Transport 2000 Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transport 2000 Canada is a non-profit, consumer-based organization that promotes sustainable transport through advocacy and education. It is concerned with all modes of public transport, such as passenger train service, aviation including air safety, and urban transit.

The association functions as a citizen-based advocacy group, compared to transport industry based bodies such as the Railway Association of Canada or the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

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[edit] Activities

The association regularly communicates with government and industry officials to promote sustainable transport views, including Transport Canada and elected officials of all government levels.

Canadian news media agencies frequently interview Transport 2000 Canada officials on transportation matters.

[edit] History

Transport 2000 Canada was founded in 1976, following concerns about the future of passenger trains in Canada. Passenger train service in Canada had declined in the latter 20th century as train routes were being eliminated by Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.

The association continued to monitor and address developments in the national passenger transportation system, especially since the 1978 formation of VIA Rail Canada to provide national passenger train service.

The association later formed its Air Passenger Safety Group, especially prompted by the September 1998 Swissair Flight 111 disaster off the Nova Scotia coastline.

Urban transit is an increasingly important topic addressed by the national and regional associations of Transport 2000 Canada. The organization's support for the O-Train pilot project was a significant factor in returning rail transit service to Ottawa in 2001. Transport 2000 has since been critical of the subsequent plans to develop the North-South Light Rail Transit line, citing the proposals to combine the downtown train with bus congestion, disruption to existing O-Train travel during the line's construction, and longer-term viability of the proposed North-South route.

National office facilities for Transport 2000 Canada are located in Ottawa, Ontario.

The association has been a contributor to the development of aviation regulation, particularly as it relates to airline passengers, though Transport Canada's Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (CARAC) process.

[edit] Organization

Transport 2000 Canada is composed as a federation of the following like-minded regional associations:

  • Transport 2000 Atlantic (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)
  • Transport 2000 British Columbia
  • Transport 2000 Ontario
  • Transport 2000 Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
  • Transport 2000 Quebec

[edit] Publications

Transport Action provides news and opinion on topical transportation matters. This is published by Transport 2000 Canada approximately six times per year, and primarily distributed to its members.

Members of Transport 2000 Canada are often members of one or more of the affiliated regional associations which often publish their own bulletins.

A bulletin of transport-related news is also produced on an approximately weekly basis. This "Hotline" is published on the association's official website.

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