June 24, 2005 Report

4.1 Goods Movement Study
(http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
committee-of-the-whole/2005/Jun24/PED05006%20Hamilton%20Goods
%20Movement%20Study%20Report%20FINAL.pdf)

All council is in attendance, and so too, unusually, are two MPP's, Ted McMeekin and Marie Boutrianni.

Presentation by IBI Consultants
The power point the consultant used in his presentation appeared to be different than the paper (copies of slides) handed out (there was reference to the study recommendations being in accord with the Province's Greenbelt initiative.which doesn't appear in the paper copy). The clue to this may be in the 'background' in the staff report: " Upon receipt of the first draft of the study, the steering committee (CN, CP and Rail America, port, airport, Hamilton economic and public works depts, HRDC, Transport Canada, Ont. EcDev.&Trade, and Mobile Canada') reconvened and reviewed the analysis and results and received a presentation by the consultants. The IBI Group was then instructed to revise the draft in accordance with the comments and directions of the committee."

Discussion (all answers by the head consultant unless otherwise stated) :

Collins:

- concern re there being no funding info included.

Answer : no specific projects yet - "all strategic and directional"

Collins:

- but there are funding implications of staff recommendation c) - ('That (city) staff.be directed to include, where possible, the Hamilton Goods Movement Study recommendations into the respective 2005 - 2006 work plans.')

-and study says Burlington street congested

Answer:

- implications for this for rail - crossing Burlington at two points.

Collins:

-re west end and truck connections to 403? (perimeter rd. being no longer an option).

-also study is in conflict with Downtown master transportation plan thrust re making roadways pedestrian friendly etc. how will this conflict be dealt with?

Answer:

-Red Hill expressway for trucks to go to 403.

Collins:

-also in conflict with Setting Sail re railway etc.

DiIanni

- "you've hit the nail on the head, there are conflicts.."

McHattie:

- no social or environmental issues represented

- no TBL (triple bottom line) approach being used - all three 'legs of the stool' are supposed to be applied to each study/initiative.

-example that applies to goods movement: air quality.smog day today!

-study conclusions conflicts with other city policies

Answer :

-consultant points out areas for possible improvements/changes (Portlands area, I think) saying this will get Hamilton "doing something economic, but also coming in by rail or some other mode, to be more environmentally friendly in terms of the output". He says that 'clusters' create higher 'productivity' in industry "so that the vehicles moving around are more full", which will impact emissions.

McHattie:

-what about increases in oil prices due to peak oil? Have you done research on this?

Answer :

-doesn't see the "trigger point" yet, so these implications are not covered in Study. (he mixes up Kyoto and emissions reductions with oil shortages due to peak oil in his answer)

McHattie:

-evidence that globalization has ended, re New Zealand etc, perhaps tied in with the price of oil.local production for local consumption is going to be more important.some of the predicted economic benefits of globalization haven't come about.where is all this reflected in the study?

Answer:

-'signs and portents may say so, but things keep going along' (as usual).

Kelly:

- put this in context - soc/enviro coming in further reports that will look at how to implement and Fed's and Province are producing companion pieces re moving people re mass transit etc, "this is not all". He comments about the financing issue and talks about working with the Gateway Council - "this is key"..etc.

Bratina:

- shouldn't we be asking questions of the consultant? (which was just what I was thinking)

DiIanni:

-Yes, but allow him to speak, he's getting there. You miss your talk show, don't you Councillor Kelly? (general laughter)

Kelly: " Be patient Councillor Bratina!" .the Gateway is unique (others only in Halifax and Vancouver ) - could the consultant expand on it?

Answer:

-set up to collaborate and "throw resources into major studies"

McCarthy:

-does the study "facilitate" the Mid Pen?

Answer:

-Mid Pen would be an additional advantage, but "we took a neutral posture" as it's a "moving target" right now.

McCarthy:

-concerned about financial implications, please give some idea of costs of endorsing (note, no staff from Finance Dept. in attendance)

Answer:

-there are operational cost implications - staff reallocating priorities

Bruckler:

- sees that the study identifies the 4 modes.and that Hamilton is a 'drive thru'.how can we be 'providers' rather than be driven by?

Answer:

(Consultant doesn't understand what he's getting at, at first, but Bruckler re-phrases) The data answers that.need to find out 'what's in the trucks' going by to answer properly.the cost of a survey to do this would be into the millions of dollars.

Braden:

- describe movement network with consideration of increasing gas cost scenario

Answer:

- labour shortages the first to come in before gas price pressure (re not enough truckers) "Richard Gilbert (?) was asked this.and he answered that there would be no effect at all, to industry.due to it being demand driven.if people can't afford the goods, then there will be a change".

Braden:

- Aerotropolis.what does it have going for it re goods movement?

Answer:

- Hamilton has the advantage of an airport.24/7 operation.

Braden:

- Rail.important to airport?

Answer:

- less so than in the east end

Braden:

- If you had a limited amount to spend, and you and your grandchildren lived here, where would you like to see it invested?

  Answer:

- East.port lands. .potential in airport is bigger (re employment?), so that's why we put in both.

Merulla:

- rail.can connections be built up again, in case of an 'emergency'.situation re gas? He wants to know the capital expenditure figures re rail, wants to see inclusion of this scenario.

Bratina:

-rail. (showed on map where there used to be a rail line to airport, but was taken out) CN guy he spoke to "saw no practical use for it and then he went on to get into the trucking business"

-"food miles".average piece of food moved 1000 miles (km?).and we have so much agricultural land in Hamilton

Answer:

- not in study

Bratina:

- 'just in time' delivery - gives example of guy he knows who trucks to steel plant - "we're subsidizing industry" re storage etc.

Answer:

- this is tied to reduction of inventories.need to create enough density - higher volume services.increase volume of 'traffic by the door' to take advantage of this

Bratina:

- was the loss of the perimeter road a mistake?

Answer:

- Red Hill expressway takes the pressure off the west end re this

Bratina reads out a sentence from the report.no answer.

DiIanni:

- also important to look at people movement

-this study a "good jumping off point"

-he tries to call the question

Ferguson :

- but where will it go from here, once approved."not in favour of studies".collect dust

DiIanni:

- staff (GRIDS, Master Transportation Plan) will have to take it into consideration

Mitchell:

- wants to see a truck route study (done?)

McHattie:

- concerned re item c) ('That (city) staff.be directed to include, where possible, the Hamilton Goods Movement Study recommendations into the respective 2005 - 2006 work plans.') .expansion of 403 implicates Cootes Paradise and the Escarpment

-also concerned re budget implications

Everson (Manager of Economic Development) replies re staff and affordability

Collins:

- "whole process is very subjective.uncomfortable with staff picking and choosing what they think is affordable. He wants staff to come back with a report of specific costs.

Everson:

- proposes an internal staff committee (GRIDS, Transportation Master Plan, EcDev., Public Works) to come back with details re this "in October".

Whitehead:

- this is just a "focus" piece.

DiIanni:

-. public works sub-committee.

McCarthy:

- agrees with Collins.wants analysis re staff time and hiring of new staff." 'beware the beginning of things' should be our motto"

Pearson:

- aren't work plans already in place?.can't these recommendations be "worked into" existing plans?

Everson:

- certainly we're not planning on "embarking on a new transportation corridor"

Bruckler:

- not concerned, but more detail would be welcome

Motion: Collins/Morelli re staff to report back with more details - CARRIED

Merulla:

- amendment to this?.add in study re establishing rail link to airport - CARRIED

End of this item