Metrolinx meeting leaves residents with more questions

LISA RAINFORD - InsideToronto

Community members who attended Metrolinx's meeting to update the public on its electrification study of the Georgetown Corridor were left scratching their heads when they learned that the provincial transportation agency's analysis introduced other alternative technologies, such as bio-diesel fuel and natural gas, among others.

"It's not clear how this study will affect people in this room," said Clean Train Coalition spokesperson Keith Brook as the audience, who had gathered at the Lithuanian Hall on Bloor Street West. "We're so pro-electrification; you're looking at nine different technologies. The study is so massive. When will we get reasonable information that will affect people in this room?"

Initiated in January of this year, Metrolinx's electrification study, which is expected to be completed in December, is considering the potential benefits and costs associated with replacing diesel with electric propulsion for GO trains in the future. It takes into account the entire GO Transit rail system, comprised of seven corridors.

"There have been many previous studies GO has taken on electrification, but this is the first study that's looked at all seven corridors," said Karen Pitre, project director of the Metrolinx Electrification Study. "We have a process put in place by the Metrolinx board of directors. It's a more comprehensive study."

It goes beyond cost-benefit analysis, said Pitre, and includes environmental and health impacts, community, land and economic use impacts.

Developed by Metrolinx, the study is being guided by advice from a multi-stakeholder community advisory committee and is being led in conjunction with Delcan Corporation and Arup Group Inc. It is the first step towards the possible electrification of GO's rail system. Upon completion, the study will provide Metrolinx's board of directors with information needed to determine how its trains will be powered, whether by electricity or Tier 4 diesel or by other means, according to Pitre.

"Should electrification be found to be the better option, we want to make sure there's an implementation plan," she said.

There is preliminary work that GO Transit must do whether electrification is implemented or not, like designing and building new infrastructure and upgrading the signal systems.

"The existing network is quite complex between operating GO trains and freight trains. We have to also accommodate VIA trains," said Roger Wood of ARUP Consulting Group. "We've started to look at technology options, network options and the cost implications of electrifying each of the corridors."

"Who will make the decision on what technology is used?" asked Clean Train Coalition Co-Chair Mike Sullivan.

The purpose of the study is not to make any recommendations, said Pitre.

Sullivan questioned the transparency of the study.

"How is this transparent if we haven't seen any output yet? We can't see any of it," he said. â?¨Pitre assured him that it's on its way.

"It's been a lot of work to collect data. It's coming from different sources. It takes us a while. It hasn't been sitting in some private office," she said.

Sullivan said the community is concerned that Metrolinx is making electrification look so expensive that no government will want to take it on.

"It looks like you're trying to make electrification too expensive," he said, to a roomful of applause.

Time is of the essence, said former Parkdale-High Park MP Peggy Nash, a local resident. There are many young children who live along the rail corridor, she pointed out, some of them living with asthma.

"The Toronto Medical Officer of Health has already condemned this line," she said.

Kevin McCarthy, who lives on Dundas Street West, not far from the train tracks, wanted to know if he should sell his house now or wait until Metrolinx has finished its work along the Georgetown line.

"I think you have a crisis of confidence," he said. "You have to deal with the fact that people are lacking trust."

For more details, questions or concerns, visit www.gotransit.com/estudy

Article link: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/822998--metrolinx-meetin...