Transportation Improvement Evaluation Proposal
Addressing the Challenges of Transport in the GTHA
Some time back, Toronto was said to have the best transport system in Northern America. Today, that is not the case anymore as demand for transportation has increased in Toronto and Hamilton areas. Other developing activities have created the need to travel as people go to work, shopping, school, movies and so on. Transportation is a major problem for Toronto and the Hamilton areas today (National Research Council (U.S.), 2014, p. 2). Toronto notably has to improve the system in order to create space for riders and reduce overcrowding during peak hours.
There are many areas where Toronto can improve in order to make the transport system better. One major overhaul would be the establishment of light rail transit. Light rail transit has been beneficial to other big cities in the world with the same population as Toronto and would largely reduce crowding during rush hours. Under the Toronto Plan building a Hurontario- Main light rail transit will bring over twenty-two kilometres of transport linking Mississauga and Brampton. This project would bring faster transportation than bus services to the residents by installing over twenty stops and linking the existing transit ways of the region. The above proposal has been devised thanks to a thorough survey, interviews and phone calls to the transport authority in Toronto and assessment of the city's transport plan.
With the implementation of the above proposal, a series of benefits accrue to Toronto and Hamilton areas. Firstly, the travellers across the GTHA will experience a great reduction in congestion, as an improved light rail transit will reduce singly occupied vehicles on the roads. For a personal car owner, the maintenance costs will be significantly reduced over the long term.
For the environment, Canada generally has experienced an increasing rate of greenhouse gas emission. Cars and trucks are the major sources of air pollution hence the drive to install Light rail transit in the GTHA. These poisonous gases end up destroying the ambient air quality and lead to dangerous respiratory diseases to the Toronto population. Establishing the Hurontario- Main light rail transit will reduce the clogging of the atmosphere as it uses clean fuel. Improvement of other aspects of transportation especially light rail transit will reduce the need to increase and expand roads as it has a detrimental effect on natural landscapes.
Following the first establishment of the subway transportation system, houses were built in close proximity (Canada, 2006, p. 3). This shows that the society values accessibility as much as they value mobility. Establishment of the Hurontario- Main light rail transit will bring transport to the people. One of the objectives of travellers is to get to their destinations fast and safe. With the advent of autonomy, and the newly computerized light rail transit systems and installing security equipment will make people more comfortable while travelling.
The Toronto Transit Commission can form alliances with property owners and, for instance, increase land taxes in order to reduce the fares for using the Hurontario- Main light rail transit. Making transit transport more affordable would ensure that all residents across GTHA all enjoy the benefits. The fare system for Light rail transit could be reviewed to accommodate “Low income cut off” thereby making it the preferred means of transport across the GTHA.
The data for the report for the whole Hurontario- Main light rail transit report will be divided into primary and secondary sources. The primary sources to be consulted through interviews are the members of the Toronto Transit Commission, drafting a questionnaires for the residents of the Great Hamilton and Toronto areas to complete.
The national and local government plans of Canada’s transport network as a whole would provide sufficient knowledge of the finances to be pumped into the project and of alternative projects possibilities. For instance the CUTA ACTU magazine issues. Secondary sources for the report would be basing on review articles and critics online, historical films on Canada would show to what extent the residents need and improved Light Rail System.
In conducting the research, a blend of both qualitative and quantitative research methods would suffice. Qualitative research would enable the researcher to build a concise detailed description of the need to have the Hurontario- Main Light Rail Transit and benefits that the residents along the transit way get. On the other hand quantitative research will enable the researcher to develop statistical and forecasting models to evaluate the benefits of the project numerically.
References
Canada. (1996). Transport Canada action plan: Science and technology for the new century. Ottawa: Transport Canada.
Canada. (2006). The cost of urban congestion in Canada. Ottawa: Transport Canada, Environmental Affairs.
National Research Council (U.S.). (2014). Transit, 2014: Volume 5.
