NC in the 4th quarter of this  
year.  If you would like a ride, let me know."
ii) http://www.greencarsaregreat.com/blog/east-penn-manufacturing-granted-32-5-million-to-push-for-breakthrough-ultrabattery-in-the-united-states.php6 
  (As East Penn will not be set to manufacture these until 2012, I  
have suggested that Kinki Sharyo enhance their demonstration tour  
vehicle to be able to switch between their Lithium-ion battery and  
Furakawa's -- same as sub-licensee East Penn Mfg.'s --proven  
UltraBattery which they manufacture now! Maybe their possible  
discussions with East Penn will lead to this initial action.)  
viz."Additionally, as I explained our vehicle is a platform that can  
be upgraded with new technology as it is advanced. ...  if East Penn  
would like to work on a development with us I will float the idea."

2. I only wish that there was some way to better reach the community  
(beyond a measly 200 word, editor distorted, letter to the Record)  
with viable green IDEAS for the LRT system design -- maybe I can  
create an IDEA to achieve this.

Note: bcc's have been also sent to other parties who might be  
interested.

On 2-Sep-10, at 8:55 PM, Louisette Lanteigne wrote:

>
>
> --- On Thu, 9/2/10, RTInfo <rtinfo at region.waterloo.on.ca> wrote:
>
> From: RTInfo <rtinfo at region.waterloo.on.ca>
> Subject: Rapid Transit Funding Update
> To: butterflybluelu at rogers.com
> Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 4:25 PM
>
> It is my pleasure to share with you some important news about the  
> Region of Waterloo’s rapid transit project.
>
> Below you will find the news release from today's announcement.
>
> Nancy Button
> Director, Rapid Transit
>
>
> The Government of Canada announces funding for rapid transit in  
> Waterloo Region
>
> (September 2, 2010) The Government of Canada will provide one-third  
> of eligible costs, up to $265 million to support the construction of  
> the Region's rapid transit project. Prime Minister Stephen Harper  
> came to Waterloo Region today to make the announcement.
>
> “We are pleased that the Federal government recognizes the  
> importance of the Region’s rapid transit project, and has made this  
> funding commitment to the initial phase of the project,” said  
> Regional Chair Ken Seiling.
>
> In light of the Federal government’s funding commitment today and  
> the Province of Ontario’s commitment of $300 million, the Region can  
> now move forward with the planning of the project’s scope, design  
> details, cost and Regional funding options.  The goal will be to  
> identify the Phase 1 project that provides best value to the  
> community and is affordable to Regional taxpayers given the  
> available federal and provincial funding.  Regional staff will  
> evaluate various options for consideration and final decision by  
> Regional Council.
>
> “Now that we know the amount of the federal and provincial funding,  
> we can proceed to determine the best balance between available  
> funding and the long-term, best interests of our community,” said  
> Regional Chair Ken Seiling.
>
> In June 2009, based on the extensive evaluation and analysis  
> conducted during the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment,  
> Regional Council:
> •    Approved a light rail transit (LRT) system from Waterloo to  
> Cambridge as the Region’s long-term preferred rapid transit system;
> •    Recognized that a staged implementation would be required to  
> reflect the financial resources required and to ensure the best  
> match of transit technology to ridership and intensification  
> potential; and
> •    Approved the initial phase of the project which includes LRT  
> from Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall and adapted bus rapid  
> transit from Fairview Park Mall to the Ainslie Street Terminal in  
> Cambridge.
>
> For more information on the rapid transit project, please visit the  
> website at  www.region.waterloo.on.ca/rapidtransit.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca

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