Cold weather diesel demonstration launched in Alberta
Canada’s largest cold-weather, on-road demonstration of renewable diesel officially launched in January. The Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration, managed by Climate Change Central, was put into action after months of laboratory testing of various fuel feedstocks and production processes.
Over 60 trucks of various sizes hit the road throughout Alberta, as its climate poses some of the most extreme challenges to renewable diesel use. The demonstration will provide hands-on, cold-weather experience for fuel blenders, distributors, long-haul trucking fleets and drivers. “The demonstration consists of a diverse group of stakeholders working to broaden understanding of how best to maximize the benefits of renewable diesel in Canada,” says John Rilett, director with Climate Change Central. “The demonstration findings will provide valuable information towards the development of sound government policy in Canada.” The federal government has announced plans to implement a renewable fuels standard requiring two per cent renewable content in the Canadian diesel supply by 2012.
New ISO standard set to ensure worldwide pedestrian signals
Equipping pedestrian street crossings with acoustic and tactile signals to help disabled people has been a step forward. The problem is that they vary from one country to another. Now, a new ISO standard provides the basis for harmonizing such signals on a worldwide basis.
The aim of ISO 23600:2007, Assistive products for persons with vision impairments and persons with vision and hearing impairments – Acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights is to ensure equivalent information worldwide at intersections equipped with pedestrian crossing signals.
The standard sets out the requirements, technical specifications and performance criteria for acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights and will help to ensure major benefits such as: harmonized criteria for manufacturers and designers; safe, reliable and functional products; enhanced compatibility between products; and common testing methods leading to comparable, reliable test results.
Acoustic and tactile signals should be used in combination to provide information such as precise directional information and the geometry of the intersection. At an intersection that is not equipped with acoustic and tactile signals, people with vision impairments are forced to use the sounds of vehicular traffic when possible in order to estimate the time to start crossing a street and to determine their direction of travel. In the case of those with vision and hearing impairments, the majority of these people have to rely on assistance. The installation of acoustic and tactile signals for pedestrian traffic lights based on ISO 23600:2007 significantly improves the ability of these people to travel safely and independently.
Cleaner, greener cities target of federal grants
The Government of Canada will invest $4 million over three years in ecoMOBILITY initiatives. This funding is part of a $10-million program that was announced last year to help Canadians protect their health and environment by giving them more sustainable transportation choices. "The ecoMOBILITY program will reduce emissions from the urban passenger transportation sector by helping municipalities attract residents to less polluting forms of transportation," said Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Lawrence Cannon. "Transport Canada has launched the request for proposals for transportation demand management projects under the ecoMOBILITY program. A total of $4 million is available to municipalities and regional transportation authorities for initiatives that can help residents increase their use of sustainable transportation options." The ecoMOBILITY program will help cities develop policies, programs and services that make it more convenient for people to reduce personal car use and choose more environmentally friendly options, such as public transit or carpooling. This program complements ongoing efforts to address air emissions and congestion from all transportation sectors. "Canadians have said they want to do their part in fight-ing climate change. Programs such as ecoMOBILITY can help them take real action at home," said Environment Minister John Baird.
This program is part of the federal government's ecoTRANSPORT strategy, which is aimed at improving the health of Canadians and the environment by reducing the environmental impacts of transportation; securing Canada's future prosperity and competitiveness by making critical transportation infrastructure sustainable both economically and environmentally; and promoting an efficient transportation system that supports choice and the high quality of life that Canadians expect.
Volvo and partners dig in for Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has a well-deserved reputation. Its concern for others and the provision of new or refurbished homes for working, low-income families has been known to Volvo for some time. Volvo Group affiliate companies (Volvo Construction Equipment, Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Rents) joined the effort to clear, grade and excavate a six-home tract in North Las Vegas. While Habitat usually relies on volunteer help to meet construction needs, this complicated work required a different level of voluntary participation.
Volvo and its partner companies organized a one-day work event that drew “expert volunteers” from the ranks of North America’s top industrial press. Editors and reporters from trucking, construction equipment and building trades media came together with Habitat engineers and Volvo equipment specialists to “get ‘er done” over the course of a single workday. Habitat estimates the job would have normally required more than a week and at sig-nificant cost. “Volvo asked these people to set aside their laptops and tape recorders, get into the operator’s seat, and use their skills and our equipment to help Habitat help others. The response was truly impressive,” said Stefan Lorentzson, president of Volvo Group North America.
Gaining access to a Habitat home is not easy. For those who qualify it becomes a life-changing event. “We want our candidates to succeed as home owners and to encourage others. Keeping building costs low is critical to our mission and ground preparation charges are usually an issue, particularly when the soil requires excavation and compaction before a slab can be poured. Today’s work is of immense value,” said Habitat Las Vegas president & CEO, Guy Amato.
Joining trade media experts and encouraging from the sidelines were local media representatives and members of the Nellis Air Force Base construction battalion. Several airmen operated Volvo construction equipment and Mack Granite model dump trucks.
Permanent gas tax transfer gets thumbs-up from FCM
A decision by the Federal government to establish a permanent fund based on gasoline taxes, to be used for infrastructure repair across the country, has been welcomed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “Budget 2008 delivers good news for cities and communities. The decision to make the gas tax transfer permanent represents a critical move toward addressing the municipal fiscal imbalance and building vibrant cities and communities,” said FCM President and Winnipeg council member Gord Steeves. “The permanent gas tax fund sets a new standard for the way the Government of Canada supports cities and communities. It will provide the kind of funding support our cities and communities need: significant, sustained and predictable.” Steeves had called prior to the 2008 federal budget’s release in February for the establishment of a permanent gas-tax fund to raise $40 billion that would help reduce Canada’s infrastructure deficit. “Combined with the suite of infrastructure programs announced in last year’s budget, which will deliver more than $18 billion over the next six years, these measures clear the way for development of a national plan to eliminate the $123-billion municipal infrastructure deficit,” he said.
Steeves also praised an additional $500 million to be put towards transit operations in cities and towns.
MOU aids Nova Scotia in exploring P3 possibilities
A memorandum of understanding with Partnerships BC will help Nova Scotia explore new possibilities for building roads, health facilities, courts, correctional facilities and other projects to address the province’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure deficit.
The agreement gives Nova Scotia access to the expertise Partnerships BC has developed through strategic infrastructure partnerships with the private sector. “Like the rest of the country, we need to look at new and innovative ways of meeting our infrastructure needs that fast track construction while protecting taxpayers,” said Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. “Partnerships BC has demonstrated value for money through more than 20 projects completed or underway, on time and on budget, in partnership with the private sector.” Nova Scotia will use the expertise and experience of Partnerships BC to assess whether some of the province’s most pressing infrastructure demands could be met through the strategic partnership method. Ontario and Alberta are also addressing their infrastructure needs through strategic infrastructure partnerships for roads, courts, and health facilities. In its March 2007 budget, the federal government announced the creation of a $1.27-billion fund that would potentially give Nova Scotia access to funding for innovative partnership projects.
