The Big Move
Encyclopedia
The Big Move is the regional transportation plan
(RTP) published by Metrolinx for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
(GTHA) in Ontario, Canada. It makes specific recommendations resulting from seven 'green papers' and two 'white papers' released for public discussion. A draft RTP was released alongside draft investment strategy in September 2008. After a series of stakeholder consultations and public meetings, the final RTP was approved and published by Metrolinx on November 28, 2008.
train, subway, light rail and bus rapid transit
projects proposed by the Government of Ontario
in its MoveOntario 2020
plan announced on June 15, 2007, and includes new projects to support them.
An initial stage of the RTP process was to release a series of 'green paper
s', documents covering key issues for the RTP. These green papers were developed and consulted upon in late 2007 and early 2008, with the purpose of presenting information on transportation trends, challenges and opportunities for the GTHA:
The next stage was the release of two white paper
s in May 2008. Paper 1 - Visions, Goals, and Objectives, presented the basis for the final RTP, with specific goals and objectives that could be used for its development and evaluation. A broader proposed vision for the entire system was also presented. Paper 2 - Preliminary Directions and Concepts, looked at various policies, programs and tools that could be utilized in the RTP. There were also various transportation system concepts that were modelled and evaluated based on resulting transit ridership, urban congestion, and the emission of greenhouse gas
and other air pollutants
.
A draft version of the Regional Transportation Plan was provided to Metrolinx on September 26, 2008. A final version was approved on November 27, 2008.
The GTHA is Canada's largest and fastest growing urban region, with a population forecast to grow by 2.6 million people by 2031. The region is becoming increasingly dependent and designed for automobiles, and traffic congestion
is already costing commuters and the economy billions of dollars every year. Nine individual local transit agencies and one regional transit agency exist, and are poorly integrated when one out of four trips crosses a regional boundary, making transit unattractive. Investment in transit has been relatively stagnant, causing roads, highways and transit vehicles to be crowded and pushed to the limit. In the face of climate change
, increasing energy costs, peak oil
, increasing urbanization, and an aging population, the RTP exists to alleviate these problems.
Transportation planning
Transportation planning is a field involved with the evaluation, assessment, design and siting of transportation facilities .-Models and Sustainability :...
(RTP) published by Metrolinx for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is composed of the metropolitan areas of the Canadian cities of Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. The GTHA includes the census metropolitan areas of Toronto, Hamilton and Oshawa....
(GTHA) in Ontario, Canada. It makes specific recommendations resulting from seven 'green papers' and two 'white papers' released for public discussion. A draft RTP was released alongside draft investment strategy in September 2008. After a series of stakeholder consultations and public meetings, the final RTP was approved and published by Metrolinx on November 28, 2008.
History
The Big Move was one of Metrolinx's first deliverables. The plan builds off of 52 GOGO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
train, subway, light rail and bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
projects proposed by the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
in its MoveOntario 2020
MoveOntario 2020
MoveOntario 2020 is a plan proposed by the Government of Ontario that would fund 52 rapid-transit projects throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in Ontario, Canada.-History:...
plan announced on June 15, 2007, and includes new projects to support them.
An initial stage of the RTP process was to release a series of 'green paper
Green paper
In the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland and the United States a green paper is a tentative government report of a proposal without any commitment to action; the first step in changing the law...
s', documents covering key issues for the RTP. These green papers were developed and consulted upon in late 2007 and early 2008, with the purpose of presenting information on transportation trends, challenges and opportunities for the GTHA:
- Paper 1: Towards Sustainable TransportationSustainable transportSustainable transport refers to any means of transport with low impact on the environment, and includes walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vehicles, CarSharing, and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-saving and promote healthy...
- Paper 2: Mobility Hubs
- Paper 3: Active Transportation
- Paper 4: Transportation Demand ManagementTransportation Demand ManagementTransportation demand management, traffic demand management or travel demand management is the application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand , or to redistribute this demand in space or in time.In transport as in any network, managing demand can be a cost-effective alternative to...
- Paper 5: Moving Goods and Services
- Paper 6: Roads and Highways
- Paper 7: Transit
The next stage was the release of two white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
s in May 2008. Paper 1 - Visions, Goals, and Objectives, presented the basis for the final RTP, with specific goals and objectives that could be used for its development and evaluation. A broader proposed vision for the entire system was also presented. Paper 2 - Preliminary Directions and Concepts, looked at various policies, programs and tools that could be utilized in the RTP. There were also various transportation system concepts that were modelled and evaluated based on resulting transit ridership, urban congestion, and the emission of greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
and other air pollutants
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
.
A draft version of the Regional Transportation Plan was provided to Metrolinx on September 26, 2008. A final version was approved on November 27, 2008.
Purpose
| Forecasted trends in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area* | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2031 | |
| Population | 6 million | 8.6 million |
| Automobile trips | 2 million | 3 million |
| Congestion costs to residents | $3.3 billion† | $7.8 billion |
| Congestion costs to economy | $2.7 billion† | $7.2 billion |
| * Increases in costs occur "under current trends", without implementing the RTP † Measurement actually taken in 2006. |
||
The GTHA is Canada's largest and fastest growing urban region, with a population forecast to grow by 2.6 million people by 2031. The region is becoming increasingly dependent and designed for automobiles, and traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
is already costing commuters and the economy billions of dollars every year. Nine individual local transit agencies and one regional transit agency exist, and are poorly integrated when one out of four trips crosses a regional boundary, making transit unattractive. Investment in transit has been relatively stagnant, causing roads, highways and transit vehicles to be crowded and pushed to the limit. In the face of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, increasing energy costs, peak oil
Peak oil
Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. This concept is based on the observed production rates of individual oil wells, projected reserves and the combined production rate of a field...
, increasing urbanization, and an aging population, the RTP exists to alleviate these problems.