The Province and LRT: An alternative news story.

With permission, I am giving you the points that the MTO (Ministry of Transportation)  gave to Jeff Outhitt as he was working on his story concerning the cost/benefits of LRT in Waterloo Region.

•  The Region is the proponent of the Waterloo Region rapid transit project, and has worked to provide the Province with all necessary material. required for our due diligence – including the Region’s Business Case and multiple accounts evaluation (MAE)
•  The MAE analysis quantified costs and benefits related to the project such as capital costs, time savings, and health, social and environmental benefits
•  Spreadsheets containing net present value analysis and benefit-cost ratios were prepared as part of the Ministry’s review and are included in the package you received through the FOI request.
•  The benefit-cost ratio for the Waterloo Region rapid transit project is comparable to other rapid transit projects in Ontario
•  Ministry staff have completed their review of the Region’s draft Business Case and MAE, and concluded it appears to be sound and reasonable
•   Additionally, the rapid transit project is essential for the Region to achieve the objectives of its Regional Growth Management Strategy (RGMS) and the Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region.  In the Business Case, the Region outlines that the project will result in a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits, including: 
• o    Enabling the Region to promote urban revitalization and intensified land use along the central urban corridor connecting the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.
• o    Increasing transit ridership and reducing congestion by shifting a substantial amount of future auto travel to transit.
• o    Reducing the amount of road construction required to accommodate future travel demand.
• o    Supporting jobs by creating direct and indirect employment during and after construction.
• o    Reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. 
•  o    Connecting key commercial, academic, cultural and housing nodes in the Region, and providing a link to the GO Rail service for travel to and from the GTHA. 

Here also is the memo from Mike Murray to Regional Councillors concerning this issue.

I thought it would be helpful to provide you with some background information:
-        You will recall that the Region evaluated various Rapid transit options using a “Multiple Account Evaluation” (MAE) approach.  This considered various costs and benefits associated with each option.  It was considered a more complete evaluation of the options than a more typical Cost-Benefit analysis, because it included benefits that were difficult to quantify and difficult or impossible to express in monetary terms  (particularly land use and economic benefits, and social and community benefits).
-        Regional staff provided the MAE information to Provincial staff as part of a “business case”in 2009 and updated this for the MTO in late 2011.  At a recent meeting with senior provincial staff they advised us that they have all the information they need from the region to satisfy their internal processes, and to recommend an “approval in principle” of the project.  All indications are that the province remains totally committed to funding their $300 million contribution to the project.
-        Based on the information we provided, MTO staff completed a “Benefit – Cost Analysis” using their own methodology.  Their approach considers only some (not all) of the project benefits, primarily related to the transportation benefits of the project (e.g value of travel time savings, vehicle operating costs, accident avoidance and emission reductions).  Based on this, none of our rapid transit options has a positive benefit / cost ratio, but our preferred option has the highest benefit-cost ratio of all the options considered.  As noted above, Provincial staff have confirmed that the information we’ve provided is satisfactory, and they don’t need further information
-        It is worth emphasizing that the MTO staff analysis does NOT include land use and economic benefits (e.g. value of development around stations, employment and taxes generated etc), and does NOT include social and community benefits (e.g public health benefits associated with improved air quality and more active transportation, community “liveability etc).  These benefits associated with the “urban intensification” (“shaping urban form”) goals of the project were (and remain) important considerations in recommending the staged implementation of LRT as our preferred rapid transit option.

A Meat Eater Goes Vegan for a Week

Peter Thurley loves meat. If you don’t understand that, the rest of this post won’t mean a thing. He also loves his new job at the Children’s Foundation which supports Food and Friends a children’s nutrition and breakfast program that funds 80 programs in Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph.

Peter is one of my Facebook friends. About a month ago, he asked people what he should give up for a week as part of the Livefree campaign. He would pick one suggestion for what he should give up for a week to raise funds for Food and Friends.

I challenged him to go vegan for a week, giving up milk, eggs and meat for 7 days. I would give him 10 dollars for everyday he can do it. Peter picked my challenge, knowing that as a meat eater this would be very hard for him but would also remind him of the kids whose only food in a day might be the breakfast of a nutrition program.

Along with the members of my church, All Saints Anglican, I am a volunteer at the Cedarbrae breakfast club and have not only served hot breakfasts but also made up bagels and veggies for kids who do not have a lunch either. I am also going to give 70 dollars to Nutrition for Learning, our Waterloo Region breakfast program.

So why vegan?  My oldest daughter has been a vegetarian for many years. Lately, I have been trying to get my eating into some kind of sensible order and I have also discovered I am very lactose intolerant. I am not vegan but I do eat less meat, fish and eggs. It is also amazing how many products have milk products, particularly whey in them! I can still eat a bit of certain cheeses, but not too much!

What I hope Peter, who is a blogger and tweeter, will learn from this exercise is what a shock it is when you begin to read packaged food and fast food labels. I don’t expect he will become a vegan. It’s a pretty hard row to hoe unless you are dedicated or it is your religion.

But there is a world of great meatless meals out there. So far he’s just eating the veggies so must be pretty hungry. I am making up a care package of yummy vegan meals for his wife and him this week-end.

To donate to Peter’s fundraiser, go here: http://www.livefreewdg.ca/live-free-life/2012-participants/peter-thurley

Update! Here is the Live Free Waterloo Region that I will be donating to as well. http://www.livefreewaterloo.ca/   Thanks Kathi Smith for this info. Kathi is going meatless until the end of March for Live Free Waterloo

For more about vegans, Google has a good range of recipe sites. (Most vegetarians use vegan recipes otherwise you get a life of constant cheese)Toronto Vegetarians website is fixed. Here is their veggie challenge. http://veg.ca/content/view/26/56/

Building Boom Around Potential LRT Stations: An Alternative News Story

Over the last few days, huge machines demolished the old Go Kart/ Laurel Springs building at the intersection of Northfield and the railway tracks in North Waterloo. Next comes the building of Northfield Station http://www.collierscanada.com/5286, a commercial building right beside the proposed LRT station on Northfield. Today, CTV trumpeted a new development at the NCR building that has lain vacant for the last few years. Mayor Halloran stated, “They came to us.” Waterloo Commons will contain commercial, restaurants, high-end development and perhaps a hotel. http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120222/waterloo-commons-development-jobs-120222/20120222/?hub=SWOHome

This is not the only potential station area that boasts the beginnings of new development. Uptown Waterloo has 5 new condo buildings going up around the proposed Allen St. station and a stone’s throw from the Uptown stations.

In Kitchener, a new development was just announced on King St. East by the proposed LRT station. Also in the same area, a group of young entrepreneurs are reviving the area around Madison. Not to mention the Breithaupt Block http://www.thebreithauptblock.com/ and the Tannery near Victoria St. and the proposed transit hub.

Looks like the proposed LRT stations are already spurring intensification.

Voted for DBFOM

I voted for DBFOM. The important point for me is that the Operations part is coming back to council with a plan for 10 year terms with renewal up to 30 years. I will not support 30 years for operations.

Also important is that the Region will own the LRT, set the fares and collect the revenue. There are a lot of safeguards built in.

We already have garbage run by Waste Management and I believe it runs very well. Customer service is as good as GRT customer service. We have also increased garbage routes and also added such services as the green bin with little or no problems from the private company side. Waste Management does not have a 30 year term though!

We will hold back approximately 125 million and dole it out based on performance. This is similiar to when you have work done on your house and money is held back at the end until all work is shown to be good.

Once again, this was a hard decision, but I believe it is the right one.

P.S. The RFP and the contracts will be on the website for the public to look at.

AND there is no secret report. The Deloitte calculations are a propriatory model (e.g. software). If you look at the charts in the report, the placing of the different risks are pretty much common sense. We get risk all the time with road projects. For instance, Townline Road reconstruction ended up hitting a peat bog making it a much more expensive and longer project. That is an example of the type of risk.

LRT Procurement Questions and Answers.

Tonight Regional Council decides which type of procurement we want to go with to build the LRT. Here are some of the questions people have sent me and the answers from the staff.

Q: Who will control the advertising on the LRT?

A: The Region will control the advertising on the LRT.

Q: Is there any LRT or transit system that has gone through the 30 years or are we the first?

A: Municipalities around the world began using DBFOM to procure and deliver transit projects in the 1990s. These early projects are well into but have not yet reached the end of their project term. For example, the Hudson Bergen DBOM (New Jersey) has been in service since 2000 and is approaching the end of its initial 15-year O&M term. Deloitte discussions with New Jersey Transit indicate that New Jersey is very happy with the outcome of the project. The construction was completed on schedule. Operationally, performance has been good – 98% or 99% of service quality indicator (above target of 96%). They believe that the integration of DB and O&M functions have yielded positive results and the discipline of scheduled lifecycle maintenance payments has also been good.

Q: Couldn’t we hire consultants for the parts where we don’t have expertise, as we usually do?

A: The Region will be hiring the required expertise to implement LRT, through the DBFOM procurement. The main benefit of the DBFOM procurement of this expertise is that that Region avoids multiple contracts with multiple suppliers (engineers, constructors, operators, maintainers, etc.) – these multiple contracts are replaced by a single contract with one Contractor. This Contractor is then responsible for coordinating and managing all of the suppliers needed to design, build, maintain and operate the project (which avoids “finger-pointing” when performance targets are not met and which improves the overall quality of the project).

Q: Where do the savings come from for the 18 per cent of DBFOM. E.g. from labour costs?  From buying a large order of cars because the private company has many projects and can buy in bulk (found in Deloitte full report)?

A: The DBFOM procurement model provides the Region with estimated value of approximately 18 per cent (consisting of savings and the value of avoiding certain risks), when compared with the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) model. The 18 per cent is the overall benefit to the Region that is achieved by 1) transferring project risks to a Contractor that is more experienced in dealing with these risks, 2) integrating design, construction, operations and maintenance with one Contractor to promote efficiencies and permit more innovation, and 3) providing incentive for the Contractor to design, construct, operate and maintain a high-quality LRT system because the Region will pay (or withhold) construction payments to the Contractor in instalments based on the Contractor meeting performance standards.

Q: Where does the company’s profit come from. E.g. the concern that it is from lower labour costs or no benefits, etc.?

A: The Contractor’s bid will include a profit margin for design, construction, and O&M services. This is similar to profit margins included in any contractor’s work, such as design or construction services procured by the Region through the traditional DBB process. As well, the Contractor will include a profit margin for equity investors, based on the risks assumed by investors in delivering the project.

Q: Can you provide a list of rapid transit projects that have not done so well?

A: The DBFOM model generally provides a high degree of success for on-time construction and overall service quality. However, there are lessons to be learned from other rapid transit projects. Focusing on procurement issues, some examples are:

• The Hudsen Bergen (New Jersey) rapid transit DBOM, while very successful for operational performance, is near the end of its 15-year term. The short project term is ending at a time when the system is approaching the need for major refurbishment. Bidders for the next contract will have to factor in the lifecycle costs of major refurbishment, with significant uncertainty surrounding the amount of legacy risk left over from the first contract.

• The Nottingham rapid transit DBFOM started Phase 1 with a 30-year operating contract that did not account for Phase 2. To proceed with Phase 2, Nottingham had to negotiate termination of their Phase 1 contract. For the Phase 2 tender, Nottingham built in flexibility for future phases.

• The Sydney Airport Rail Link is a 9-km subway link between the Sydney Airport and Sydney, Australia. With this project, the ridership and revenue risk was transferred to the Contractor. Ridership fell significantly short of projections and the project went into receivership. The Contractor walked away from the project.

Q: Are there any protections that Canadians will get part of the light rail vehicle contract?

A: It will be a requirement of the province’s funding agreement that the light rail vehicles (LRV) have 25 per cent Canadian content. LRV suppliers generally meet this requirement by having the LRV parts shipped to and assembled in Canada. The assembly work accounts for the required Canadian content.

Also,here is the report which includes more FAQ and some interesting risk charts. http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/pdfs/2012_RECOMMENDED_STAGE_1_LRT_PROCUREMENT__DELIVERY_OPTION.pdf

Keep our Ground Water and Rivers Free of Salt

The other week I had an argument with my husband. He wanted to buy salt for our driveway and sidewalk. He also occasionally “salts” the walk-through near us (Want to promote walking, City of Waterloo? Keep the walk-throughs clear!) Even thugh it is cheap, I insisted that we get the non-salt variety. I have to walk the talk! So here is some info from the Region of Waterloo on how to be safe with salt in the winter.

Take the low-salt challenge

Winter has finally arrived. Staying safe during your winter travels is important but using large amounts of salt isn’t the answer. Help to reduce our reliance on salt. Wear proper outdoor footwear and drive for the conditions.  When clearing your driveway and sidewalks remember to shovel first and only use small amounts of salt at the proper temperature.

Organizations can help by becoming Smart About Salt™ certified.  The Smart About Salt program promotes best management practices on salt use while maintaining public safety through training and certification.

Salt damages our clothes, cars and the environment. When snow melts, excessive salt can be absorbed in to the ground – and into our drinking water.

Be smart about salt™!

• Wear proper outdoor footwear and make use of snow tires (Yak Traks for the bottom of your boots are fantastic. You can get them at the St. Jacob’s Outlet Mall — Jane)
• Shovel snow as soon as possible after a snowfall
• Use salt sparingly and only at the proper temperature
• Redirect downspouts away from walkways and driveways
• Use a certified Smart about Salt Contractor

To learn more visit www.smartaboutsalt.com.

Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/smartaboutsalt

My Light Rail Transit Speech and some Nifty LRT Pictures.

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My Speech

Thank you to staff who have worked and are working so hard on this project.

Thank you to everyone who emailed, mailed, met with me, twittered or phoned me.  And  the delegations and the people at the meetings. Well over 600 emails. If I haven’t gotten back to you yet, be assured I will. Regional councillors answer their own email.  I have never had anywhere near the response I have had on this issue.  Most of the people who have contacted me are for LRT.

also went door to door during the past municipal election. I personally visited thousands of doors, as I always do.  There were people against LRT. A lot were against because they needed transit in their area. Which is why I support increased regular transit and would like to see more in the future. I will deal with cost later. There were also people for LRT.

Most people just had a lot of questions which I was pleased to answer. This I believe is what happened at our public meetings. People came with a lot of questions and our staff answered them.

The public have spoken and we’ve listened. However, listening does not necessarily mean doing what people ask. For some here tonight, I have listened but I have said No.

Light Rail Transit runs quietly on electricity. It doesn’t spew smog into our air. I hope in the future we can run the system on renewable energy.

With less staff and more passengers, it is more economical in the long run.

As the Chair of the Grand River Conservation Authority, I have been travelling from Cambridge to Waterloo in the rush hour.  There is more congestion in Cambridge than there is in KW. Could this be because more people ride transit in KW?  I’m glad we’re ramping up transit in Cambridge but we need to start stage 2, LRT to Cambridge as soon as possible.

No one has talked about jobs and the LRT. The province and the federal government have given us a jaw dropping amount of money. Why? To help Waterloo Region through the recession. Jobs have disappeared in our Region and most of them were to do with the car industry, particularly the automobiles that eat gas. We need to reinvent our economy again and LRT helps with this.

LRT is estimated to create up to 23,000 new permanent jobs in the station areas. Everything from flower shops to tech start-ups. This isn’t even including the jobs created building and running the LRT.

During the election, I stated that I wanted Bus Rapid Transit back on the table. I voted for that and it was done.

The public and myself had the chance of another look. Unfortunately, almost everyone has found it wanting. Those against The LRT, such as Taxpayers for sensible transit  are for abrt which is a souped up Ixpress that will still be caught in traffic.  All the problems people think exist for LRT, like its dedicated lane, are also part of BRT. And experience elsewhere shows that BRT quickly creates its own congestion.

My second request during the election was that staff bring a report on keeping the costs down. The other concern at the door. They have put in some cuts. But I am most pleased with Councillor Wideman’s amendment that reduces the tax increase to  .7%.  I said during the election that I did not want property tax to increase on the capital portion left over after the province and feds had put in their money. These reductions do this.

The City of Waterloo will finally get its due. Light Rail Transit benefits Waterloo the most.  It will develop our industrial area on Northfield and our R and T park. Waterloo is up to its borders and must intensify. LRT helps do this. The trains will transport our young professionals and university students. The Ixpress, number 9 and mainline 7 are jammed with passengers.

Uptown will have huge benefits from light rail. I wish I could show some of the pictures I have from downtowns around the world that have light rail. People cycling and walking beside the train. Even a fountain between one of the tracks. I wish you all could have travelled to Edmonton, Calgary and Portland, even  Switzerland years ago, as I have.

 Cars don’t shop, people shop.  I ride the bus (yes I use my car and transit) and many times I have come from the region, gotten off at Waterloo Square and done some shopping then hopped back on the bus and gone home or onto Conestoga Mall. I can even go up to the Market and the Outlet Mall in the same trip. Think of 450 people getting off the bus at Waterloo Square.

Waterloo Park will be fine. I have seen a picture of a train with grass growing through the track. People will be able to easily cross the tracks and our report talks about the sensitivity to the heritage of the park.

When the LRT phase one is finished, my new grandson will be around six years old. We will get on my number 9 bus, then onto the train and get off at Waterloo Park where we will visit the zoo and the Wonder of Winter Lights. Then we will head home the same way. He and his generation are the future.

I support LRT.