A coalition of activists and residents is asking every politician representing communities along the proposed fast rail link between Union Station and Pearson Airport to publicly urge Premier Dalton McGuinty to electrify the line.
The Clean Train Coalition came to Toronto City Hall Tuesday, June 8 to kick off the Clean Train Pledge. Politicians who sign the pledge will have until Simcoe Day, Monday, Aug. 2, to publicly state their support for electric trains along the line, as opposed to diesel trains."We're pro public transit," said Keith Brooks, Clean Train spokesperson. "We're not even opposed to a train. But this plan imposes a local health risk on residents. Toronto's medical officer of health has said as much. There are health effects associated with this build. And some areas are priority communities, like Weston and Mount Dennis."The rail line, being managed by the provincial transportation planning body Metrolinx, will run trains through communities in west Toronto between Union and Pearson, along the existing Georgetown line.The volume of rail traffic will increase over time, from about 50 a day now to 200 a day in 2015, to more than 400 in 2030. So far, Metrolinx has balked at spending the additional money it would take to electrify the route.At the news conference, three councillors were on hand to sign the pledge: Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan, York South-Weston Councillor Frances Nunziata and Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks.Nunziata pointed to other jurisdictions that have introduced electrification successfully."This should have been done when we started the process," she said. "They have electrification in British Columbia, why can't we do it here? It's a cost, but it's worth it."Vaughan pointed out that provincial regulations already require the city to build bridges over rail lines higher, to accommodate future electrification."If we're supposed to spend money to accommodate the future, they should accommodate the future as well," he said.