The Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program was created by Transport Canada in 1999 as part of the department’s first Sustainable Development Strategy. MOST offers financial support for demonstration, research, education, and pilot projects that lead to new sustainable transportation options for Canadians. While a number of projects are national, many are small and respond to local challenges at the grass roots level. These projects are building a foundation for more sustainable transportation in Canada – community by community.
Over 55 cost-effective and innovative projects have been supported by the MOST program since 1999 – in all regions of the country with many different non-government partners. The projects have been varied in scope – touching different aspects of the transportation system and harnessing new technologies and approaches to transportation. The private sector is increasingly an active partner in efforts to reduce congestion to help enhance productivity. Schools are addressing the safety and health concerns of Canadian children by making it easier for students to walk to school. Professional associations are researching and establishing new guidelines to incorporate sustainability in their sectors. Youth are increasingly educated and informed on sustainability issues, and taking on leadership roles in their communities. The Canadian not-for-profit sector continues to implement innovative projects in collaboration with their networks of volunteers and partners.
The purpose of this first annual review is to highlight the results, achievements and lessons learned for projects that were completed in 2003 as well as to provide general information on the program and other MOST supported initiatives that are currently underway. All participants in the MOST program must measure the impact of their project to the extent possible and share information on how they implemented their project with a candid assessment of what worked well and what they would do differently. Direct links to the project web sites to access more detailed information are provided in this review.
As MOST only provides funding to cover up to 50% of project costs, there are many other contributors working with us to support on-the-ground sustainable transportation projects across Canada. They include other levels of government, foundations, private sector partnerships, transportation experts and academic and other institutions. Transport Canada commends all of these partners for their leadership and commitment to sustainable transportation.
Transport Canada would also like to recognize the important contribution of the program’s external Advisory Committee. This committee has reviewed and evaluated over 200 projects against the selection criteria, made suggestions on how selected projects might improve their results, and provided valuable advice on overall program direction. We are grateful for their ongoing efforts to help this program achieve its goals.
Transport Canada is committed to working in partnerships with Canadians to achieve a more sustainable transportation system – one that is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible. Supporting grass-roots sustainable transportation initiatives is one way that the department works to achieve this.
We encourage you to let us know your views on this first annual review of the MOST program and more broadly on the program itself. Visit the MOST website at: www.tc.gc.ca/most or e-mail us at most-srtd@tc.gc.ca.
Transport Canada launched the Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program in 1999 to support projects that promote the education, awareness, and analytical tools needed to make sustainable transportation a reality.
The MOST program helps make sustainable transportation a practical option for Canadians.
MOST has three major goals:
In 2003 the quality of submissions continued to increase and the program achieved a more balanced regional distribution.
As of January 2004, 29 projects have been approved in Phase II of the program in five project categories:
Six of these projects have completed their final reports:
Since 1999 MOST has funded environmental groups, community associations, academic institutions, and business and professional associations to help them conduct projects that deliver concrete results.
MOST was initially created through a commitment in Transport Canada’s Sustainable Development Strategy, first tabled in 1997. The program was evaluated and renewed in 2001 for an additional 5-year period (Phase II).
MOST supports projects that produce the kinds of education, awareness, and analytical tools needed to make sustainable transportation a viable option for Canadians.
MOST funds projects that (1) provide Canadians with practical information and tools to better understand sustainable transportation issues, (2) encourage the creation of innovative ways to promote sustainable transportation, and (3) achieve quantifiable environmental and sustainable development benefits.
GPI Atlantic is developing sustainable transportation indicators for Nova Scotia.
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association is demonstrating the environmental advantages of using ethanol-diesel through the largest e-diesel project in the world.
Proposals must meet five criteria to be eligible for program funding:
This 'Walking School Bus' at Ashley Oaks Elementary School in London is one of the solutions promoted by the Active and Safe Routes to School Project.
Transport Canada first determines the eligibility of proposals using the criteria above. Then it evaluates the relative strengths of eligible proposals using the following criteria:
Michael Holroyd at the Clean Air Champions launch.
MOST relies on an independent multi-stakeholder advisory committee to recommend which projects should receive funding and the amount of each contribution. The recommendations go to the Director General of the Environmental Affairs Directorate at Transport Canada, who has the final decision-making authority.
DESCRIPTIONS OF PROJECT CATEGORIES
At the beginning of 2003, 29 MOST projects were underway in five project categories:
Vélo Québec is hosting technical workshops for municipalities across Canada on the development of cycling infrastructure.
DESCRIPTIONS OF ONGOING PROJECTS
The following is a summary of the 23 MOST projects that were still ongoing at the end of 2003. Another six projects were completed during the year. They are discussed separately in the next section of this report. For more detailed information on these projects, please visit: www.tc.gc.ca/most.
|
Lead Organization |
Project Name, Funding Provided |
What Project Is Doing |
|---|---|---|
| Bathurst Sustainable Development |
Addressing Climate Change in the City of Bathurst, New Brunswick - Feasibility Study ($30,000) |
Determining the feasibility of implementing a local transit system |
| The Centre for Landscape Research (University of Toronto) | Circulation City: Research on Mobility in the Greater Toronto Area ($30,000) | Researching new strategies for relieving gridlock |
| Environment Hamilton | Transit Neighbourhoods for Hamilton: Towards a Neighbour-hood Transit Pass ($30,660) | Establishing a network of transit users and an innovative transit pass program |
| GPI Atlantic | Genuine Progress Indicators of Sustainable Transportation for Nova Scotia ($35,000) | Developing provincial indicators of sustainable transportation that enable intermodal comparisons |
|
Lead Organization |
Project Name, Funding Provided |
What Project Is Doing |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers | Site Plan Review Guidelines for Promotion of Alternative Transportation Modes Project ($20,000) | Developing a guide on how to implement sustainable transportation through site design |
| Centre de gestion des déplacements du Centre-ville de Montréal | Déploiement de programmes Allego au Centre-ville de Montréal ($25,000) | Engaging large employers to help reduce employee and client trips |
| Communications Tour du lac inc. | Vertigogogo - Phase 1 ($25,000) | Supporting carpooling among touring cyclists |
| Greenest City | Active and Safe Routes to School ($20,000) | Supporting community programs throughout Ontario and developing a "Walking School Bus" toolkit |
| Smart Growth B.C. | SmartGrowth on the Ground ($75,000) | Working with communities to implement neighbourhood-based sustainable transportation |
| The Toronto Christian Resource Centre | Expanding CBN (Community Bicycle Network) BikeShare ($25,000) | Expanding the Bikeshare program, improving connections between transit and BikeShare, and promoting cycling |
| Whale Lake Research Institute | Bus Route Finder: An Automated Route Finding System for Sustainable Public Transportation ($20,000) | Designing a web-based trip-planning tool for transit users |
|
Lead Organization |
Project Name, Funding Provided |
What Project Is Doing |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Clean Air Strategic Alliance | Diesel Particulate Filter Demonstration Project ($45,000) | Evaluating the effectiveness of a new filter technology and its feasibility for use in urban transit |
| Canadian Renewable Fuels Association | E-Buses: A Project for Greening Urban Transit Fleets ($50,000) | Demonstrating the environmental advantages of using ethanol-diesel |
| Clean Air Champions | Clean Air Achievers ($60,000) | Motivating youth to adopt more active lifestyles |
| The Environmental Youth Alliance | The Biodiesel Project ($50,000) | Developing a non-profit venture to promote and supply biodiesel fuel in the Vancouver area |
| Greenest City | School Walking Routes Pilot Project ($19,990) | Expanding the Toronto pilot to other Ontario jurisdictions and installing walking route signs |
|
Lead Organization |
Project Name, Funding Provided |
What Project Is Doing |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Urban Transit Association |
International Youth Summit on Sustainable Urban Transportation -Youth on the Move ($45,000) |
Bringing together 80 young Canadians and participants from around the globe to identify and put into action sustainable transportation solutions |
| Smart Growth B.C. | Tillicum Burnside Urban Village Community Roundtable ($20,000) | Planning a more pedestrian-and bicycle-friendly intersection and neighbourhood, with future potential for transit |
| Vélo Québec | Villes cyclables, villes durables! ($30,000) | Hosting workshops for municipalities across Canada on technical guidelines for developing cycling infrastructure |
|
Lead Organization |
Project Name, Funding Provided |
What Project Is Doing |
|---|---|---|
| Better Environmentally Sound Transportation | Idle-Free Workplaces ($26,000) | Promoting idle-free fleet policies with employers and educational institutions |
| Équiterre | Campagne de marketing social sur le Cocktail transport ($35,000) | Initiating a social marketing campaign to reduce car use by 19-25 years-olds |
| Science West | Getting Around: A Driving Force for Change ($25,000) | Creating a website that examines future fuel scenarios and challenges students to make a difference in their communities |
| Université de Moncton | Lâche la pédale! Vers des citoyens auto-sages ($25,000) | Promoting sustainable driving practices through popular education |
During 2003, six projects funded under Phase II of MOST completed their final reporting. Below is a summary of the completed projects and their results.
For short descriptions of the other Phase II projects underway, see 'Ongoing Projects'.
THE SHELTAIR GROUP
CITIESPLUS - SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION COMPONENT
Project Category: Tools and Practices
citiesPLUS won first place in the International Competition for Sustainable Urban System Design.
"This award reflects and strengthens the ability of Canadians to demonstrate leadership in the rapidly growing international market for expertise in urban sustainability."
"We are looking forward to applying the results of this process to our own continuing efforts to enhance the liveability and environmental quality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD)."
Ken Cameron, Manager of Policy and Planning for the GVRD
All too often, community planning based on short-term considerations fails to create transportation systems that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable in the longer term. In January 2002 the Greater Vancouver Regional District began an innovative project to develop a 100-year sustainability plan, called Cities Planning for Long-Term Urban Sustainability, or citiesPLUS. The transportation component of this project included modelling current conditions and projections for long-term trends.
Overall, citiesPLUS involved 500 experts and participants from 30 cities across Canada. The two-year exercise culminated in the Canadian team winning the Grand Prix at the International Competition for Sustainable Urban System Design in Tokyo in June 2003.
Since the competition, the citiesPLUS legacy has continued through professional development workshops and a network of cities and communities that are sharing their knowledge about integrated long-term planning for sustainability. Participating cities will document and exchange their experiences and tools through a web-based network, as well as by meeting face to face every two years and reporting on learning at international events.
POLLUTION PROBE
S-M-A-R-T MOVEMENT PROGRAM
Project Category: Demonstration Pilot Projects
S-M-A-R-T recruited five large organizations to pilot its program for reducing workplace trips:
Employees at two of these organizations have already reduced the air pollutants they release by 380,000 kilograms a year.
The workplace is a key setting for getting people involved in sustainable transportation, yet few Canadian organizations offer support for alternative transportation options. Pollution Probe’s S-M-A-R-T (Save Money and the Air by Reducing Trips) Movement program helps workplaces reduce their employees’ solo car trips by providing valid alternatives.
Pollution Probe piloted this flexible program with five large organizations. An easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidebook, posted on Pollution Probe’s website, makes the program simple to implement. Pollution Probe also has an in-house coordinator available as an additional resource for participating companies.
Here are some results to date:
PEMBINA INSTITUTE FOR APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION EDUCATION PROJECT (STEP)
Project Category: Education and Outreach
STEP's curriculum development workshops were very popular, some overflowing with participants. To date, 20,000 people have downloaded material from the program's re-energy.ca website
Teachers want to give their students stimulating information and are always looking for new resources. Through the STEP project, the Pembina Institute has created a website to tell students and teachers more about the environmental impacts of current transportation options.
The site, re-energy.ca, features a backgrounder on sustainable transportation with accompanying classroom activities. Students use the backgrounder to explore the environmental and social impacts of transportation. Then, in groups, they research and present information on the best routes and ways of commuting from a certain location to the city centre. Students can do this for their own city or for one close by.
The solar car poster, another feature of the site, highlights exciting new transportation options. Students can use the construction plans on the poster to build a model solar car.
re-energy.ca connects transportation issues with the core curriculum for secondary science programs across Canada. It also provides links that highlight other environmental impacts related to energy use and presents future trends in harnessing renewable energy.
re-energy.ca has proven to be a popular educational tool. To date, 20,000 people have downloaded material from the site. Survey results show that participating classes have a greater understanding of the principles of renewable and sustainable energy technologies.
MOVING THE ECONOMY
NEW MOBILITY INDUSTRY FORUM
Project Category: Workshops and Conferences
Funding Provided: $20,000
A region needs a good transportation system to attract new investment. Traffic congestion brings with it financial and other costs. “New mobility,” on the other hand – the concept of innovative, diversified, integrated transportation systems and services – brings entrepreneurial opportunities.
Congestion, emissions, climate change, and health concerns were among the issues addressed at the New Mobility Industry Forum in June 2003. Organized by Moving the Economy, this forum invited the private and public sectors to develop innovative solutions to transportation problems. Here are some highlights:
Written evaluations of the forum called overwhelmingly for an annual or biannual conference, as well as a program of industry-specific working sessions throughout the year.
The New Mobility Industry Forum led to industry partnerships that support the sharing of news, tools, and ideas that improves sustainable development practices.
"This is a very successful conference that gathered lots of useful information and government involvement. It will be extremely helpful in bridging between private sector and government needs."
Xinhang Shen, NAC Geographic Products Inc.
"The program was outstanding, and the picture of the future was outlined with great projects and colourful and informative speakers."
Janos Radics, Aboard Seaflight Hydrofoils
CLEAN AIR CHAMPIONS
NATIONAL ROLL-OUT
Project Category: Demonstration Pilot ProjectsThe health benefits of sustainable transportation can be one of the greatest motivators for individuals to take action. The Clean Air Champions project works with some of Canada's top Olympic, Paralympic, and national team athletes to encourage Canadians to adopt practices and lifestyles that benefit both the environment and their own health.
By the end of 2003, Clean Air Champions had seen the following results:
Clean Air Champions registered in 2003:
CANADIAN URBAN TRANSIT ASSOCIATION (CUTA)
VIP – VISIBILITY, IMAGE AND POSITIONING
Project Category: Education and Outreach Programs
Funding Provided: $30,000
Project Website: www.cutaactu.ca
CUTA's VIP program increased Canadians' awareness of and support for sustainable transportation options.
For communities to realize their full potential, it is critical that residents support and use public transit. CUTA's two-year national program used issue papers, the Internet, workshops, and media advertising to inform Canadians about transit, improve their perceptions of it, and thus encourage its use.
In 2003 CUTA surveyed 1,840 adults across Canada to measure recall of its ads and perception of the value and benefits of public transit:
The purchase of over 57 million television advertising impressions among adults over 35 meant that each person saw CUTA’s commercial supporting public transit an average of four times in 2003.
Some 120 stakeholders attended CUTA’s advocacy workshops in seven Canadian cities. As well, the program reached at least 10,000 people with its issue papers, each of which focused in depth on a single transit-related topic. For example, “Transit Means Business” looked at the economic benefits of investments in transit, as well as spin-off investments by third parties such as land developers.
The quality of submissions to MOST has improved in Phase II. There has been a corresponding decrease in ineligible funding requests (3% in Phase II compared with 13% in Phase I).
Diesel Particulate Filter Demonstration Project, Alberta
In Phase I of the program, 88% of projects funded were initiated in three provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. The remaining 12% were funded in two provinces: Alberta and Nova Scotia.
In Phase II, a commitment was made to improve the regional balance of funded projects. In the first three rounds of Phase II, 77% of projects funded were initiated in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. The remaining 23% of projects were funded across five provinces. The efforts to improve the regional balance of funded projects are bearing fruit.
Vertigogogo, Quebec
The regional balance is even clearer when the eight national programs are separated out from the total:
Lâche la pédale!, New Brunswick
During Phase I of MOST, the number of unique users of the program’s website averaged 845 per day, and the average visit lasted 7.3 minutes. During 2003, the number of visitors decreased, but the time each visitor stayed on the site increased to 12.6 minutes on average.
The six projects completed in 2003 fostered partnerships with 39 other organizations and attracted over $150,000 in additional funding for their work.
|
Name |
Reach |
Increased Awareness |
Partnership Legacy |
Developing Innovative Tools and Practices |
Quantifiable Impacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sheltair Group | |||||
| Pollution Probe | |||||
| Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development | |||||
| Moving the Economy | |||||
| Clean Air Champions | |||||
| CUTA |
The following are some transferable lessons learned from the six projects completed in 2003.
Educators want to give their students stimulating information and are ideal candidates for tool kits, reports the Pembina Institute.
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