Municipalities

[UrbanWaterloo]

Municipalities
www.fcm.ca/election2011

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[UrbanWaterloo]

MUNICIPALITIES´ CUTMYCOMMUTE CAMPAIGN CHALLENGES ALL PARTIES TO FIX GRIDLOCK
Gridlock cost $292 million and 2.7 million working days since election was called
April 18, 2011 | Federation of Canadian Municipalities | Link (http://www.fcm.ca/english/View.asp?mp=1&x=1739)

Since the federal election was called, long commute times have cost the economy $292 million and Canadians have wasted 2.7 million working days stuck in traffic, said the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), as it launched its social media campaign today to cut commute times nationally.

“While their campaign buses are rolling across the country, party leaders need to take a good look out the window at the traffic gridlock choking our cities,” said Carl Zehr, Chair of FCM´s Big City Mayors Caucus (BCMC). “Reducing commute times must be a priority in this election and in the future, no matter which party forms the next government.”

Long daily commutes – more than 75 minutes on average, in Canada´s biggest cities – are hurting the country´s economic competiveness. The most recent estimate in 2006 pegged the cost of traffic delays at more than $5 billion a year, but there is growing evidence that today´s cost is much higher. The average Canadian commuter spends the equivalent of 32 working days a year commuting to and from work, facing some of the worst commute times in the developed world.

“This is a national problem requiring a national solution,” said Zehr. “Every hour Canadians spend on the road is an hour they spend away from their families, their businesses, and their studies. That´s time none of us can afford to lose.”

FCM is calling on all federal party leaders to commit to setting concrete targets to cap rising commute times; reinvesting more of the tax dollars communities send to Ottawa in new buses, subways, and commuter rail; and working with municipalities, provinces and territories to fill critical gaps in transportation networks. It is supported by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and the Toronto Board of Trade.

Visitors to the campaign website (www.fcm.ca/cutmycommute) can view a rolling counter of how much commute times have cost the economy and Canadians since the election was called. Visitors can also use the online calculator to find out what their daily commute costs the economy, their pocketbook and the hours they have to spend with their family, friends and businesses.


Carl Zehr, Chair of FCM´s Big City Mayors Caucus (BCMC): “This is a national problem requiring a national solution. Every hour Canadians spend on the road is an hour they spend away from their families, their businesses, and their studies. That´s time none of us can afford to lose.”
(to download - right click and save link as) (http://www.fcm.ca/cmfiles/Carl%20Zehr%20-%20This%20is%20a%20national...aif)


Carl Zehr, Chair of FCM´s Big City Mayors Caucus (BCMC): “While their campaign buses are rolling across the country, party leaders need to take a good look out the window at the traffic gridlock choking our cities. Reducing commute times must be a priority in this election and in the future, no matter which party forms the next government.”
(to download - right click and save link as) (http://www.fcm.ca/cmfiles/Carl%20Zehr%20-%20While%20their%20campaign%20buses...aif)