As our urban centers continue to grow, future policies and program responses must address costs associated with highway and urban congestion, road construction, accidents, maintenance, etc. According to a 2006 study commissioned by Transport Canada, "the total annual cost of congestion (in 2002 dollars) ranges from $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion for the major urban areas in Canada. More than 90 percent of this cost represents the value of the time lost to auto travellers (drivers and their passengers) in congestion. The remainder represents the value of fuel consumed (around 7 percent) and GHG's emitted under congestion conditions (around 3 percent). The study estimates an increase of 1.2 to 1.4 megatonnes of GHG due to congestion every year". Clearly, commuter rail can play a role in alleviating congestion now and into the future.
Media Contact:
Mr. Paul Goyette
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Telephone: (613) 564-8097
PaulG@railcan.ca
To see the difference that you can make by shipping your freight with rail, we invite you to use the RAC's Rail Freight Greenhouse Gas Calculator, click here.
Locomotive Emissions Monitoring Program 2008
To learn more about LEM Program, click here.
There is growing interest to develop a document that positions the freight and passenger rail industry 20 years into the future. The project is entitled Rail 2030. The intent of this initiative is to investigate possible future scenario frameworks and develop recommendations, in partnership with government and other stakeholders, on issues common to all, which will benefit the Canadian economy... MORE >
