Tag: transit

Atlantic Transport News – March 2023

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Welcome to the March Atlantic Transport News.

Here’s a look at what you’ll find in this edition:

PEI EXTENDS AFFORDABLE TRANSIT PASS PROGRAM

Residents of PEI will enjoy another full year of discounted $20 monthly island-wide transit passes. The extension of the popular program was announced just before the start of the current provincial election campaign. PHOTO – Island Transit

Transit hasn’t been a high-profile discussion item during the current provincial election campaign on Prince Edward Island, but that’s not a cause of concern for public transportation advocates. Apparently it’s really a motherhood issue. Shortly before Premier Dennis King visited the lieutenant governor to initiate the April 3rd vote, his Progressive Conservative government announced another extension to the widely-acclaimed “toonie transit” and discounted pass program – this time for a full year until March 31, 2024. Even if the voters decide not to renew Mr. King’s mandate, it’s considered highly unlikely that any other politician would reverse the popular initiative.

The program is intended to both support the continued growth of public transit and help citizens with the cost of living. The provincial government will provide funding to ensure that transit fares remain the same: $2 adult fare for a single ride and just $20 for a monthly unlimited pass usable on both the island-wide network and the municipal system in the Charlottetown area. The monthly pass is only $10 for seniors and post-secondary students, and all children up to grade 12 ride for free.

“Public transit in Prince Edward Island reached a significant milestone of one million rides in 2022, and we want to keep pace with the growing demand for transit and at the same time, support expansion of the service where gaps have been identified by ridership,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cory Deagle. “By creating an affordable and reliable Island-wide public transit system, we are reducing transportation barriers for Islanders and helping to create a cleaner, more sustainable province.”

The Island Transit news release reported that as of February 2023, the average number of monthly passes was 1,255, with approximately 9,000 one-way trips for children and students k-12 occurring each month. Meanwhile, ridership on Charlottetown’s T3 Transit is currently up a whopping 55% from pre-pandemic levels.

A new year-round route connecting the North Rustico area to Charlottetown will begin this spring. The Province is currently working with operator Coach Atlantic to determine schedules. This new route is additional to the summer public transit service supporting tourism operations and employees, which will resume by June 19. Last year’s summer service saw an average of 97 daily one-way trips over the months of July and August.

Additionally, the Province is working with the Capital Area Transit Coordinating Committee (CATCC) to expand transit in Charlottetown, Cornwall and Stratford with new routes, added evening services, and extended weekend hours on some of the most popular routes.

ELECTRIC BUS PASSES WITH FLYING COLOURS IN HALIFAX TRIAL

Other cities are following the lead

A group of HRM councillors and Halifax Transit staff prepare to board an all-electric bus for a recent demonstration run. No issues were encountered with either hilly terrain or winter operating conditions during the testing, and the first 20 vehicles are expected to be in service by mid-2024. SUBMITTED PHOTO

A new era in public transit for the Halifax Regional Municipality is less than a year away, with the first deliveries from an order of 60 all-electric buses expected before the end of this year. All of the vehicles should be ready for service by spring 2024, and officials are pleased at the outcome of an extensive testing program just completed under real-world conditions. A Nova LFSe+ demonstrator bus was put through its paces under winter conditions in February.

“Testing was designed to cover a representative spectrum of typical driving conditions in revenue service, including varied terrain, traffic, weather, and gross vehicle weight,” says Halifax Transit’s executive director Dave Reage. “Results of that testing indicated no significant concerns with respect to performance or range, even in low temperatures or snow conditions.”

He says the new battery powered buses will be added to the current fleet based out of the Ragged Lake Transit Centre facility. An RFP for construction of four new lanes and installation of charging equipment for the Ragged Lake Transit Centre facility has been released, and construction is expected to begin very soon. Upon completion of the new extension, electric buses are expected to be in revenue service by spring 2024.

Councillor Waye Mason wasn’t shy about his enthusiasm for the new vehicles. “What a game changer,” he tweeted after taking a demonstration ride. “For folks inside the bus, no shake, rattle and roll, just a gentle whine as it climbed Duke Street from a dead stop. Plenty of power. Outside the bus, no gut-grabbing bassy rumble as the bus goes by, and no dark cloud of diesel particulates. And, of course, far less GHGs…This is a good future for us!”

Other cities in the region are looking towards a greener transit future as well, but aren’t nearly as far down the road as Halifax. In St. John’s, funding was announced on March 1 for a $200,000 feasibility study to look at electrifying the city’s Metrobus fleet. The City and the federal government are sharing the cost of the research, which will include a risk assessment, cost and saving analysis and identifying infrastructure requirements.

Metrobus Transit in St. John’s is taking the first steps toward electrification with a $200,000 feasibility study announced on March 2. Shown here at the bus depot are (l to r) Metrobus general Manager Judy Powell, Sue Connor of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium, St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson, and Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’leary. PHOTO – Saltwire Network

St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson was on hand for the announcement, describing the study as a “critical first step” and a “significant milestone to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.”

Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’leary told the Telegram that while there is no set timeline for when residents can expect to see electric buses in St. John’s, the project is a priority for the city.

“Lots of times in our province, we are often a little bit late to the game, but I think our population has been a bit of a challenge in many respects,” she said. “We know the importance of this energy efficiency, how important it is. Forty-nine per cent of our carbon emissions are coming from transportation. It has to happen and the time is now.”

The study, which is slated to be completed by June, is funded through the federal Zero Emission Transit Fund and is being completed by the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), a non-profit organization designated by the federal government as the designated national planning service for the fund.

Meanwhile in Moncton, City Council has just approved the purchase of four new diesel buses for the Codiac Transpo fleet, at a total estimated cost of $2.6 million. Approximately 40 percent of the expenditure will be federal infrastructure funding.

Planning for conversion to electric vehicles is underway at the transit agency, but the urgent need to replace four obsolete gasoline-powered buses that were well past their best-before date meant that the investment in diesel technology was unavoidable. A presentation to Council pointed out that the new low-floor vehicles will be 31 percent more fuel-efficient than the ones they are replacing, are compliant with the latest emission standards, offer much lower maintenance costs.

Codiac Transpo told the Times & Transcript that the planning and research currently underway is intended to assist the agency in making the best choices on such issues as battery size, charging technology, and the timing of the transition to an electric fleet.

NOVA SCOTIA FACES COSTLY DECISIONS ON MAJOR BRIDGE

The Seal Island Bridge in Cape Breton is a critical link in the Trans-Canada Highway, but the 60-year-old structure is showing its age and some expensive decisions will have to be made in the near future. PHOTO – Wikipedia

Anyone who’s ever driven the Trans-Canada Highway through Cape Breton can’t help but be impressed with the majestic Seal Island Bridge. The massive 716-metre long steel and concrete structure spans the Great Bras d’Or Channel between Kelly’s Mountain and Boularderie Island. It’s a critical piece of transportation infrastructure, not only for the Sydney area but also for the ferry service to Newfoundland. And now, the bridge is showing its age, and the time is fast approaching where some difficult – and potentially expensive – decisions will need to be made.

CBC News has reported that the Province of Nova Scotia is now looking at options to extend its life and plan for its future replacement. When completed in 1961, construction cost was nearly $4.7 million, not including major approach roads. A replacement would doubtless be many times that, but the Public Works Department hasn’t yet begun to crunch those numbers. Two decades ago, a three-year project just to fully replace the deteriorated deck came in at over $15 million. So whatever solution is ultimately decided, it won’t come cheap.

A casual observer will notice evidence of some cracked concrete and corroded metal, but Will Crocker, structures asset management engineer with Nova Scotia Public Works, says such symptoms are common on a bridge of that age. He told the CBC he’s quite confident that it is still perfectly safe. “I wouldn’t hesitate to travel across the bridge,” he said.

He acknowledged, hoswever, that recent reports and inspections show the superstructure and concrete piers are deteriorating. A full inspection of the bridge by engineering consultants in 2018-19 rated the various components in accordance with national standards, and identified areas needing attention.

“As long as those requirements or defects are identified in a timely manner, which they have been, and are repaired in a timely manner, which is what we’re planning to do for this upcoming season, then there will be no problems,” Mr. Crocker said.

For the longer term, Public Works is currently awaiting a cost-benefit analysis from engineering firm COWI, the company that designed and planned replacement of the decking on the Angus L. MacDonald Bridge in Halifax, otherwise known as “The Big Lift.” The firm did its own inspection and added electronic monitors on the bridge’s structure. COWI’s report is expected to offer recommendations on extending the life of the bridge and eventually replacing it.  “At some point in the future, the bridge will have to be replaced, says Don Maillet, executive director of highway design and construction with Public Works. “How that’s going to be done and how much remedial work will be required is all part of the cost-benefit analysis.”

MAJOR HIGHWAY EXPENDITURES IN 2023 FOR NS, NL

Progress continues on the twinning of Nova Scotia Route 104 in Antigonish County, with completion expected in late 2023. The Province is spending about $450 million on road work in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. PHOTO – Dexter Nova Alliance

Four twinning projects on three of Nova Scotia’s major highways will be the main contributors to an expenditure of about $450 million on road work in fiscal 2023-2024. Meanwhile, the Province has already committed an additional $583 million for six new major highway projects, to be constructed between 2025 and 2030.

“This is one of the largest highway infrastructure investments to date,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “This investment will not only make our highways and bridges safer, it will also enable the road-building industry time to plan and prepare for these major investments.”

Among Nova Scotia’s larger projects are:

  • Highway 103, Argyle Interchange (Exit 32 and 32A)
  • Highway 103, twinning between Exit 6 (Hubbards) and Exit 7 (East River)
  • Highway 103, twinning between Exit 7 (East River) and Exit 8 (Chester)
  • Highway 104, twinning between Taylors Road and Paqtnkek (Antigonish County)
  • Highway 107, twinning from Burnside to west of Loon Lake (Halifax Regional Municipality)
  • Tancook ferry infrastructure development (Lunenburg County)

Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador has also announced what Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless terms an “unprecedented” expenditure on highway construction this year, totalling $225 million. The emphasis will be on upgrading infrastructure vulnerable to the effects of climate change, the minister told CBC News, adding he was anticipating further announcements pending additional funding from the federal government.

“We believe it’s going to be a good year for the paving industry, contractors, workers,” he told reporters during an announcement in St. John’s.

In the past, politicians have come under fire for favouring districts represented by the governing party, but Minister Loveless insists politics has been removed from the process of deciding where tax dollars are spent.

“We’ve put together a solid, balanced plan for road construction projects throughout the province,” he said. “We’re not looking at it from a lens of districts, but through a lens of the advice from the engineers.” 

Funding strategies are also influenced by factors such as traffic volumes, the need to support the tourism industry, commercial transportation and industrial sectors, and input from drivers. The plan also includes roads with lower traffic volumes, but with significant deterioration. Most contracts should be tendered by the end of May. Ministers Masland and Loveless both indicated that plans were being announced early to give the construction industry time to prepare, helping to ensure timely completion of projects.

PORTER AIRLINES CONTINUES TO SPREAD ITS WINGS IN REGION

WestJet reveals yet more route reductions

One of Porter Airlines’ new Embraer E195-E2 jet aircraft on the tarmac at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Jet service from YHZ to Toronto Pearson began in February, supplementing the turboprop service the airline will continue offering to downtown Bill Bishop Airport. Porter is ramping up service to other Atlantic Canada locations, even as WestJet continues to reduce its presence here. PHOTO – Courtesy of Halifax Airport Authority

Porter Airlines is continuing to strengthen its footprint in Atlantic Canada, even as WestJet reveals further cutbacks in its service to the region. The latest development as reported by New Brunswick news media is the elimination of WestJet’s Moncton to Toronto service, effective May 1. The route had been reduced to a skeletal tri-weekly operation for the winter months, but until recently the airline was accepting bookings for two flights daily between YQM and YYZ beginning later this spring. That option disappeared from their website in early March, but a WestJet spokesperson said in line with their new western-focused strategic direction they would instead be offering three non-stop flights a week from Moncton to Calgary and two to Edmonton.

Also disappearing indefinitely from the WestJet route map is service between Halifax and St. John’s, which had been suspended for the winter months. Likewise, until recently bookings were being accepted for the resumption of two flights daily between YYT and YHZ beginning in early April. But St. John’s was recently delisted as a destination out of Halifax on their website, and a WestJet spokesperson confirmed to TAA that the YYT-YHZ route will not be returning to their network as part of future schedules. There will continue to be a direct daily flight between St. John’s and Toronto, with connections to other destinations, as well as non-stop seasonal flights to Edmonton and Calgary on varying schedules.

For its part, Porter Airlines is clearly in growth mode, and appears intent on claiming the traffic that WestJet has abandoned. Public affairs director Brad Cicero tells TAA they will operate four daily flights between Halifax and Toronto this summer – two to Pearson using their new Embraer E195-E2 jets, and two to the downtown Billy Bishop Airport with their familiar Q-400 turboprops. There will also be three Q-400 flights daily to both Ottawa and St. John’s, and two to Montreal. Moncton and Fredericton will each have one daily direct flight to both Ottawa and Billy Bishop. And, as announced last month, Porter will inaugurate service to Charlottetown this year, with two daily non-stop Q-400 flights to Ottawa, from where connections may be made to other destinations.

Mr. Cicero confirmed that direct St. John’s to Pearson has been identified as a potential future route as the airline takes delivery of more of the new jets. They expect to have 30 of the Embraer planes in their fleet by year-end, with firm orders placed for 20 more and options for an additional 50. He said, however, there are no plans at this time to introduce jet service between Halifax and St. John’s. The Porter spokesperson, who’s been with the airline since its earliest days, told TAA that they have a very high level of confidence in their growth-oriented business plan. He added that they have been much less impacted by pandemic-related staffing issues than other carriers, even though they were shut down entirely for more than a year. This may in part be related to the age profile of their workforce, with fewer furloughed employees choosing to retire permanently, and a higher proportion returning to active duty when service resumed. Porter currently has about a thousand more employees than it did in 2019.

ST. JOHN’S PURSUING NEW OVERSEAS FLIGHT OPTIONS

Provincial government involved in talks with Aer Lingus

A quick glance at this handout photo might lead one to think this Aer Lingus 737 is flying over Bell Island on approach to runway 11 at YYT. In reality, the locale is most likely Ireland’s famous Cliffs of Moher. But if talks between the provincial government and the Irish flag carrier come to fruition, St. John’s International Airport may once again get a direct overseas connection. PHOTO – Aer Lingus

It’s been four years since St. John’s International Airport hosted direct scheduled passenger flights across the North Atlantic – and the local business community, the airport authority and the provincial government have all but given up on Canadian carriers. WestJet has clearly withdrawn entirely from any overseas flying out of Atlantic Canada, and Air Canada has said it has no plans to resume the direct flight from YYT to London Heathrow that was abandoned during the Boeing 737 MAX safety groundings in 2019. Now the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador government has stepped into the picture, and is actively pursuing the potential of reconnecting air links with Europe.

One of the first pitches was to Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus. Premier Andrew Furey and Tourism Minister Steve Crocker met with the airline’s director of network planning in last fall to discuss prospects for a Dublin-to-St. John’s route. Eastbound flying time between the two airports is less than five hours.

“Obviously the re-establishment of a European route is extremely important to us, re-establishment of a direct U.S. route is important to us, as is regional connectivity,” Minister Crocker told CBC News.

He said government has an important role to play, but acknowledged that it’s a tough time as the industry emerges from a COVID-19-related slump. “The thing we hear consistently from airlines when we talk to them is they’re trying themselves – as we are as a province – to get back to pre-pandemic numbers. Their first priority is to get back to their routes that they had pre-pandemic.”

ICONIC COW BANISHED FROM CHARLOTTETOWN AIRPORT

Wowie the cow boards a truck on her way to a new home – as yet unidentified. The iconic statue welcomed travellers at Charlottetown Airport for years and was the focus of countless photo-ops, but she was occupying space needed for expansion of terminal facilities. Wowie’s owner, the Cows Ice Cream Company, has promised she’ll reappear somewhere on the Island, sometime soon. PHOTO – Mary Beth Malone

A long-familiar sight in the arrivals area at Charlottetown has been banished from the premises. The iconic cow statue – trademark of the equally-iconic Cows ice cream company – had been the subject of many a photo-op over the past 10 years. But, alas, no more!

Wowie, as she is affectionately known, was unceremoniously loaded on a truck earlier this month, en route to a new and as yet undisclosed home.

Charlottetown Airport Authority CEO Doug Newson told CBC News the cow had to go to make room for renovations.

“This project, which will provide a refreshing new look to the arrivals area, combined with our capacity constraints in the peak the summer months, unfortunately meant that it was time for the cow to be relocated from YYG,” he said.

Cows marketing director Mary Beth Malone said Wowie’s departure has caused an outpouring of affection on social media.

“People from all around the world were sharing their memories of how Wowie at the airport was when they realized that they were on Prince Edward Island, and all the great memories that they had seeing her there,” she said.

Wowie has been taken back to the Cows Creamery store, while company officials figure out a new permanent home for her, Malone told the CBC.

“It’s almost like the end of an era … and it’s nice to hear that she has had such a positive impact.”

MARITIME BUS RETURNS TO VIA STATION IN HALIFAX

The Maritime Bus ticket counter inside the VIA Rail station in Halifax can be seen open for business at the beginning of March 2023. PHOTO – Tim Hayman

The Maritime Bus ticket office has returned to the inside of the VIA Rail station in downtown Halifax. Several years ago, the office inside the station was closed and passengers buying or picking up tickets had to use the counter in the parcel room, tucked away in a rather unappealing part of the terminal. Bus passengers could still access the waiting room in the station, but then had no convenient way to access ticket agents from the waiting area.

Early in 2023, the former ticket office inside the station next to the VIA Rail counter was reopened, providing a welcome sight. Though the intermodal arrangements between the two transportation providers have faltered in recent years, having another location with both ground transport options readily available is a benefit to those travelling on either mode. A ticket agent on duty at the beginning of March reported that it was nice to be back in the much more pleasant environment, and no doubt passengers will feel similarly!

Atlantic Transport News – February 2023

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Welcome to the (somewhat belated) February Atlantic Transport News.

Here’s a look at what you’ll find in this edition:

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE PROBES VIA’S HOLIDAY FAILURES

TAA president Tim Hayman made a virtual presentation and answered questions before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, as it probed VIA Rail’s abysmal performance over the Christmas travel period. PHOTO – ParlVU

Last month, we reported on the meltdown of VIA Rail services right ahead of Christmas 2022, including issues that left passengers stranded on the Ocean in both directions. TAA President Tim Hayman was one of those affected passengers, and took the opportunity to make a submission on behalf of TAA to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Tim was then invited to appear before the committee on January 26, and took the opportunity to press the committee to look further into the issues that affected VIA’s performance, and identify ways to ensure that passengers aren’t left stranded in similar circumstances in future storms. This followed VIA’s testimony to the committee in the morning, where committee members grilled the Crown corporation on its performance.

You can watch the relevant section of the committee hearing here:  https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230126/-1/38414

There was additional coverage of this issue on CBC’s Maritime Noon, and in interviews with Sackville’s CHFM, both of which you can find at the links below.

CBC Maritime Noon Interview: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-38-maritime-noon/clip/15962486-the-president-transport-action-atlantic-gives-testimony-house

CHFM Interview: https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/one-advocates-30-hour-ordeal-on-via-rail-and-his-call-for-a-fundamental-shift-in-passenger-rail/

CHFM web story: https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/30-hour-ordeal-on-vias-the-ocean-shines-a-light-on-need-for-fundamental-shift-in-passenger-rail/

VIA TAKES ANOTHER STEP IN LONG-HAUL RENEWAL PROCESS

With nearly 70 years of faithful service on their aging stainless steel carbodies, 1954-vintage Budd rolling stock like this still comprises the backbone of VIA’s long-haul fleet. Although the corporation has taken another step toward their long overdue replacement, there’s still no evidence of a funding commitment from the federal government, and VIA may have to coax another decade from them – or even more.
PHOTO – Ted Bartlett

In late January, VIA Rail took another incremental step towards procuring a replacement fleet for the ageing HEP1 and Renaissance equipment. The Crown corporation posted a Request for Information to MERX (the federal procurement platform) for renewal of the long distance, regional, and remote fleet (I.e. non-Corridor HEP/Ren fleet), titled “Notice of Market Consultation – Long Distance Regional and Remote”.

A few notable excerpts:

“VIA Rail intends to renew its existing long distance regional and remote fleet by selecting a supplier to design, manufacture, test, supply, deliver and commission cars and motive power and ancillary equipment (on-board and offboard) with a prescribed capacity of car types (seated coaches, sleeper, diners, multi-purpose, baggage) through an open competitive procurement process (the “Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project”)”

”VIA Rail will proceed with pre-procurement activities regarding its Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project. As part of these pre-procurement activities, VIA Rail intends to engage in consultations with motive power and rolling stock manufacturers to solicit feedback on VIA Rail’s proposed technical specifications, maintenance’s scope of work as well as commercial & contractual related terms (collectively the “Technical and Commercial Documents”).”

”Through this consultation, VIA Rail’s objective is to reduce the eventual in-market time ensure requirements clarity by continuing to work with motive power and rolling stock manufacturers through this consultative pre-procurement process to consider market input on both technical and commercial &contractual questions prior to the commencement of a formal procurement process.”

The submission deadline was February 17, 2023. To date, there has been no information about how many or which suppliers responded to the invitation, though VIA had previously held a market day for interested suppliers, which saw a number of interested parties take part. Amtrak is at a similar stage in their own long distance fleet procurement plans, taking the first steps towards a replacement for their Superliner equipment. According to Amtrak, as many as 10 suppliers have expressed interest. They plan to launch a formal procurement process later this year.

The timing of the planned Amtrak and VIA orders could prove beneficial, as the larger potential order makes a very appealing case for a manufacturer to bid with a product that would suit the needs of both operators. For Amtrak, funding is already in place to begin this process; in contrast, VIA’s progression to a formal procurement process (RFQ/RFP and contract award) will of course be dependent on government funding. TAA has made a pre-budget submission to the federal government, with funding for a new VIA long distance fleet as our top priority. With the existing equipment continuing to deteriorate and long lead times for new equipment, VIA needs to be given the go ahead before it’s too late.

NO REASON FOR WORRY ABOUT ATLANTIC TRANSIT SECURITY

…but homelessness issues cause concern

Metrobus had recently threatened to remove transit shelters in locations where homeless people had set up camp, but the agency was overruled by St. John’s City Hall. Despite issues involving the homeless population, Atlantic Canada overall has seen very few of the kind of unfortunate incidents that have been widely reported on the TTC and some other big-city transit systems.
PHOTO VOCM News

Atlantic Canadians have no reason to be unduly concerned about their personal safety and security when riding the region’s public transit systems.  That’s the opinion widely shared by both operators and advocates around the region. There’s been a lot of negative publicity lately about ugly and violent incidents on the Toronto Transit Commission’s subways, streetcars and buses, but it would appear to be a trend that’s fortunately confined to the nation’s largest cities.

The biggest issue confronting transit agencies in this part of the country stems from the rising urban problem of homelessness.  The matter came to a head in St. John’s in early February, when Metrobus Transit gave notice that it planned to remove two transit shelters in proximity to The Gathering Place, a long-standing agency offering support to those in need, ostensibly because people had been using them for “sleeping rough”.

Two transit users interviewed on Military Road told the Telegram they’d witnessed a situation in which someone had moved into one of the bus shelters. They said the person had covered the exposed areas of the shelter near the ground to keep out the wind, had taped cardboard around the bottom of the shelter, and had laid cardboard on the ground inside, which acted as a barrier from the cold, damp sidewalk.

Reaction to the Metrobus notice was swift and negative, and City Hall promptly ordered a reversal, while launching an initiative to seek less drastic solutions. But it’s a problem that’s not unique to St. John’s. Both Moncton’s Codiac Transpo and Fredericton Transit have been challenged by homeless people taking over shelters while waiting passengers have to stand outside in the weather. Charlene Sharpe, transit manager for Fredericton, says the city police have been fully supportive in dealing with these issues, including removing individuals occupying the shelters. Halifax Transit is also apparently keeping a close eye on the matter, but executive director Dave Reage didn’t want to upstage a report he will be giving to HRM Council in early March, so he declined comment for the time being.  

David Brake, head of the Essential Transit Association in St. John’s (and also a TAA board member), expressed concern that negative publicity over safety on buses is over-stated, and could in fact be a key barrier to getting more people to consider using transit. “No Atlantic province has a transit system anything like the TTC, whose safety problems are likely a function both of its scale and of being in a large city,” he says.

Codiac Transpo operations manager Alex Grncarovski agrees wholeheartedly. He brought many years of TTC experience with him to Moncton, and he says the operating environments are really worlds apart. Fredericton’s Charlene Sharpe, who also previously worked for the TTC, holds a similar view.

“I can honestly say there’s no comparison to what’s going on in Toronto, versus the Maritimes.” Mr. Grncarovski says. “Assaults toward employees and customers have always been a problem at the TTC. Security cameras were brought in due to the union local requesting greater protection for employees. This is also the reason operator safety barriers were also installed. Once the cameras were started, the TTC was committed to charge people assaulting employees, to the full letter of the law. They hired people to attend court and encourage the Crown in obtaining fullest punishment towards perpetrators. This could be jail time and or lifetime ban from the system. Their pictures were posted at each location advising employees that if the person seen in the picture is observed attempting to board the system they were to immediately call and request police.”

One of seven security cameras in a typical installation on a Codiac Transpo bus. Transit agencies around the region are saying this visual monitoring is not a response to any significant increase in violent incidents, but is primarily a tool to promote safety and security and to aid in accident investigation. The presence of the cameras, however, will clearly also act as a deterrent to any potential misbehaviour.
PHOTO Codiac Transpo

Nevertheless, Codiac Transpo is in the process of installing security cameras on board its vehicles, and Fredericton Transit recently completed a similar installation on its entire fleet. “However it was not due to an escalation in violence,” says Charlene Sharpe. “We installed cameras for accidents and incidents in general, as well as part of the new community camera program for the City. It does provide an added assurance to our operators and customers, and is seen more as a preventative measure as there have been very few incidents over the years.”

“CCTV cameras are an increasingly common tool used by public transit to assure the security of customers and employees and we are pleased to see this project go forward,” says Moncton deputy mayor Bryan Butler, who is also a retired police officer. “We appreciate the support we received through the Small Communities Fund. It would be difficult to implement larger-scale improvements in a transit system of our size without that type of assistance.” Installation on the entire Codiac Transpo fleet is expected to be complete by year-end.

-Ted Bartlett

NEW SAINT JOHN TRANSIT SERVICE HAS ENCOURAGING START

This is one of the 20-foot electric buses leased by Saint John Transit for an on-demand trial on lightly used routes. Nearly 1500 riders gave the new service a try in its first month of operation. PHOTO Emma McPhee/Brunswick News

A new concept aimed at bringing improved and expanded service to lightly-used routes was launched by Saint John Transit on January 9 – and from all appearances it’s off to a great start. FLEX is an on-demand service that goes to stops where it’s requested within a zone, instead of following a fixed route. For example, the new West FLEX zone includes all areas previously covered by fixed routes 13 and 14, covers a wider area than the former full-sized bus service, and operates for longer hours.

Riders can schedule a bus pickup at their nearest transit stop either by using a smartphone app or simply calling Saint John Transit. Nearly 1500 people gave the new concept a try during its first month up to February 9, transit director Ian MacKinnon told the Telegraph Journal. That works out to an average of about 55 people a day. He said 455 customers had already downloaded the app.

Transit planners believe that FLEX will deliver better service for riders by allowing them to travel when they want. This service is currently available all day Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, as well as from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturdays. The intent is to provide service within half an hour of a rider’s request.  

Saint John Transit conducted a successful pilot of an electric Karzan Jest bus last summer on various routes. Six of these late model, 20-passenger buses have been leased for the FLEX service, and the city has an option to purchase the vehicles if the initiative proves successful.

MARINE ATLANTIC OFFERS TRAVELLERS OFF-SEASON DEAL

No general rate increase has yet been announced for 2023

There’s still no sign of any general rate increase for Marine Atlantic ferry users this year, but off-season travellers will have the opportunity to save 25% on trips taken up to June 30. IMAGE – Marine Atlantic Twitter

There’s nothing official, but it appears as if users of the Marine Atlantic ferry between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia may not be facing a rate increase in 2023 – and there’s some good news for off-season travellers this spring. The Crown corporation has been under standing orders from Transport Canada to achieve 65% cost recovery, but it appears that the growing pushback against this demand may be having some effect on the political masters in Ottawa. In past years there was typically an announcement about rates in January or February, just prior to the start of the federal government’s new fiscal year. So far in 2023 there’s been nothing.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra made much ado about providing federal funding to eliminate the expected toll increase on the Confederation Bridge this year, but there’s been no similar mention of the ferry crossing to Newfoundland – even though the minister met recently with his provincial counterpart in St. John’s. Both the bridge and the ferry are constitutional obligations of the Government of Canada. This may mean that the cost recovery requirement for Marine Atlantic has been quietly placed in abeyance for another year; it almost certainly does not mean that it has been shelved permanently.

Transport Action Atlantic has been at the forefront of a campaign to have ferry rates reduced to be consistent with what is widely believed to be the intent of the 1949 Terms of Union under which Newfoundland became the 10th Canadian province – namely that the cost of moving people and goods across the Cabot Strait should be equal to that of land transportation over the same distance. While in opposition, Justin Trudeau castigated the Harper Conservatives for imposing the 65% cost recovery demand on the ferry service, but since gaining office in 2015 the Liberals have done nothing to change the policy.

But for now the good news is that passengers travelling between Port aux Basques and North Sydney – along with their vehicles – will be eligible for a 25% fare reduction for travel until June 30. Apart from being applicable to new bookings only, there are relatively few restrictions on this off-peak incentive. It even applies to the first seven sailings on the seasonal service between North Sydney and Argentia. Customers have until midnight on April 5 to make reservations under this promotion.

It would appear that Marine Atlantic is offering the discount deal to maximize revenue during a period when it typically has excess capacity. It’s the second such discount incentive offered in recent months, the last one being the “Black Friday” sale which covered travel during the late fall and early winter, including the Christmas-New Year holiday period. This time, however, it extends over a longer time period, and the booking window is much wider.

PORTER LAUNCHES JET SERVICE FROM HALIFAX TO PEARSON

New Charlottetown-Ottawa service also announced

Porter Airlines is now offering two choices for travel between Halifax and Toronto with the February 23 inauguration of non-stop jet service to Pearson using its new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Porter’s Q-400 turboprop flights from YHZ to the downtown Billy Bishop Airport will continue. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Another domestic travel option is now being offered from Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Porter Airlines introduced a new direct service to and from Toronto Pearson, using its new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft on February 23.  The airline officially took delivery of the first two of a planned 50 medium-range jets from the Brazilian manufacturer in December, becoming the first North American carrier to fly this model. Porter has chosen to configure the cabin with 132 seats – 14 fewer than the maximum the plane is designed for. In addition to more personal space, the airline claims this aircraft will offer every passenger an elevated economy experience that includes no middle seats, complimentary beer and wine served in real glassware, a selection of premium snacks, and free, fast wifi.

Meanwhile, Porter has just announced the addition of another Atlantic Canada city to its expanding service map. It will be launching direct service between Ottawa and Charlottetown as of May 17. 

The new daily, non-stop route is to be served by the tried-and-true 78-seat Q-400 turboprop aircraft.

“Porter is continuing to invest in regional flying across Eastern Canada,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Charlottetown is an entirely new destination for us and the addition of Prince Edward Island means that Porter is serving every Atlantic Canada province for the first time.” Porter is already flies to Moncton, Fredericton, Halifax and St. John’s

“We are thrilled to welcome Porter Airlines to YYG and Prince Edward Island,” said Charlottetown Airport CEO Doug Newson, “Islanders and visitors alike have been requesting Porter for many years, so it is extremely rewarding for us to be able to announce this today. This new non-stop service to Ottawa will not only provide convenient access to the nation’s capital, but will also allow travellers the opportunity to connect to Porter’s expanding network at Ottawa International Airport.”

Atlantic Transport News – November/December 2022

Posted on

Welcome to the November/December edition of Atlantic Transport News! With the holidays quickly approaching, this may well turn out to be our last newsletter for the year. All of us at TAA wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

Here’s a look at what you’ll find in this edition:

VIA 3RD QUARTER REPORT SHOWS RIDERSHIP RECOVERY, BUT HIGHLIGHTS DIRE EQUIPMENT SITUATION

VIA train 14 pauses at Campbellton NB in mid-October. The HEP equipment that forms part of the Ocean’s consist is rapidly nearing the end of its serviceable life, and a replacement is badly needed. The Renaissance equipment at the other end of the train isn’t in much better shape either! PHOTO – Tim Hayman

VIA Rail Canada recently released its 3rd quarter report for 2022. The overall ridership picture is positive. For the Ocean, ridership this quarter was up to 23,000, a whopping 505.3% increase over 2021, thanks, no doubt, to the increase from 1/week and then 2/week service back up to the full 3/week service in 2022. Revenues also increased by 514.3% over 2021. VIA’s figures put the increase in capacity in terms of seat miles at 429% for the quarter.

Comparing figures to pre-pandemic ridership, the Ocean carried 29,500 passengers in Q3 2019, and 29,000 in Q3 2018. By this comparison, Q3 2022’s figure of 23,000 is lower than pre-pandemic totals. It’s difficult to determine exactly what is behind this relative figure; a slow return to pre-pandemic travel patterns may be one factor, but limited capacity may be another. The new bidirectional Ocean consists offer less passenger capacity than the previous configurations, in part due to equipment constraints, but also due to staffing shortages that prevented running longer trains. Many trains through the summer months were sold out, and it’s hard to say how many more passengers VIA could have carried had they been able to run longer trains and offer more space for sale.

The Q3 report is otherwise light on details, but the Risk Analysis section is notable. “Asset Management” is highlighted as an increasing risk, and the report states “The Corporation’s HEP rolling stock equipment has essentially reached the end of its operating life. Its reliability has deteriorated in the past few years, resulting in delays and additional operating costs to maintain a state of good repair. Maintenance costs are projected to increase significantly in upcoming years until a replacement fleet of equipment is introduced, both in the Corridor where the Corporation counts on 31 HEP2 coaches representing more than 25 per cent of current Corridor capacity and non-Corridor services, as reliability of the aging fleet will continue to deteriorate, as well as all of the non-Corridor services who depend on HEP equipment to provide services to communities.” This follows on comments made in recent VIA annual reports and corporate plans, and comes on the heels of recent developments that have shone an even greater spotlight on the dire situation facing the bulk of VIA Rail’s equipment fleet.

Thanks to an Access to Information request, railway blogger Eric Gagnon was able to acquire and publish a copy of the summary report provided by Hatch Engineering, which prompted the most recent inspections and tests of HEP equipment, as well as the “buffer car” policy. Eric posted the report in full on his Trackside Treasure blog.

Here are a couple of notable excerpts:

“As fleetwide inspections continued during the Heritage Program, the findings suggested that all HEP cars likely have some degree of structural degradation of the strength of the car body.“

“The conditions identified on the HEP fleet do not affect the structural performance of the HEP cars under normal operating loads, meaning that they will not fail in regular service….Unfortunately, in most cases, the remaining car body strength of the HEP fleet cars is likely less than original design standards.“

“Considering the age of the current fleet and the planned operation until 2035, Hatch has provided VIA Rail with key recommendations around fleet replacement, a structural reinforcement program for the current fleet, temporary operational mitigations and updates to VIA’s risk assessment to support decisions around proposed mitigation measures.“

Perhaps most notable is this first of the key recommendations:

“Initiate a replacement program for the HEP fleet. By 2035, most of VIA’s HEP fleet will be greater than 80 years old. Considering the age of the fleet, continued deterioration due to corrosion is expected despite any further mitigations taken in the interim. The only long-term solution is the replacement of the fleet.”

In the interim, Hatch also provided recommendations for inspection and repair work to ensure that the HEP fleet remains in safe operating condition. “Buffer cars” will remain in place while this work is being done, and can hopefully be removed once suitable repairs are complete. In any case, it is becoming increasingly clear that VIA is in urgent need of a replacement for its long distance fleet. The HEP fleet can simply no longer be rebuilt indefinitely, and the Renaissance fleet that makes up the balance of the Ocean’s equipment pool is also past its initial planned withdrawal date. Train services from coast to coast are in severe jeopardy if no replacement is sought in as timely a fashion as possible. VIA has reportedly already submitted a business case for the fleet replacement to Transport Canada. It’s well past time for the federal government to take note, and provide VIA with the go ahead to launch this desperately needed procurement.

Meanwhile, day to day on time performance of the Ocean has finally improved from the routine delays during the late summer and fall, as track work programs in Quebec are complete. With train 15 routinely back on schedule, VIA has restored the earlier connection to Ottawa on train 35. For Toronto or southwestern Ontario bound passengers, VIA is still only guaranteeing a connection with the later train 67, which requires a 3 hour layover in Montreal. The connection to the earlier train 65, which would require only a 57 minute connection and arrive in Toronto over 2 hours earlier, is shown as returning as of January 12, 2023. It’s not clear why the return of this connection has been delayed.

The Christmas holidays promise to be a busy travel time in the Maritimes, as usual. There are no extra trains for the holidays this year, and no schedule adjustments either, as even the trains scheduled for Dec. 25th will still run on their usual day and schedules. However, after having only 2 trains a week running by this time last year, the return of the full 3/week service still marks an increase over the past season. There is evidence that VIA has added additional passenger capacity to these trains, based on increased inventory in the reservations system, but even with added equipment several trains are fully sold out for end-to-end travel several weeks in advance. This was no doubt aided by a recent “Black Friday” sale, which included holiday-time travel (with no blackout dates) for the first time in several years. Bus shuttle service continues to be provided to connect passengers in the Gaspe via Campbellton. In any case, it is encouraging to see that passengers are coming back to the train, even after the hiatus of service – hopefully, VIA will take note!

-Tim Hayman

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! MARITIME BUS MARKS 10 YEARS IN OPERATION

December 1, 2022 marks 10 years since Maritime Bus picked up the remnants of Acadian Lines, and embarked on the path to building today’s intercity bus network in the Maritimes. PHOTO – Courtesy of Maritime Bus

In the summer of 2012, travellers in the Maritimes were shocked by the news that Acadian Lines, the sole intercity bus service in the region, would be shutting down operations entirely after November 30th. Coupled with news that VIA’s Ocean service would be cut in half (from 6 to 3 days a week operation) at nearly the same time, this marked a staggering blow to the intercity public transportation network in the region. Mike Cassidy, owner of Coach Atlantic, was similarly shocked by the news – but also saw an opportunity to step in to fill the void. Thus, Maritime Bus was born, and officially started operations on December 1, 2012.

This December 1st marked 10 years of operation for Maritime Bus. The road hasn’t always been smooth, especially through the recent years of the pandemic, but the carrier has continued to provide bus service through New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI, and has worked to continue expanding their network as opportunities arise. Key to that success has been Cassidy’s commitment to providing scheduled bus service through the region. Speaking with CBC News, Cassidy said of his decision to launch Maritime Bus: “We just said … busing is needed in the region and we are the ones to do it, and that’s how Maritime Bus started.”

Here’s to the next 10 years!

MARINE ATLANTIC REPORTS SUCCESSFUL SUMMER

Marine Atlantic CEO Murray Hupman says the Crown corporation carried far more passengers this past July and August than it did in the pre-pandemic summer of 2019. PHOTO – Terry Roberts/CBC

Was it the relaxation of public health restrictions, the Come Home Year promotion launched by the provincial tourism department, or simply an explosion of pent-up demand by ex-pat Newfoundlanders? Whatever the reason, passenger traffic on Marine Atlantic ferry service showed a dramatic recovery in July and August. The Crown corporation accommodated nearly 160,000 customers during that two-month period this past summer. That’s almost 20,000 more riders than the service carried in the same period in 2019 – the last pre-pandemic tourist season.

The figures were given at the company’s annual public meeting on October 20, at which the Annual Report for the fiscal year ending March 31 was released. CEO Murray Hupman was clearly pleased at the resurgence in traffic, but wasn’t entirely sure why the summer was so successful.

“Is it the new normal? We’re not certain. But it definitely was a rebound from the previous two years,” he told CBC News. Whether this summer’s impressive ridership will enable the corporation to meet the controversial 65% cost recovery target set by Transport Canada remains to be seen. They failed to meet the target in 2021-22, as expenses increased and traffic continued to be affected by the pandemic. The federal subsidy requirement for the year was $131 million.

Interestingly, ferry traffic to Newfoundland is rebounding at a much higher rate than air travel, according to Colin Tibbo, Marine Atlantic’s chief information officer, who also holds responsibility for the customer experience portfolio. The often-chaotic conditions experienced at some of the country’s busier airports this summer may help explain why. But there are other factors at play, including the severe shortage of rental vehicles this year – a factor that’s especially critical at a destination where having a car is considered a necessity to enjoy the full visitor experience.

Marine Atlantic’s customer satisfaction ratings are showing a slight decline this year compared with 2021 scores, but that was not unexpected, Mr. Tibbo said. The levels recorded during the pandemic were “unrealistically high” he noted, and maintaining ratings received under such unusual circumstances wasn’t a reasonable expectation. Nevertheless, the most recent scorecard from Narrative Research shows that 78.7% of customers are “highly satisfied” with their crossing, and 95.2% say they would recommend Marine Atlantic. Not surprisingly, the lowest rating went to “value for money” with only 64.1 % of respondents viewing it positively.

You can view Marine Atlantic’s 2021-22 Annual Report here:
https://www.marineatlantic.ca/sites/default/files/2022-10/Annual-Report-2021-2022.pdf

In a late development, Marine Atlantic announced a ground-breaking five-day Black Friday sale on passenger and passenger vehicle fares, with a 50% discount offered on every sailing between Port aux Basques and North Sydney from November 24 through January 8. This includes the entire Christmas-New Year travel period, with no blackout dates. Onboard accommodations, meals, fuel surcharges and security charges are excluded from the discount, but the sale is strong incentive to travel in what is largely a slow period for passenger travel on the ferries.

CHARLOTTETOWN’S T3 TRANSIT CONTINUES TO SET RECORDS

T3 Transit is reporting record-breaking performance in 2022, with ridership growth in Charlottetown running far in excess of national and regional averages. SUBMITTED PHOTO

While urban public transportation across Canada is at long last winning back significant slices of traffic lost because of COVID-19, Charlottetown’s T3 Transit is showing phenomenal growth in 2022. The city-funded but privately operated service just set another new monthly record for ridership with over 106,000 trips recorded in October. That’s an increase of nearly 38 percent from July – just three months previous. Canada’s smallest capital city is riding the crest of a nationwide trend, but appears to be leading the pack both nationally and regionally.

According to data released by Statistics Canada on November 21, transit services countrywide in September had recovered ridership to about 73.5 per cent of what it was in the corresponding month of 2019. The agency reported that the number of urban transit passenger trips in Canada hit a pandemic-era high, reaching 120.6 million for the first time since the COVID alarm sounded in March of 2020.
More employees returning to the workplace, along with schools reopening, were suggested as the reason behind the positive results.

The StatsCan data showed a total of 120.6 million riders on urban transit coast-to-coast in September 2022, an increase of 25.4% from May. Atlantic Canada overall showed a significantly stronger resurgence than the national average, with the region reporting 2.5 million passengers carried for the month, up 31.6% from May.

Meanwhile, the PEI Government will continue to subsidize both urban and rural transit on the Island until at least the end of the current fiscal year. Transportation Minister Cory Deagle announced the extension of the $20 monthly pass on October 27. The incentive to wean Islanders away from private automobile use has been in effect since June. The cost of a monthly pass for seniors and post-secondary students is just $10, while children and students from K-12 ride for free.

PAL AIRLINES ENCOURAGED WITH NB-NL SERVICE

PAL Airlines is flying from Moncton to St. John’s with a stop in Deer Lake six days a week on its fall schedule. The regional carrier is encouraged by traffic growth between NB and NL. SUBMITTED PHOTO

PAL Airlines sees plenty of traffic potential on its routes between Newfoundland and New Brunswick – even though it has temporarily discontinued service to Fredericton. The regional airline’s fall schedule shows service six days a week between Moncton and St. John’s, with a stop at Deer Lake. This frequency remains in effect up to and including the Christmas travel period. The same aircraft provides service between Moncton and Ottawa three days a week, and runs to Mont-Joli and Wabush on alternate days.

Janine Browne, director of business development and sales, says there’s a strong demand for service between the two provinces with both YYT and YDF generating significant traffic. Not sufficient, evidently, to justify at this time of year the non-stop routing between YQM and YYT that was part of the summer schedule. But although the exact schedule for the new year hasn’t yet been announced, indications are that PAL will continue to offer service consistent with anticipated demand through the winter.

BARK AND FLY AT HALIFAX STANFIELD

While there may be a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over Halifax Stanfield International Airport about the future of WestJet’s seasonal overseas services that may or may not be back in 2023, there’s a new business at YHZ that has tails wagging.

Air Buddies Pet Services is an overnight pet boarding facility located conveniently in the terminal building. It’s billed as a unique service for both travellers and those employed at the airport. Additional services are coming soon, including dog daycare, grooming, and retail.

NOVA SCOTIA TRANSIT OPERATORS RECEIVE COVID RELIEF FUNDING

Transit systems reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are seeing some financial relief, as a joint federal-provincial funding program will provide one-time payments to transit operators to help compensate them for lost revenues. The $10.9 million grant will be distributed to a total of 28 transit operators across the province, with $8.6 million going to Halifax Transit, $359,809 to Cape Breton Transit, $332,392 to Kings Transit, and the remainder going to a variety of fixed route and community operators.