[GREN-Exec] CREW Aerobus/Caterina position

[John Jackson]

I will not be advocating for the aerobus. We have two votes already (Susan
and Carol) that don¹t call for any changes on our motion so we are fine.

John



On 11-04-29 9:56 AM, "Kevin Thomason" <kevinthomason at mac.com> wrote:

> John,
> 
> I'm not sure how you are planning to follow-up with Caterina but Aerobus
> certainly isn't compatible with LRT and certainly isn't any sort of system or
> new technology that I would be comfortable advocating for in any way.  I
> certainly don't think it is what was intended by the item 4) in our motion.
> 
> While I appreciate the effort Derek Satnik is trying to put into flogging the
> Aerobus system on behalf of the manufacturer, it is a glorified ski-lift cable
> car system that has never been implemented as a public transit system anywhere
> successfully in the world despite decades of trying to sell it to whoever they
> can get to listen.
> 
> Frankly, it looks scary to me to be hung up high like that swinging from
> cables.  I know many people who can't ride cable cars at ski resorts or
> tourist attractions (mountaintop restaurants) because of their fear of
> heights.  
> 
> I'm not sure what they are thinking proposing a test system going from Laurier
> to U of W for $50 million -  few people need to travel between universities -
> you either attend one or the other (even Catherine expresses concerns about
> lack of ridership below) and I have no idea how they state if it fails the
> trial Aerobus system (running east-west) could be integrated into the LRT
> (running north-south) in the future.
> 
> As for manufacturing it here - it could take years and millions of dollars
> just to set-up a factory and start to build prototypes, train and hire all the
> staff, etc. - let alone getting around to actually building the transit system
> we need and getting it running successfully  We need proven technology and
> face it - Waterloo will never be a global transit-vehicle manufacturing mecca
> - other global cities already specialize in this intensely competitive
> industry.  We are best to stick to high tech, financial services, education
> and other things we already excel at.
> 
> Let me know your thoughts, if you are planning any sort of response, etc.  I
> appreciate the effort CREW as put into things and their recognition that we
> need improved public rapid transit in our Region if we are to succeed in the
> future.   I don't want to get into a shouting war between local community
> groups though and I wouldn't want to see too many distractions from the LRT
> that needs to be the focus for our community.
> 
> We need proven, cost effective, reliable rapid transit solutions that have
> been so successful in so many cities around the world be it North America,
> Europe, South America or Asia - not pie-in-the-sky dreaming of things that for
> many good reasons have never been done to date.
> 
> Kevin.
> 
> --------------------------
> 
> On 2011-04-28, at 9:53 PM, Caterina Lindman wrote:
> 
>> Hi everyone.  I'm sorry I missed the meeting on Wednesday.  It sounds like
>> you had an interesting discussion about the transit proposals that the Region
>> is considering.  CREW (Community Renewable Energy of Waterloo) have issued a
>> press release 
>> <http://www.crewzone.ca/pubs/release_CREW_transit_study_2011-03-10.pdf>  and
>> a research paper
>> <http://www.crewzone.ca/pubs/rpt_CREW_Transit_Options_2011-03-10.pdf>  that I
>> found helpful and inspiring.  The research paper is an easy-to-read
>> comparison of different transit options.  The conclusion of their study is
>> that Aerorail would be the best option because it can be implemented at a
>> relatively low cost, without having to disrupt as much of the current
>> infrastructure.
>> 
>> I can support the motion you have presented, if in item 4), by new
>> technologies, we include above-grade suspension rails, ie Aerobus or
>> Aerorail.  
>> 
>> CREW's recommendation is to build an Aerorail pilot project from Laurier to
>> University of Waterloo to R&T Park, at the cost of approximately $50 M.  My
>> experience with the I-express is that hardly anyone gets on or off at R&T
>> park, so the pilot should perhaps include McCormick arena as well to serve a
>> lot of student transportation needs.
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 11:41 AM, John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca> wrote:
>>> Last night at the GREN meeting we discussed what position GREN should take
>>> on the current light rail transit proposal before Waterloo Regional Council.
>>> The Council will be making a decision on June 15 and will be holding public
>>> input sessions to hear from delegations prior to that.
>>> 
>>> After an hour of discussion, the following motion was made as a position
>>> that we should take to Regional Council:
>>> GREN Motion: 1) Urge Region to adopt a combination of L9 & L3 (the
>>> administration¹s recommendation to council). [this means that they commit
>>> now to having a light rail train system all the way from St. Jacob¹s farmers
>>> market to the Ainslie Street bus terminal in Cambridge (L9), but that they
>>> begin by having rail only from St. Jacob¹s farmers market to Fairview Mall
>>> and Bus rapid transit to Cambridge (L3); 2) Urge Region to now commit to and
>>> immediately begin rapidly implementing a reformed bus system throughout the
>>> three communities, with new Express Bus Routes and new local bus route
>>> system as shown on page 10 of their ³Connecting to the Future² document; 3)
>>> integrate this with a reassessment of the road system needs given that the
>>> bus and rail system is dramatically improved; 4) while the details of the
>>> LRT system are being developed over the next two years, that they continue
>>> to explore new technologies; and 5) ensure that planning policies are
>>> implemented (as described in the Region¹s new official plan) that will
>>> support the transit system.
>>> 
>>> This motion was passed, but was not passed unanimously. Therefore, we
>>> decided to ask our paid-up GREN members who were not present last night to
>>> vote on the motion to bring us to a decision.
>>> 
>>> Please send me your vote by Sunday May 1. I have also attached the Region¹s
>>> information handout that explains L9, L3 and has the page 10 map referred to
>>> in the motion.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your immediate attention to this matter.
>>> 
>>> John

-- 
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503


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