Transit Form (Forum)

[drum118]

Ed Drass has asked a couple of us to do a write up on Transit Form as to what was discussed at April 2 Rocket Riders meeting and I am following up on it.

Ed wants to do a Transit Form where various people can put forth their vision what transit should look like not only in Toronto, but the GTA area.

This Form is to bring together various individual transit advocates as well as other groups to share their views as to where the GTTA should be heading, not what the politician think it should look like.

As to when to hold this Form, is open with one thought being that it should be held during Transportation Week in June or in September? Personally, I think it should be in September to allow more organizational time and it will be the home stretch for the November Municipality elections.
What day to hold the Form on is another issue, as some people want it to see it for the first thing in the morning, other at lunch time, others at night and others want it on the weekend? Again, personally this should be a weekend event as it gives a chance for all people to attend outside the Toronto area and how this Form is to be setup. Or, it will have to be an all day session during the week as there is no way you are going to get everything done in a couple of hours.

Rocket Riders and Transportation 2000 are to be co-sponsors of the Transit Form with some backing from Metro News. There is a need for more sponsors to help in the cost to put the Transit Form on.

Some people want to have free food there, as well as hands outs and making of displays. Also, to cover the cost of putting notices for the Transit Form in the various newspaper and posting notices of the Form throughout the city and the GTA.

There is suggestion that CAA be invited, but some people think CAA will highjack the Form to get their views up front and not the transit issue.

There are to be speakers who will be limited to 10-15 minutes in the morning and a breakout workshop in the afternoon as well during the morning session.

I have recommended that the Directors/CEO/Chair for HRS, MT, YRT, VIVA, BT, OT, Burlington, Durham, GO, MTO and TTC to speak on their vision for their systems and how they fit into the GTTA system. Also, all the city mayors are to be invited especially the Burlington Mayor as he wants the CEO position so badly that he is not running for re-elections this year.

Dalton McGuinty, Premier, Dwight Duncan Minister of Finance, Harinder Takhar Minister of Transportation, Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, John Tory Ontario PC leader and Howard Hampton Ontario NDP leader should be invited also as these are the people we need to get our message across too that we want more funding for better service and build the transit around transit riders needs first, not the other way around like it is today.

We need help with this Form and if you are willing to help to set up this Form drop either Ed or me an email and we will put you on the list.

I have spoken with Mississauga and they are prepared to participate in this event at this time. The one thing that was stated to me by Mississauga that *WE* as a group must gain the ear of the power brokers to get *OUR* voices heard and to be at the top of the stakeholder list for the GTTA.

Time to pull out those maps and ideas how we precede what transit should look like now as well as 50 years from now by put them on a large board that is to be put on display at Metro Hall when the Form is held.

We know where the Form is going to be held, what it should look like, but that is all we have at this time. Bring out your suggestions to the next Rocket Riders meeting on Tuesday May 2 at 6.30 at (?) along with what else is needed.

I think a few of us should speak at this Form and I am willing to standup and state where I see transit should be in the next 20-50 years like I have here. If you want to be put on the list as a speaker, lets us know.
This Form is a great media exposure venue to start to get our voices heard and a good opportunity to get media coverage.

If I have missed anything please post it.

David Fisher

 

[FutureMayor]

Re: GTA Transit Forum

I think it's a brilliant idea David.

I think it would be great to engage the average citizez in the GTA on the future of our transportation system.

I think this could only work if it was a FREE, day long forum in downtown Toronto open to the public.

As for inviting all the GTA transit agencies, the key is how to present all this information to the public and then have time for feedback and ideas.

I hesitate thought when you listed off the "powerbrokers" you are proposing to invite. As you know, politicans love photo opportunities, so I think you will get a few Mayor's, Minister and maybe the Premier out. While they are important, the focus should be on the average citizen and having their ideas and opinions heard.

By having an orgy of politicans there taking up speaking time, there may not be much of an opportunity. I suggest one keynote speaker for the forum and more time spent in smaller groups formulating ideas and solutions to our problems.

The public recommendations should be complied and then officially presented to stakeholders. You can revist the recommendations one year later and present some sort of "report card" on how far we have come into implementing those recommendations. It would be excellent way of holding politicans and the civil service accountable in public.

Just a few weeks ago the 4th annual GTA Transportation Summit took palce at the Delta Chelsea. The cost of registration was very expensive, and was targeted towards industry and government. However the summit had some major keynote speakers from transit agencies around the world.

Also, this July, CUTA is hosting the 3rd International Youth Summit on Sustainable Transporation in Montreal, which is a exactly like what you are proposing but is targeted to young people under the age of 24.

These two events are sponsored by major corporations like Bombardier, Siemens and 3M. I believe all those corporations would jump on board if this was pitched to them professional.

I would be willing to help with the logistical organization and sponsorship of this forum given my experience and background with conferences and events. However, I believe September is an unrealistic target time to organize a large forum in time. October/November might be more likely to organize this properly.

Louroz

 

[Antiloop33rpm]

I along with Louroz think this sounds like a good idea.

As for my own two cents. I think one of the most important aspects that should be focused on is keeping the information as accessable to the public as possible. Essentially this means not turning the meeting into a sort of transit geek get together but making sure that the information can be comprehended by most citizens. Likewise, when it comes to people presenting their ideas, there should be some effort made to ensure that those people who might not be life long transit enthusiasts feel comfortable presenting their own opinions.

One issue I always have with conferences/workshops/forums is structure and repeatition. I get frustrated when you get a series of speakers who's ideas really overlap and talk about a lot of the same issues over and over again. It can be rather boring and is not an efficient use of time either. Im not sure if any though has been given as too how the day will be approached but my suggestion would be ensuring that the topic is presented in a rather logical manner. Perhaps having speakers focus on a specific aspect of transit such as use through the eyes of a student, commuter, family, senior, teenager, etc. Or perhaps through its varied uses such as work, leisure, travel, daily errands, etc. Whatever the thread is there should be one that runs throughout the entire day and ensures that information being presented is not redundant.

In terms of speakers, your list is good so far. But I might also suggest looking outside the GTA if possible. Perhaps a mayor or transit commisioner from Montreal, Vancouver, New York or another large city too offer their own experiences with how they plan to address transit. I wouldnt put a politician near the top of my list either since there is often the chance they are only going to be spouting political rhetoric as opposed to interesting ideas. I would also add to the list of people to consider architects or urban planners. It would be good to have a perspective and opinion on how people and neighborhoods function in terms of getting to and from transit as well as the interaction that takes place at the stations or stops.

Thats all I really have to suggest. I wish you the best of luck with this event though.

 

[astObs]

This is great. We could hold it at the University of Toronto and save on some costs.

 

[drum118]

It is free and open to the public.

Metro Hall as well council chambers are free