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Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 06:08:02 -0400
From: "Britton (EcoPlan Paris)" <ecoplan_the_commons at compuserve.com>
Subject: [sustran] transportation and economic development
To: "INTERNET:sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org" <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
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Tracey,
This should get you going. I share it with the others here as well, since it is, potentially, a most useful exercise. And once again relevant in the creative synthesis lines that I keep droning on about.
Eric Britton
From: Sue Zielinski, INTERNET:suez at web.net
RE: economic development report
Subject: economic development report
Hi Eric,
This is the report that was adopted by the Economic Development Committee of
City of Toronto, and sent on to City Council where it was also adopted. They
also recommended that we pursue an incubator for economic development in
sustainable tranpportation. This was a major coup to have the City formally
adopt such recommendations. We're hoping the symposium will stimulate all
sorts of stuff -- an economic development strategy as well as international
interchange on ec devel related to sus trans.
This is just for your info. Thought you might find it interesting. Cheers, Sue
****************
To: City of Toronto Economic Development Committee
Origin: Sustainable Transportation Economic Development
Initiative
Subject: Economic Opportunities in Sustainable
Transportation
Recommendations:
1. That this report and attachments be forwarded to City
Council for information.
2. That the Economic Development Division in conjunction
with the Toronto City Cycling Committee be asked to review
and report on future opportunities for co-operation with the
Sustainable Transportation Economic Development Initiative
in further developing economic development and employment
opportunities related to sustainable transportation in the City.
3. That the committee support the parallel proposal to Economic
Development for an International Symposium on Economic
and Employment Opportunities in Sustainable Transportation
in the Spring of 1997 (see attached proposal)
Background:
The recent Golden Report on the Greater Toronto Area found that:
... the region could save more than $12 billion in hard
infrastructure costs and maintenance over the next 25 years if
we were to adopt a more efficient, more compact pattern of
development. We could save an equivalent amount by cutting
back the additional costs associated with higher levels of land
consumption and automobile use. A conservative estimate of
the savings over the next two and a half decades is $700
million to $1 billion annually.
Moving towards and maintaining more compact patterns of
development and sustainable transportation not only represents
significant cost savings, it also represents considerable economic and
employment opportunities (see appendix #?)
The Sustainable Transportation Economic Development Initiative
works to identify and catalyse such opportunities. It brings together a
diversity of practical sustainable transportation economic devlopment
projects (see next page) and it provides a forum for developing a long
term strategy for economic development and job creation in
sustainable transportation.
Such a mix of practical economic development projects with long
range strategic planning has not occurred in any other city. STEDI's
phase one work in this area was recently presented as a paper to the
OECD International Conference on Sustainable Transportation and
was favourably received (as a positive model? how to phrase?).
While countless efforts exist worldwide to shift to more sustainable
transportation systems, seldom are these initiatives approached as
positive opportunities for innovation, economic wellbeing and job
creation.
Examples of such opportunities range from new products and
services to new technologies to new opportunities for construction,
design, education, and tourism related to sustainable transportation
(See appendix).
There are many advantages to an economic development approach to
sustainable transportation, including cost savings, import
replacement, local economic revitalization, increased tourism
opportunities and attractions, and increased safety and livability for
local residents. (see appendix)
The City of Toronto is in an ideal position to develop this positive,
cost-effective initiative for a number of reasons:
* the City of Toronto's compact urban form facilitates local economic
development and employment initiatives. This is illustrated by the
number of initiatives already underway (see next page). The fact that
only half of the City's downtown core residents own cars means that
Toronto is accustomed to providing a diverse range of transportation
options and has an opportunity to further develop these options and
economic development opportunities.
* the City of Toronto has an international reputation for its compact
urban form (or wise planning -- what word?) and for its provision of
a range of sustainable transportation options. The Toronto Transit
Commission has long been hailed as the best transit system in North
America, and the City of Toronto has recently been named best city
for cycling in North America. Toronto is also one of the most studied
cities because it works. This reputation also facilitates the export of
human capital to other cities that require expertise (I hate this word,
but I got this phrase from Peter Finestone -- let's talk about it)
* as a "mid-Northern" the City of Toronto is an ideal incubation
ground for innovation in sustainable transportation. Demand for
alternative forms of transportation is on the rise. Driven by increased
environmental and health concerns as well as rising car ownership
costs, Toronto has seen a dramatic upsurge in cycle commuting (75%
over the last 5 years). As well, an aging population is demanding
post-car modes of transportation, and the physically challenged are
also demanding new and innovative services and products to meet
their needs. Toronto currently finds itself at the leading edge of a
trend away from car dominated urban transportation which is poised
to cross North America. Concerted development and support in this
will see Toronto leading the way as a model for livable, economically
healthy cities.
* there is a growing niche. the human powered transportation sector
is big business in Toronto. In the GTA, over $56 million was spent
on bicycle repairs and accessories alone in 1991. Yet despite our
large market Toronto has very little manufacturing. Canada as a
whole imports ten times the number of bicycles it exports. This
disparity is beginning to be addressed in a small way by some small
businesses. There are currently more than 15 small to micro
enterprises in this sector in and around Toronto, and all of them are
less than five years old. They tend to be in a start-up position, and
need skills development, access to facitlities, public exposure, capital,
and support. Toronto is becoming a centre for the appropriate
transportation industry due to its large market, its availability of
small industrial space, and its skilled work force. Supporting these
strengths means that businesses will locate here (reword this) (see
appendix for just a few examples)
* many of these innovations can be easily and inexpensively
integrated into the current system (something that says we can go
ahead with this without having to destroy everything and build anew
for really expensive) a la Gerry Grant -- the ways we integrate
"competing" systems
Goals of STEDI:
It is the goal of the Sustainable Transportation Economic
Development Initiative to identify and develop these advantages by:
* catalysing and developing new job creation initiatives related to
sustainable transportation
* bringing together existing economic development initiatives related
to sustainable transportation
* identifying new opportunities for job creation and wealth creation
through provision of sustainable transportation options
* providing skills related to sustainable transportation related
economic development
* gathering, sharing and applying essential information
* establishing sustainable transportation as a focus for economic
growth, job training, local community economic development
initiatives, and intergovernmental and private sector co-operation
* providing affordable transportation options to all Torontonians and
visitors to Toronto
Current Active Partners in STEDI (order -- alpha or how?)
Toronto Centre for Appropriate Transportation
Detour Publications
Sustainable Transportation Skills Development Programme
Community Bicycle Network
Transportation Options
Green Tourism Partnerhship
Intersection
Bikes Mean Business Initiative
Toronto City Cycling Committee Bicycle Commuter Programme
- other? how to present?
- should we also list the people we've talked to, a la OECD paper or
would that take up too much room?
A Few Positive Examples of Current Activities
While there has not yet been a concerted effort to stimulate the
sectors listed on a large scale, the economic development work of a
number of Toronto based initiatives is breaking new ground in this
direction. The following are just a few of the initiatives currently
underway:
The Toronto Centre For Appropriate Transportation is
an incubator for sustainable transportation related invention,
design, manufacture, and co-marketing. It brings together
inventors, designers, business people and venture capitalists
to bring sustainable transportation product ideas from
conception to the market. It is currently conducting a search
for a larger space in which to house its diverse member
initiatives.
The Urban Green Tourism Partnership is a consortium of
over 150 businesses, government agencies and non-
governmental organizations dedicated to creating an urban
green tourism infrastructure for Metropolitan Toronto.
Having recently completed its business plan and feasibility
study, it has now begun its three major activities: Marketing
the green tourism product by linking diverse green tourism
initiatives; Business development and job creation in the
green tourism sector; greening of tourism practices on an
industry-wide basis.
Detour Publications is a publishing and distribution co-
operative for sustainable transportation books, magazines,
videos, resource kits, on-line resources, and products. It aims
to be an international clearing house of sustainable
transportation information, deriving economic sustainability
through sales and advertising.
CBN Delivery Project is a bicycle trailer rental and delivery
service which operates out of the Community Bicycle
Network. It works to stimulate human powered delivery and
service options among local businesses. Delivery businesses
and services range from cappucino delivery to condom sales
to Meals On Two Wheels for Shut-ins. The CBN also led the
M.O.B.I.L.E. job creation proposal (Making Opportunities
through Bicycle-related Innovations for Learning and
Employment).
The Skills Development Programme for Sustainable
Transportation is a partnerhship project that supports
individuals, communities, and organizations in gaining
business development skills, job skills, environmental
advocacy skills and life skills related to sustainable
transportation. A recent initiative by the Programme brought
together entreprenuers and innovators interested in starting up
their own sustainable transportation business. (need more
here)
- what else should we mention as examples?
Next Steps
STEDI has successfully completed its phase one project with the
assistance of $100,000 in funding from Jobs Ontario Community
Action, and other cash and in-kind contributions from a wide variety
of participants.
As it enters phase two, STEDI anticipates the following needs:
* in-kind support in the form of staff and other human resources, as
well as an ongoing relationship with the City to maintain and
increase contacts in this field
* cash support to support a symposium to further the dialogue. We
have recently submitted a proposal for an international symposium
on Economic Opportunities in Sustainable Transportation to be held
in the spring of 1996, which would have the purpose of focusing on
practical projects, long term strategies, and Toronto's role in making
this happen.
Appendix # 1 -- Economic Benefits of Sustainable Transportation
* Sustainable transportation saves money:
- new urban expressways can cost up to $100 million per
mile, whereas rail or bike facilities on average cost $15
million and $0.1 million respectively
* Sustainable transportation infrastructure often creates more jobs
and better jobs than automobiles do:
- a long range planning study by Montgomery County,
Maryland found that focussing most new urban growth in
pedestrian and bicycle friendly clusters along an expanded
rail and bus system and revising commuter subsidies to
discourage the use of cars would enable the county to double
its current number of jobs and households without
exacerbating traffic congestion (citation)
- a recent German study showed that highway construction
generates the fewest jobs of any public infrastructure
investment. Spending one billion Deutche Marks ($580
million) on highways yields onely 14,000 - 19,000 jobs
compared with about 22,000 jobs in railway tracks, or
23,000 in light rail construction (State of the World report,
1992)
* Sustainable transportation infrastructure often improves worker
productivity:
- a recent U.S. study looked at the impact of government
transport expenditures on worker productivity. A 10-year,
$100 billion increase in public transport spending was
estimated to boost worker output by $521 billion -- compared
with $237 billion for the same level of spending on highways.
Public transport investments began returning net benefits
nearly three times as quickly as highway expenditures
(Marcia Lowe, WW 118)
* Sustainable transportation is more likely to keep money local:
- a recent study by the Los Angeles Regional Transportation
Commission showed that 85 cents on every dollar that local
residents spend on gasoline leaves the regional economy,
much of it leaving the country as well. In contrast, out of
every dollar that buys a fare on public transport, an estimated
80 cnets goes toward transit workers' wages: Those 80 cents
then circulate in the local economy, generating more than
$3.80 in goods and services in the region (Marcia Lowe,
World Watch # 118)
- a Washington-based study found that for every dollar of
public spending on rebuilding and operating its transit
system, $3 would accrue to the state and the region as a direct
result of improved transport. The total economic impact,
indluding increases in business sales, jobs, personal income,
populations, and the accompanying rise in state and local tax
revenues, would be nine dollars for every dollar invested
(Marcia Lowe, World Watch # 118)
Appendix 1 Continued...
* Sustainable transportation stimulates retail sales:
- In a survey of 105 town centres worldwide, where auto
traffic has been restricted, the Organization for Economic Co-
operation and Development found that retail sales rose in half
the cities and fell in only two
Appendix # 2 -- Description of Sustainable Transportation
Appendix # 3 --
Practical Examples: Job Types Related To Infrastructure Shift
As the evidence suggests, a new infrastructure could provide as
many possibilities for job creation as there are possibilities for job
loss caused by global restructuring. Whatsmore, a locally based re-
infrastructuring not only means more jobs, but also has the potential
to increase employment equity through increased diversity and
flexibility of job options. In other words, re-infrastructuring our cities
and our economy would move us away from a tendency to
employment monoculture. The following is a list of possible jobs
generated by the creation and maintenance of a sustainable
transportation economy.
Technology for a Sustainable Infrastructure. Software design and
maintenance for trip reduction through telecommuting,
videoconferencing, IVHS applications to transit efficiency, road
pricing systems, car pooling and transit pooling databases, and
networking bulletin board systems; Signalling technology design for
transit, bicycle and walking priority; Alternative fuel and safety
systems for trains and transit vehicles
Research and Development for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Research and development of human powered transportation and
freight technologies; Economic, Social, and Transportation Policy
and Research; Academic and private sector research on sustainable
transportation in the fields of: Engineering; Planning; Architecture;
Urban Studies; Environmental Studies; Psychology; Social Studies.
Design for Sustainable Infrastructure. Sidewalk widening; street
design, traffic calming and bike lane design; Architechture and
retrofitting of auto infrastructure, and design of local depots; Train
and transit design; Bicycle Trailer and delivery vehicle design;
Designs for bicycle security; Transit route design; Bicycle
transportation fashion design.
Construction and Deconstruction of Sustainable Infrastructure.
Construction of traffic calming infrastructure and bike lanes and
facilities; Unpaving urban parking lots and unnecessary roads and
highways; Urban horticulture to infill old parking lots with food and
plant growth; Re-design of car-centred architecture; Secure bike
parking
Producing and Manufacturing for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Trains and Transit vehicles; Bicycle industry -- bicycles, delivery
vehicles, bike parking, and accessories; Concrete, bricks and cinder
blocks for widened sidewalks, bike lanes and street redesign; Bicycle
transportation fashion and accessory production
Services for Sustainable Infrastructure. Tourism: non motorized
tours; information / maps; historians / cultural experts;
Accompaniment and Delivery vehicle services for youth, aged,
disabled (meals on two wheels...); Car and van rental for heavy
hauls; Driver leasing for non-drivers; Bicycle Security; Bike & Blade
Retail, Repair and Rental; Bicycle and walking delivery; Bicycle
Lane Maintenance and clearing; Community bus or car pool drivers;
Car Use Reduction Program Planners and Company Transportation
Co-ordinators; Human Powered Vendors; Insurance
Phasing out and Cleaning Up of Unsustainable Infrastructure.
Transition Counselling for job transitions from auto and other
sectors; Car dependence counsellors; Programs to help people
embrace new options
Maintaining Sustainable Infrastructure. Transit vehicle, train, and
bicycle repair; Transportation co-ordinators; Transit and Train
operations; Car pool co-ordination; Neighbourhood transportation
managers; Telecommuting managers and co-ordinators; Community
organizing
Education and Communication for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Publishing: books, maps, magazines, information; Distribution;
Bicycle education and maintenance Courses; Bicycle events;
Teaching; Advertising sustainable transportation options.
Appendix # 4 -- Symposium Framework
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