Dale Bracewell

The City of Toronto to provide an update on improving road safety by retrofitting City fleet vehicles with Side Guards. News ReleaseNovember 19, 2024 Tomorrow, Mayor Olivia Chow will be joined by Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) and City of Toronto staff to provide an update on staff recommendations for the feasibility of side guards on City of Toronto heavy-duty vehicles.  Side guards are protective railings or bars mounted on the sides of large trucks between axles to help prevent individuals from being pulled under the wheels of a truck during a collision. Research indicates that side..... https://lnkd.in/gYhftdeK

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The Ontario government is considering bringing forward legislation that could prohibit the installation of bike lanes when lanes for motor vehicles are removed as a result, sources say. If true, this would be terrible for our cities. While some might need to drive, I can’t understand why people with alternatives would regularly want to drive into urban centres. There’s such a unique sense of freedom from walking and cycling on high quality active transit infrastructure through a city. More bike lanes!!! https://lnkd.in/eMgwwxC7

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🚂 Strike Or Lockout Deadline at CN And CPKC Extended to August 22   In a significant development for Canada’s transportation sector, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has moved the strike or lockout deadline at two of the country’s largest rail operators, CPKC and CN, to August 22. This decision comes amidst ongoing negotiations between the companies and their respective labor unions over worker conditions and pay. The extension provides additional time for both parties to reach an agreement and avoid potential disruptions in freight services across North America.   This situation directly relates to John S. James Co.'s clients who rely on customs brokerage or freight forwarding services. Any strike or lockout could impact cargo movement, leading to delays in shipments and increased logistical challenges. As a seasoned U.S. Customs Broker and Freight Forwarder with an extensive catalog of services, John S. James Co. is well-equipped to navigate these complexities.   John S. James Co.'s expertise in handling intricate customs regulations and providing efficient freight solutions positions it as an industry leader capable of mitigating potential disruptions caused by labor disputes like those faced by CN and CPKC.   For businesses seeking proactive measures during this uncertain period in transportation logistics, visit johnsjames.com for comprehensive support tailored to your needs.   #TransportationSector #LaborNegotiations #FreightForwarding #CustomsBrokerage #CN #CPKC #CanadaIndustrialRelationsBoard #August22Deadline #JohnSJamesCo #LogisticsSolutions #NorthAmericaTransport

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Public transit workers, post-pandemic growth in employment Transit worker numbers have been growing steadily in Canada, with some periods of rapid growth. Data obtained from Statistics Canada via Haver Analytics shows that the number of transit workers jumped by 55 percent from 2001 to 2005. The following 15 years witnessed another steady period of growth. The pandemic delivered a temporary pause in transit workers' growing strength, but the lull in growth lasted no longer than the pandemic. Since early 2022, Canada's transit worker numbers have grown by 14 percent.

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Has there been any consultation with any of the Supply Chain Leaders in Ontario? The mess on the highways is a bottle/queue issue. I do agree with the idea of going underground but not for the entire length, but rather certain stretches. For eg, the 401 around islington road where the express and collectors unite creating a bottle neck. Do the same for other bottlenecks throughout other parts of the highway infrastructure. (Eg westbound where the 403 diverges from the QEW in Burlington, reducing to 2 lanes but also meets up with 3, 407 lanes (in essence, 7 lanes, reduced to 2 into Hamilton). Also tossing it out there- variable speed limits during rush hour and during periods of poor weather. Use the electronic gantry signs along the highways for speed management. Eg My average speed along the QEW in the morning is about 45km an hour, this is a combination of driving at 110km/hr and sitting or rolling for a period of time. Setting the speed limit at say 80km during the rush hour should help with volume management and pace, relieving the bottlenecks of some pressure. Lastly— expand the GO (waiting patiently for the Grimsby GO station, I think the coming soon sign has just celebrated its 5th birthday!), get high speed rail running Windsor - Montreal. #supplychain

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Canada’s rail strike is on hold — at least for now. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is conducting a review to determine whether a strike would have “potential impacts to the health and safety of Canadians.” This impacts over 9,300 CN and CPKC workers who were set to walkout as soon as May 22nd. The union is pushing for better wages and schedules, while the railroads fear disruptions to the economy, and are naturally pushing for a swift resolution. However, some carriers are already making contingency plans in case the strike happens. #thefreightarchitects #jaguarfreight #logistics

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Rail strike update: the Minister of Labour has instructed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to investigate “potential impacts to the health and safety of Canadians” resulting from any strike action by CN and CPKC rail employees. Under the Canada Labour Code, the parties are forbidden from striking until the CIRB has completed its investigation. This means no strike action should occur until a ruling is made by the CIRB regarding whether certain rail operations deemed essential for the health and safety of Canadians must continue during any possible strike. While a strike was originally possible as soon as May 22, it is now unclear how long a decision from the CIRB may take. For the time being, rail operations will continue as usual. WTC is monitoring the situation and continues to have contingency plans in place. https://lnkd.in/gEyc5ET9

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We know there’s an urgent need for decarbonization in transportation but despite efforts at federal and provincial levels, challenges such as a lack of charging infrastructure, high energy costs and vehicle availability hinder zero-emission vehicle adoption. In this article published by the Transportation Association of Canada / Association des transports du Canada, Edward Stubbing demonstrates how we can accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles with better education, sound policy and strong public sector leadership.    Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-MCWiEP

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📣 The Call for Participation in the City of Toronto’s #Transportation #Innovation Challenge (TIC) #4 on Automated Enforcement is now Open!   Please visit toronto.ca/TIC for all information and to apply. Any questions can be directed to [email protected].   TIC#4 will focus on #AutomatedEnforcement of traffic violations, including ‘blocking the box’, prohibited intersection movements and illegal use of dedicated bus lanes, and possibly others.    ℹ Key info: Applications will be received up until December 2, 11:59 p.m. A virtual informational session will be held on November 19 for interested applicants. Selected participants will begin piloting their solutions for up to 6 months beginning in early 2025.  The goals of TIC#4 include assessing the state of technology, gathering data about violation frequency and informing next steps for the City.  The TIC is not a path to procurement nor is it a competition between applicants.

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⚠️ Heads up, shippers! A possible rail strike in Canada could impact supply chains. At UCanTrade, we're closely monitoring the situation to ensure that our clients are prepared for any disruptions. We are here to help you navigate any challenges! #Logistics #SupplyChain #CrossBorder

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MTSO is joining up with transit advocacy groups across the nation to host a week of action that unites riders and advocates to push for uniting to call for better funding for public transit! For Canada Transit Action Week, we are advocating for more funding to fill in significant gaps in the regional GO Transit bus network and to see it expand across Southern Ontario to serve new towns. This is done by implementing currently planned routes from the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan and adding new routes to serve new towns. Currently, some towns are reliant on infrequent buses, have no substantial transit routes, long travel times and/or require transfers to reach their destinations. For example, there are no direct trips between Cambridge and Guelph, forcing riders to transfer in Kitchener or Aberfoyle, which can lead to substantially more travel and transfer time. Additionally, GO buses that do stop in Cambridge are on the outskirts of the town, forcing another local bus connection instead of a one seat ride to destinations within the downtown. This may be the first time that transit riders groups across the country have come together for united action! There is also an opportunity to showcase images, quotes, and results of our collective action at the Transit for Tomorrow Summit in Ottawa on October 28th, with city mayors, provincial and federal decision makers in attendance. Public transit systems across Canada are facing funding challenges that could lead to service cuts and higher fares. This affects everyone’s ability to get where they need to go, on time — whether you are riding public transit or stuck in traffic congestion. It increases the cost of living by making fares more expensive or forcing people who can’t rely on transit to buy a car. Learn about Transit Action Week: https://lnkd.in/g5d38WxP Learn about our campaign to fill in the gaps of the GO Transit bus network: www.moretransit.ca #moretransitsouthernontario #metrolinx #gotransit #cambridge #guelph #transitactionweek

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The work stoppage at CN and CPKC rail will have an immediate impact on the domestic and North American automotive supply chain. The highly integrated North American auto industry depends on efficient and predictable rail service to deliver vehicle components, transport service parts, and deliver finished vehicles to domestic and international markets. This disruption will impact production schedules, jobs, finished vehicle inventories, and affordability for consumers. Over the longer term, increasingly frequent transportation disruptions are undermining Canada’s reputation as a reliable jurisdiction for the production and movement of goods. This damages our competitiveness for new job-creating automotive investment. https://lnkd.in/etWR2Xft

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Would you drive a low-speed electric minicar? They are four-wheeled, carry two to four passengers, and at max out at 40 km/h. The City of Toronto recently approved a pilot that allows these on streets with speed limits of up to 50 km/h. With the average price of cars up over 20% to $66,000, I believe this will be an attractive alternative for getting around the city, especially in colder months when cycling and walking are less feasible. However, this could worsen traffic congestion, as the average space required per vehicle is not significantly less than a full-sized vehicle. The city chose not to approve e-scooters (yet), which could have a bigger impact on congestion, but do introduce other issues such as sidewalk clutter and safety concerns. https://lnkd.in/gFymD-h5 #micromobility #transportation #ITS #smartcities

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No Mike we have not learned anything from Humboldt at all. There is zero appetite from this government with respect to fixing this issue, even if God forbid one of their family members were involved in a collision with an under trained commercial driver! No Mike, not even an event like that would soften them. I don't understand it. The people of the Province of Ontario deserve safe motorways and they deserve to be on public roads with commercial truck drivers that have earned the right to be on the road along side them and yet it is allowed to carry on unabated, week after week, month after month and year after year. The solution is simple. Raise the rates to re register a truck driving school and use the money to fund 6 MTO\OPP officers specially trained in the MELT standard along with equipment safety standards. Equip them with knowledge, training, a badge, a gun and hand cuffs and where they see violations let them start writing tickets or at the extreme, start pulling plates and CVOR's. But it wont happen Mike. I dont know why but it wont ever happen. The only thing we can do is support the schools that have chosen to uphold the values that the Provinces Class A Training Standard was built on.

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Every year the Transportation Association of Canada / Association des transports du Canada Association of Canada coordinates the largest gathering of transportation professionals in the country with the aim to support innovation and sustainability within the industry. TAC By the Numbers: · 1500 attendees · 300 presenters · 100+ technical sessions · 4 levels of government This week's conference in Vancouver, BC did not disappoint. People learned about emerging trends in technology, innovative strategies and best practices that continue to move us forward with Transportation and Technology. If you missed connecting with one of our CIMA+ experts, learn more about CIMA+’s transportation solutions for today and tomorrow here: https://lnkd.in/evHRUuUh Our CIMA+ Team included: Anaïssia Franca, Soroush Salek, Jeff Suggett, René Rosvold, Matt Colwill, Philip Weber, Ali Hadayeghi, P.Eng, PhD, Dominique Brault ing. ENV SP, Andrew Beal, Eric Bertrand and Eric Lévesque, ing., M. Sc. Looking forward to connecting again next year in Quebec City. #EngineeringForPeople #Transportation #TAC2024 #TransportationElectrification #Mobility

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Public transit projects across Nova Scotia received federal funding recently. On Dec. 12, Central Nova MP Sean Fraser announced more than $2.7 million in funding through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF) to support 12 rural transit projects in the province. The federal government said the projects include improvements to rural transit services, new vehicles, and supporting infrastructure including bus shelters and stops and charging infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles. For Victoria County Transit, the funding will allow for the purchase three vehicles – two hybrid, one electric - for the pre-booked door-to-door dial-a-ride service in the Municipality of the County of Victoria, the federal government said. Fraser also highlighted that new funding opportunities available for communities around the country under the capital project streams of the Rural Transit Solutions Fund and the Active Transportation Fund. "Public transit is an invaluable part of people's lives,” Fraser noted. “Our announcement today is one example of the investments we're making to improve existing services while planning for the future needs of our communities here at home in Nova Scotia." #rtsf #publictransit #cptf #vct

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The Government of Canada launched the new Canada Public Transit Fund to provide stable funding for municipalities, transit authorities and other groups, equipping them with resources to effectively plan and implement key public transit projects across Canada. Federal investments in public transit will be delivered through: 1) Metro-Region Agreements: Supporting metropolitan regions’ future transit projects and the expansion or improvement of large urban transit systems that many Canadians depend on every day. 2) Baseline Funding: Offering predictable, long-term funding to communities to enhance and maintain existing transit systems, with a focus on expansions and upgrades in public transit and active transportation. 3) Targeted Funding: Providing flexible, targeted funding for specific projects, communities and regions. Investing in public transit leads to cleaner, more affordable transportation options in communities across Canada. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eF8F_HdT Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Federation of Canadian Municipalities Canadian Urban Institute (CUI)

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Railway workers at CN and CPKC have vote to reauthorize a Canada-wide railway strike. Manufacturers remain hopeful that the parties can come to a negotiated agreement and avoid a stoppage In the meantime, industry awaits a decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board that once issued, may pave the way for workers to go on strike.   Rail is critical infrastructure Canadians – and our communities – cannot go without. In a recent cross-Canada survey, 2/3rds of manufacturers indicate that a shutdown would have significant or severe consequences on their operations. Given manufacturing exports, an estimated $551M+ dollars in goods would not be moving on rail lines for each day of a strike.   Canada cannot afford a class 1 railway shutdown.

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https://lnkd.in/ggG9CG8W Is there another jurisdiction anywhere whose thinking is so fundamentally flawed as Ontario’s? Doug Ford - You don’t reduce congestion by increasing road capacity! You reduce it by investing in other modes (cycling, walking, transit) to make them more attractive and by making driving less atractive - fuel taxes, congestion pricing, parking charges. That’s it.

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