Transport 2000 Atlantic
Board of Directors Meeting – Conference Call
Thursday, January 22, 2009 Scheduled Start Time: 7:00 PM Atlantic Standard Time
Present: Clark, John, Don, Harold, Heather, Iain, Marcus
Apologies: Mike P., Nelson A.
AGENDA:
Brief discussion on the CAT (Yarmouth-Maine ferry service) and recently announced provincial subsidy.
1.0 The meeting was called to order at 7:11 pm
2.0 Apologies for absence (Mike Perry, Nelson Amiro)
3.0 The minutes of the last meeting (25 October, 2008) were reviewed. It was noted that the minutes should read Melford, not Milford. The minutes were approved.
4.0 A couple of items were added to the agenda (see item 8.4). The agenda was approved, moved by Clark and seconded by John.
5.0 Correspondence
A note from Harry Gow advised that civil servants are recommending investment in shortlines, investment in VIA (including refurbishment of cars) and other rail investments. We need to support this through publish pressure supporting rail.
CBSA preparing to have new processes for Adirondack and Maple Leaf; passengers will be required to detrain at the border with baggage.
David Jeanes will be in the budget lock-up.
6.0 Reports
6.1 President’s Report
The President said he had little to report.
6.2 Treasurer and Bulletin report
We have $5500 in the bank and are okay financially. The money may be used for the EcoHub project. We would also seek money from elsewhere. The project is temporarily on hold until the rural mobility report is published. Marcus would like to include some photographs. Don will get an estimate for printing 20 copies, roughly 100 pages, with colour.
We have already paid for the website. It was stressed that we have to make sure we stay within charitable guidelines.
The bulletin will be in the mail by the end of the month (January). Don thanked the contributors. Don moved acceptance of his reports, seconded by Iain and carried.
7.0 Provincial Issues
7.1 Nova Scotia – Rail, Transit, Road, Ferry, Other
The rails on the CBCNS mainland to Cape Breton are in poor shape and are currently restricted to 10 miles/hour.
John is on the review committee for the Green mobility grants (Ecology Action Centre).
There is a new ferry on the Sydney-Argentia route.
The study of the rail cut in Halifax is ongoing [the idea is to pave part of the cut for transport truck traffic]. It was suggested that we promote revisiting the rail shuttle idea (Burnside depot – cost about $14 million including train). The operating cost of the shuttle would be covered by the revenues. Two transloading facilities were recently built in Burnside with public assistance, but nowhere near the rail line. CN seems to support (or at least be neutral) on the rail cut issue because it will solve their bridge repair problem. A group has formed to oppose paving the cut –
CREST: communities and residents for environmentally sustainable transportation. People are encouraged to join the group so it won’t just be seen as a NIMBY group.
Fifty-five people signed up for the Shifting to Sustainable Transportation Workshop. We are a sponsor but have no official T2A rep (Marcus is there for HRM); Don will try to attend in the afternoon.
On Thursday, February 12th, Marcus will be presenting the outcome of the Sustainable Transportation workshop at the annual Dal planning workshop. The symposium starts Wednesday evening Feb. 11th, and goes all-day Thursday and Friday morning. At Pier 21.
7.2 New Brunswick – Rail, Transit, Road, Ferry, Other
The experiment with double-trailer trucks continues (LCV: long-combination vehicles).
Iain and Harold are working on getting train service restored to northwestern NB. There is no air service currently nor any rail service. The “poor northeast” has both. Iain has met with the MP in the area twice and two members of the NB legislature. They are proposing RDC service for Saint John to Moncton, Moncton to Edmunston, and Edmunston to Charny (Quebec City). There are 23 universities & colleges along that route. More than 500,000 people live within 30 minutes drive of the rail line at key stations. They are trying to work out costs to better figure out the conceptual stage.
7.3 Prince Edward Island – Transit, Road, Ferry, Other
No update from PEI.
New Business:
8.1 Date of AGM – Halifax (April 26 or May 2)
We have extended an invitation to Ottawa to come down for the national AGM. We will propose the 2nd and leave it to Harold to confirm with David Jeanes. Our AGM will still be on the Saturday afternoon. Harold will confirm with Don.
8.2 Letters to Press
We need more letters to the editor to support membership growth and raise awareness. Not everyone should use the T2A name, e.g., if Marcus has one signing off as T2A, others should not. If there is an article on rail or on transport, we could write letters in reply. The newspapers like reaction to their articles. NS members will write letters to NS papers, NB to NB; we’ll discuss who will do issues of regional importance.
Could we organize people to write a letter on a schedule, e.g., every 4 or 6 weeks so that there is a steady flow? We will look into this.
8.3 Publicity – Ads (John P.)
John suggested that we buy a half-page ad ($50) in the Atlantic Rails and Ports publication. We could use the ad to solicit members and attract people who are interested in transportation problems in the Maritimes. We could also buy an ad in Between the Issues (EAC publication)
Other potential locations for ads: PEI Transit Coop may have a publication, John will look into it.
CCNB might have a publication. Harold will contact someone at the CCNB.
John will contact Chop at Atlantic Rails.
NBEN has an online environmental magazine. They solicit contributions and may sell ads. http://www.elements.nb.ca/
8.4 Other New Business
8.4-1 EAC request for cost-sharing to translate French school bus sharing contract
It seems that the cost will be minimal. We agree to pay for 1/3 of the cost, as proposed by Harry Gow and Laena Garrison of the EAC (moved by Clark and seconded by Iain). EAC and Harry Gow’s organization will split the remaining cost. We may have to get a local legal expert to look at it to see if it is applicable for the Maritimes.
8.4-2 Stimulus package and how it might affect rail
We need to write letters to newspapers and politicians: rail is a much better stimulus for economy than highways. Keep to the broad strokes at this point.
8.4-3 Green mobility program
Discussed earlier (7.1)
Iain moved adjournment at 9:38 pm and the meeting adjourned.
Heather Breeze
