P.E.I. P.T.C. E-News February 2007

1. Local

1.1 –Improving Transit Services For Islanders With Disabilities
1.2 -Province Funds Over Half a Million Dollars For Public Transit
1.3 -Public Transit Capital Trust Approves 3 New Projects

2. National

2.1 –Going Green: The City Of Hamilton Makes Its Largest Low-Emission
Bus Purchase Ever
2.2 -Cleaner Air For Saint John: Over $4.8 Million To Improve Public Transit
2.3 -New Buses for Whitehorse Thanks to Federal Funding of $1.24 Million
2.4 -Cleaner Air for Fredericton: $1.9 Million to Improve Public Transit
2.5 -Canada’s New Government Invests $37.5 Million Into Transit In Nova Scotia

3. International

3.1 -Ecuadorian City Winning Against Traffic, Pollution Problems
3.2 -Urbanization's Green Outgrowth



1.Local

1.1 Improving Transit Services For Islanders With Disabilities
Wednesday January 31, 2007
Autumn Tremere, Community and Cultural Affairs

Pat and the Elephant has unveiled the second of two new vans accessible to Islanders with disabilities. The vans were purchased thanks to $125,000 from the Government of Canada’s Public Transit Fund.
Pat and the Elephant now has two vans to provide transit services to users with disabilities in P.E.I. The two vans were purchased during the fall of 2006, and both were fully operational and on the roads of Prince Edward Island for the start of 2007. Pat and the Elephant is also receiving $125,000 from the Public Transit Capital Trust which will be used to purchase another two new specially equipped vans.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, noted, “By investing in helping Islanders with disabilities to use public transit, Canada’s New Government is delivering on our Budget 2006 commitment to provide Canadians with a healthy environment and a high quality of life. We are proud to provide this funding to support accessibility, a healthy environment and a higher quality of life.”
“Pat and the Elephant is committed to providing an excellent transportation service to people with a broad range of disabilities,” said Premier Pat Binns. “The province of P.E.I. is pleased to assist this wonderful organization, as it fulfills its commitment to provide reliable, accessible transportation to Islanders with mobility challenges.”
P.E.I. Infrastructure Minister, the Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, said: “I’m extremely proud that we as Islanders are recognizing and acting upon the need to continue to upgrade this service in our community for those with disabilities.”
The four vans feature hydraulic lifts, ramps, special tie-downs and seatbelts to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. The vehicles can hold up to three persons in wheelchairs and three passengers using regular seating. Services are available year round, from 7a.m. to 11 p.m.
“Being able to get from one place to another is important to Islanders with disabilities,” said Tom DeBlois, President of Pat and the Elephant. “The vans provide a safe, convenient way for Islanders in need to get around, especially in bad weather.”
Pat and the Elephant was founded by Patricia Rogers in 1975, Pat and the Elephant is a non-profit organization located in Queens County of Prince Edward Island. They are committed to providing an excellent transportation service to people with a broad range of disabilities by means of accessible vehicles with trained knowledgeable staff. They service individuals who are visually impaired, have artificial limbs, hearing impaired, and/or wheelchair mobile.
Their clients range in age from 16 months to 100 plus and are transported to locations such as daycare, school, university, the doctor’s clinic, the Seniors Active Living Centre, the grocery store, and to the homes of family and friends. For visitors to the province, Pat and the Elephant can do tours to any of the Island’s tourist attractions.
Pat and the Elephant clients are “People Going Places” and travel in specially-equipped vans with hydraulic lifts, ramps, special tie-downs, and seatbelts. A wheelchair can be provided, at no extra cost, to ensure all clients are able to complete their outings.
Prince Edward Island’s share of the federal Public Transit Fund is more than $1.7 million. This builds on Island infrastructure investments by Canada of $37.5 million through the Gas Tax Fund, $3.8 million through the Public Transit Capital Trust, $33 million through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and $98 million through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

1.2 Province Funds Over Half a Million Dollars For Public Transit
Friday, January 5, 2007
Autumn Tremere, Community and Cultural Affairs

Today the Hon. Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, was pleased to announce $530,000 in funding for the Charlottetown Transit System. This funding was made possible through the Public Transit Capital Trust Program.
“Public transit is a key feature of vibrant, liveable communities and our government recognizes the need to improve our transit system,” says Minister MacFadyen. “Charlottetown residents want reliable, sustainable public transit. Our government is very pleased to work with Island municipalities to ensure funding for these projects is forthcoming, today and for years to come.”
This funding will allow for the purchasing of one new transit bus, 11 bus shelters, modification to curbing and satellite terminals at two mall areas.
“As Mayor of the Capital City of Prince Edward Island, I am extremely pleased to accept this much-needed funding from our provincial government,” said Mayor Clifford Lee. “These new bus shelters will make waiting for buses much more comfortable. The new bus will replace the Caboose which is at the end of its service life.”
The Charlottetown Transit system runs Monday to Saturday from 6:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. within Charlottetown. For more information on bus schedules, contact: 902-566-9962. The transit system is an environmentally friendly means of transportation.
“This funding will help our capital city meet its objective and provide for a cleaner, healthier environment,” said Minister MacFadyen. “I look forward to our continued relationship with the Charlottetown Transit system.”


1.3 Public Transit Capital Trust Approves 3 New Projects
Wednesday January 31st, 2007
Autumn Tremere, Community and Cultural Affairs

The Honourable Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, today announced four new projects funded under the Public Transit Capital Trust (PTCT). The PTCT is federally-funded and administered by the Province of P.E.I.
Recipients of the funding include Transportation West Inc., Pat and the Elephant, P.E.I. Public Transit Coalition and the Towns of Cornwall and Stratford.
“Canada’s New Government is pleased to support initiatives that help disabled people enjoy mobility and all Islanders enjoy improved air quality,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
“The Province is pleased to work collaboratively with the federal and local governments on these projects which will have a direct impact on residents,” said Minister MacFadyen. “These projects will help to maintain vibrant communities in rural and urban areas of the province.”
The PTCT was created to support capital investments in public transit infrastructure, contributing to P.E.I.’s environmental goals. It was created in 2006 with a one-time $3.8 million contribution from the Government of Canada and is administered by the province of P.E.I.
Transportation West Inc. will receive $215,000 to replace two buses and one six-passenger van.
Transportation West Inc. is a community-driven organization providing transit services primarily for mobility-challenged residents in the Western P.E.I. region. “The current fleet is old,” said John Kenny, chairperson of Transportation West Inc. “The new vehicles will lower maintenance costs and improve dependability for our riders.”
“Transportation West is a vital part of our community,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Transportation and Public Works and MLA for District 27. “I am so pleased that our government is recognizing their contribution and providing this much needed funding.”
Transportation West Inc. is a not-for-profit, community-driven organization. It has been operating since 1999, serving those with needs in the West Prince area. Transportation West Inc. provides accessible transportation for people with special needs (debilitating conditions, seniors, and people who lack transportation) in the Western region of P.E.I. Transportation West covers approximately 300 square kilometers north and west of Harmony and Northam Roads.
Their service provides typically 40 to 50 passenger trips per day in their wheelchair accessible vehicles. However, Transportation West’s vehicles are aging and have become unreliable. Replacing the current fleet will allow Transportation West to continue offering dependable, cost-efficient transportation services to the residents of Western P.E.I., particularly those who require special attention and devices for safe travel.
For more information, contact John Kenny, Chairperson of Transportation West Inc., (902) 853-2069.

The PTCT is also funding two studies for the P.E.I. Public Transit Coalition and the Towns of Cornwall and Stratford.
The P.E.I. Public Transit Coalition will receive $125,000 to conduct a regional transit study. This study will include contracting a professional public transit consultancy firm to examine the viability and resources required to establish an Island-wide public transit system.
“The recent approval of resources to undertake a feasibility study into Island-wide public transit, through the Public Transit Trust program, is exciting,” says Public Transit Coalition outreach officer, Daniel McRae. “We believe this study will allow communities to develop a vision of how a local and across-Island transit system might improve rural residents access to community health and educational resources as well as job opportunities.”
The aerospace sector is also excited to hear about the approval of funding for the feasibility study. Willard Horne, Executive Director of the Aerospace Sector Council notes, “We feel strongly that a lack of affordable transportation acts as a significant employment barrier for many Islanders and creates recruiting challenges for employers, especially those with large seasonal fluctuations.”
The Towns of Cornwall and Stratford will partner for a Transit Feasibility Study, receiving $40,000 from the PTCT. These two towns are growing rapidly and through this funding the Towns of Cornwall and Stratford will commission a study to examine the necessity and the practicality of public transit systems.
“The Town of Stratford is very pleased to be receiving funding from the federal and provincial governments to carry out a transit study,” stated Kevin Jenkins, Mayor of the Town of Stratford. “The assessment of transit demand, and the examination of a range of options to meet that demand, will allow Council to make an informed decision on transit for our residents.”
Patrick MacFadyen, Mayor of the Town of Cornwall stated, “We are delighted that the federal and provincial governments are helping to move this initiative forward. Without their support a regional transit system would not be possible.”
The Town of Cornwall (2001 Census: population 4,412) and the Town of Stratford (2001 Census: population 6,314) are growing rapidly in relation to the rest of the province.
In recent years, the City of Charlottetown has established a transit system, which is delivered through a contract with private operator Trius Tours. Many residents of Stratford and Cornwall commute to Charlottetown to work and for personal business; therefore, the Towns of Cornwall and Stratford wish to see if there is validity in expanding a transit system to serve their residents.
The Towns of Cornwall and Stratford have commissioned a study to examine the feasibility of an expanded transit system. The study will be carried out as one study, but each Town will be examined independently and recommendations made for each.

2. National

2.1 Going Green: The City Of Hamilton Makes Its Largest Low-Emission
Bus Purchase Ever
February 5th, 2007
Infrastructure Canada

David Sweet, M.P. for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, together with Hamilton West MPP Judy Marsales, and His Worship Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton, today announced a major initiative to improve Hamiltonians’ bus service.
The City of Hamilton will use $6 million of its $79.6 million of the federal Gas Tax Fund allocation and $3.4 million of the provincial Gas Tax and Ontario Transit Vehicle Program (OTVP) funds to purchase a new fleet of 22 conventional low-emission diesel buses. The new low-emission diesel buses will go into service immediately.
“Transit projects are a clear priority for Canada’s New Government,” said Mr. Sweet. “This important investment will help meet transit infrastructure needs in the City of Hamilton, while delivering on the commitment of Canada’s New Government to cleaner air and an improved quality of life in our cities.”
“The McGuinty government has gotten transit back on track by making the largest investment in public transit in a decade,” said MPP Judy Marsales. “Since 2003, we invested $25.8 million in gas tax funds for City of Hamilton transit initiatives. Ontario gas tax funding means that more people who live and work in Hamilton are spending less time commuting.”
“Hamilton is very grateful to our provincial and federal partners,” said Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger. “Not only will this investment make public transit more attractive to new riders, with the introduction of these lower emission buses, this tripartite investment will continue to move Hamilton forward as a municipal leader in environmental stewardship.”
Through these kind of partnerships, all levels of government can work together to make our cities and communities better places to live.

2.2 Cleaner Air For Saint John: Over $4.8 Million To Improve Public Transit
January 15th, 2007
Infrastructure Canada

Rob Moore, M.P. for Fundy Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Roly MacIntyre, Minister of Supply and Services and Minister Responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, announced today that Saint John has received over $4.8 million to improve its public transit.
This federal funding is provided under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Fund. The agreement includes a five-year capital investment plan in which the City of Saint John will purchase 19 new buses and three new para transit buses. All of these new buses will be low-emission and wheel-chair accessible.
The City of Saint John expects ridership to increase by 500,000 by connecting the communities of Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield, Quispamsis and Hampton to its transit system. Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to drop by 1,500 metric tonnes and downtown traffic will decrease by 800 vehicles a day over the next five years. A new maintenance facility will be required to support expanded transit services.
“I am pleased to see federal public transit funds being used to help communities like Saint John to provide better services that encourage people to leave their cars at home,” said Mr. Moore. “Through public transit investments, Canada’s New Government is contributing to lowering business costs and making our communities more liveable and competitive.”
“The provincial government is a strong supporter of projects that benefit our environment,” Minister MacIntyre said. “More people in Saint John take the bus than in any other city of our province. Expanding the service to neighbouring communities will be of benefit to employers and will result in cleaner air for everyone who lives and works in Saint John.”
“Today's announcement is not only a win for Saint John; it is a win for the surrounding communities and a win for the environment,” said Mayor McFarlane. “I am very pleased to see the funding being invested into transportation that is accessible for all and environmentally responsible.”
A total of $9.4 million will be invested by the federal government in three New Brunswick communities through the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Funds. These investments will result in significant environmental benefits, such as cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The New Brunswick Department of Transportation assisted the preparation of the agreements, the preparation of the capital investment plans, and will assist in the development of transit strategies. The funds will be administered by the Regional Development Corporation.
Lowering transportation emissions contributes significantly to reductions in both greenhouse gases and smog. According to the Department of Transportation, about one-quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions in New Brunswick are caused by transportation. Of this amount, over 70 per cent arises from road transportation.

2.3 New Buses for Whitehorse Thanks to Federal Funding of $1.24 Million
December 18, 2006
Infrastructure Canada

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Glenn Hart, Minister of Community Services, and her Worship Bev Buckway, Mayor of Whitehorse, are proud to announce that Whitehorse is receiving four new wheelchair-accessible buses thanks, in large part, to a contribution of $1.24 million from the Government of Canada.
This money from the Public Transit Fund and the Public Transit Capital Trust paid for three new buses and the City contributed from its own capital reserves for a fourth bus. These new buses are low-floor, wheelchair-accessible, and also have features to monitor the bus operator's driving.
“By investing in public transit, Canada’s New Government is delivering on our Budget 2006 commitment to provide Canadians with a healthy environment and a high quality of life,” said Minster Cannon. “Public transit is a major force in helping to keep Canada’s cities liveable. In addition to environmental benefits, public transit investments also help support objectives such as social inclusion by contributing to the mobility of all residents.”
“We are proud to be assisting in the acquisition of modern, wheelchair accessible transit buses. The Government of Yukon is working hard with our federal and municipal partners to facilitate modernization of community infrastructure,” said Glenn Hart, Yukon Minister of Community Services. “We are especially supportive of this investment as it is both environmentally astute and supports making public transport available to all residents.”
Mayor Buckway said “The City of Whitehorse is very appreciative of the Public Transit Fund as it has allowed the acquisition of four new buses that will replace older units, and reduce operational costs while broadening the service availability to those who have not have been able to use the current buses.”

Canada’s New Government recognizes that improving public transit use can help reduce congestion in cities, lower emissions and make communities more liveable. That is why this Government has provided $1.3 billion in dedicated funding for public transit across Canada. Nationally, $900 million was provided through the Public Transit Capital Trust and $400 million was committed through the Public Transit Fund. The Yukon received $1.24 million from the Public Transit Capital Trust and the Public Transit Fund, targeted for existing transit systems.
As well, regular users of transit systems can benefit from a tax credit on the cost of their passes under another initiative of Canada’s New Government.

2.4 Cleaner Air for Fredericton: $1.9 Million to Improve Public Transit
December 1st, 2006
Infrastructure Canada

Mike Allen, M.P. for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Denis Landry, Minister of Transportation, announced today that Fredericton is receiving $1.9 million in federal funding to improve its public transit.
This federal funding is provided under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on Public Transit. The agreement includes a five-year capital investment plan in which the City of Fredericton will purchase 14 new buses and one para transit bus. These new buses will all be low-emission and wheel-chair accessible.
Mike Allen, M.P. for Tobique-Mactaquac, Fredericton City Councillor and Chair of the Transportation Committee, Marilyn Kerton, and the Honourable Denis Landry, Minister of Transportation at today's announcement.
These new buses will reduce the average age of the city’s bus fleet from nearly 16 years to 10 years. Ridership is projected to increase by 50,000 and greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 250 metric tonnes by 2010. The city also plans to expand its maintenance facility to accommodate the larger fleet.
“This contribution shows that Canada's New Government is helping to get things done for Fredericton,” said MP Allen. “Through public transit investments the Canada’s New Government is delivering on our Budget 2006 commitment to provide Canadians with a healthy environment, economic opportunities, a high quality of life and safety and security. ”
“New Brunswick is pleased to support this innovative vision for public transit. The provincial government is committed to environmental sustainability,” said Minister Landry. “All levels of government must work to encourage public awareness of the importance of sustainable transportation. Fleet renewal is key to retaining ridership and encouraging more New Brunswickers to take the bus.”
“This investment in our public transit system will allow us to renew our fleet with modern, accessible and more fuel-efficient buses,” said Mayor Woodside. “It also supports our “Active Transportation” initiative to provide alternate forms of transportation for our residents. ”
A total of $9.4 million will be invested in three New Brunswick communities through the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Funds. These investments will result in significant environmental benefits, such as cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The New Brunswick Department of Transportation assisted in the preparation of the agreements, the preparation of the capital investment plans, and will assist in the development of transit strategies. The funds will be administered by the Regional Development Corporation.
Lowering transportation emissions contributes significantly to reductions in both greenhouse gases and smog. According to the Department of Transportation, about one-quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions in New Brunswick are caused by transportation. Of this amount, over 70 per cent arises from road transportation.

2.5 Canada’s New Government Invests $37.5 Million Into Transit In Nova Scotia
November 24th, 2006

Eleven public transit systems in Nova Scotia will soon be improved thanks to the Government of Canada’s investment of $37.5 million.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
These investments towards public transit infrastructure will help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, as well as help to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Transit services that will benefit from the federal funding in public transit include Metro Transit in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), Cape Breton Transit (Cape Breton Regional Municipality – CBRM), Kings Transit (including Kings County and surrounding area) and eight other community transit organizations. Eligible capital investments may include the purchase of buses and accessible transit vehicles, the construction of new terminals and maintenance facilities, and the acquisition of improved computerized systems for transit services.
“Reliable and efficient public transit is key to ensuring environmentally sound, vibrant and healthy communities,” said Minister MacKay. “Canada’s new Government recognizes that improving public transit use can help reduce congestion, lower automobile emissions and make our communities more.”
“Today’s investments will help improve our public transit systems in both urban and rural Nova Scotian communities,” said Minister Muir. “They support healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities, as well as help protect our environment. They also reduce isolation through better access to employment, education, medical services, and community and social events.”
The funds include over $11.7 million from the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Funds, which was announced today, and $25.8 million to Nova Scotia through the federal Public Transit Capital Trust.
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations will administer the distribution of these funds primarily based on ridership. Public transit providers will likely receive funding before March 31, 2007.
“We are delighted that the Canadian government is investing in public transit systems throughout Nova Scotia,” said Russell Walker, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. “Larger transit services, which include HRM, Kings and CBRM, will be able to provide improved services, and rural communities will be able to enhance accessible services to seniors, persons with disabilities and the disadvantaged.”
Through Budget 2006, the Government of Canada has provided $1.3 billion in dedicated funding for public transit across Canada. Nationally, $900 million was provided through the Public Transit Capital Trust and $400 million was committed through the Public Transit Fund.

3. International

3.1 Ecuadorian City Winning Against Traffic, Pollution Problems
January 24th, 2007
By Alana Herro

Guayaquil, Ecuador, and its mayor, Jaime Nebot, received international recognition on January 22 for the successful introduction of the Metrovia bus rapid transit (BRT) system and other improvements to public space. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) honored Nebot and his city with the annual Sustainable Transport Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. “Mayor Nebot belongs to a new generation of bold mayors and governors around the world who are tackling seemingly intractable problems like traffic gridlock and air pollution—and winning,” said Walter Hook, executive director of ITDP and contributor to Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future.
To be an award recipient, cities must enhance their livability through reduced transport emissions and accidents as well as improve space for bicyclists and pedestrians or increase the mobility of the poor. According to ITDP, until recently public services for the 2.3 million residents of Guayaquil were at an all-time low. In 2006, Mayor Nebot officially opened the first 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of the Metrovia system, which not only allowed for the retirement of 500 of the city’s oldest, most polluting buses, but has reduced travel time for riders while offering high quality, safe service. Additionally, Nebot encouraged the revitalization of Guayaquil’s waterfront and Santa Ana district and celebrated the city’s first car-free day in September.
Seven other cities received honorable mention at the ceremony, including Hangzhou, China, for its development of a near-BRT system; Jakarta, Indonesia, for expanding its TransJakarta BRT system from one to three corridors; and Mexico City for introducing ultra-low sulfur diesel and the Metrobus BRT corridor. Last year, Mayor Myung-Bak Lee of Seoul, South Korea, received the Sustainable Transport Award for replacing a highway with a riverfront park and introducing exclusive median bus lanes.

3.2 Urbanization's Green Outgrowth
Friday, January 12th, 2007
Marcela Sanchez, Washington Post

Recycling didn't have a government program or environmental study behind it when I was a kid in Bogotá in the 1970s, it just happened. Every week, a wooden cart would appear in the street and we'd hear the cry -- botellas, frascos, papel! My mom would rush out with whatever bottles, jars and newspapers she had saved and exchange them for a few pesos with those Bogotános who eked out an existence in repurposed trash.
I didn't think much about it then but I realize now that this type of recycling was an adaptation, an innovation if you will, born from urbanization and poverty. Now, some 30 years later, these same circumstances writ large across the globe are demanding unprecedented innovations. Sometime next year the majority of the world's population will live in cities.
Some of the most aggressive responses to the challenges of urbanization are coming out of Latin America, a new report from the Worldwatch Institute suggests. "State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future," reveals Latin America as a "fascinating region that is inspiring imitation worldwide," according to Molly O'Meara Sheehan, the report's project director.
Not long ago, Loja, Ecuador, was a city afflicted by deforestation, pollution and uncontrollable sprawl. In the last decade, under the leadership of mayor Jose Bolivar Castillo, Loja has managed to transform itself into an "ecological and healthy city." Loja makes some serious demands on its citizens with tough land use and environmental protection policies. Among other things, the city requires developers to set aside 20 percent of the land for public space. The resulting parks and green spaces have improved water management and public health.
Loja's recycling program has an amazing 95 percent compliance rate while recycling "all organic waste and over 50 percent of the inorganic waste," according to the report. This is not achieved with polite reminders to recycle printed on cans and bottles or mere five-cent return deposits. The city will ultimately shut off your water if you don't comply.
Northeast of Loja, Bogotá, the urban capital of more than 7 million people, has been waging "the world's most aggressive campaign to recapture public space from private automobile users," according to Walter Hook of the New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. Bogotá, under then-mayor Enrique Penalosa, seized traffic lanes in major thoroughfares in the city for its bus rapid-transit system. The TransMilenio, modeled after a system developed in Curitiba, Brazil, in 1974, now transports 53,000 passengers per direction per hour, comparable to some of the world's largest metro rail systems.
Today Bogotános can cover in 30 minutes the same distance that used to take them an hour or more. Public space has also been transformed into new parks, pedestrian-only streets and miles of dedicated bike lanes that used to be the domain of automobiles.
Some of these innovations may in fact be coming to a city near you. Both Bogotá's and Curitiba's systems have been studied by cities throughout the world. The new TransJakarta system in Indonesia's capital is a direct replica of Bogotá's TransMilenio. And Los Angeles, the city known as much for traffic congestion as for Hollywood, has been developing its own system following the Brazilian example.
In describing all the physical changes -- the green spaces, the recycling programs and the transportation systems -- the report leaves you with the impression that there are civic leaders willing to fight urban blight and take on problems that are virtually ignored by lethargic national governments. They are not unlike the leaders in over 300 U.S. cities who have committed to reduce carbon emissions, even as the federal government blocks global agreements and other national responses to climate change.
These leaders see their cities as a source for solutions. Just as Curitiba's former mayor Jaime Lerner did when, in the 1970s, he pushed for innovations that are still worthy models today. Thus he continues to defy, as he wrote in a foreword to the Worldwatch Institute's report, those who think of cities as "hopeless places where a person cannot breathe, move, or live properly."
Perhaps too these innovations signal a democratization of quality of life, a realization that a happy life is not exclusive to a certain class but can be a reality to those most deprived -- many of whom live now in urban centers. Cities may in fact exacerbate poverty but at the very least they can provide, as Bogotá's Penalosa likes to say, public places where "everybody meets as equals."