Transportation

Transit Vehicle Technology Review

A Non-Statutory Public Hearing was held on June 10, 2008 at City Council's Transportation and Public Works Committee on the Transit Vehicle Technology Review. This item was then referred to City Council without a Committee recommendation.

City Council considered the Administration's recommendations at their June 18, 2008 meeting. The following motion was passed by Council:

Moved: B. Anderson - J. Batty:

1. That the trolley system be phased out in 2009 and 2010.

2. That the purchase of 47 new hybrid buses, to be received in 2010, be approved with funding identified in the 2009–2011 capital budget process.

3. That the decommissioning of the remaining trolley infrastructure in 2010 be approved.

Carried

City Administration is currently putting together a process for decommissioning the trolley system per Council direction.

A Bit of History

On July 27, 2004 Edmonton City Council considered the issue of trolley operations in Edmonton. The following motions were passed:

That Edmonton Transit continue to operate trolleys until 2008.
That the Administration arrange to have a demonstration of low-floor trolley and hybrid buses to be utilized within the system for information gathering.
That expansion of the trolley fleet to Northgate be considered in the 2006 budget
That a report be provided to Council in 2008 regarding the continuation of the trolleys based on:

service levels, and
environmental concerns in light of the demonstration of low-floor trolley and hybrid buses, and other options.

During the 2006 City Council budget deliberations, December 7-9 and 12-15, 2005, Council discussed the Bus Trolley System Northgate Extension.

Councillor D. Theile moved:

That Project 06-66-1512 – Bus Trolley System Northgate Extension, in the amount of $2,800,000 be added to the funded capital plan in 2006, with funding from an increase in the tax levy.

With unanimous consent of Council, Councillor D. Thiele withdrew this amendment.

City of Edmonton tests Hybrid and Clean Diesel Buses

The Transit Vehicle Technology Review is an assessment of diesel/electric hybrid, modern trolley bus and modern diesel technologies. It provides recommendations for dealing with the existing trolley bus fleet as directed by City Council in 2004.

Transit Vehicle Technology Review Administrative Report

The City of Edmonton embarked on an evaluation of 13 vehicles including clean-diesel and hybrid buses, and a new trolley. All of the units were used in regular service and underwent special testing. The evaluation included purchase and operating costs, reliability, fuel efficiency, noise generation and environmental impact.

Dr. David Checkel Mechanical Engineering Vehicle Assessment:

Dr. Checkel Technical Comparison of In-Use Performance
Appendix A - Buses
Appendix B - Noise Test Report
Appendix C - Acceleration Tests
Appendix D - In-service Daily Records
Appendix E - In-use Data Acquisition
Appendix F - Emission Measurements
Appendix G - Life Cycle Emission Methods
Appendix H - Trolley Energy Factors

Booz Allen Hamilton, a technology consulting firm, report:

Booz Allen Hamilton Alternative Scenarios for Trolley Bus Replacement

Leger Marketing Public Involvement Process:

Leger Research report
Leger Stakeholder Workshop Agenda
Leger General Population Survey
Leger User Questionnaire

This project was managed by the City's Mobile Equipment Services Branch which looks after maintenance on City-owned vehicles, including the transit fleet. The testing supported EcoVision Edmonton®, City Council's vision for an environmentally sustainable city.

The City is committed to providing the best public transit possible while being environmentally and fiscally responsible.

For more information:

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