Jun
28
By Gordon Tweddell
For years James Bay residents have endured the noise, congestion, and pollution from large transit and tour buses. Indeed, residents identified traffic noise as the second highest ranked priority requiring attention - a ranking exceeded only by the closely related issue of the quantity/volume of traffic.
Bus industry economics, noise pollution, and technology changes are three major forces that could put the noisy, stinking diesel bus on the road to oblivion.
Business economics are top priority for bus operators, and various forms of electric propulsion are demonstrating remarkable operational savings. The average price of diesel fuel has increased by 55% over the last three years while the price of electricity has increased by only 23%. In addition, current diesel buses average less than 4 miles per gallon (US) while at least one recently tested full size electric transit bus has reportedly achieved the "diesel equivalent" of between 17.5 and 29.0 miles per gallon (US) under various typical driving scenarios. The higher initial capital cost of electrified buses can now be recovered through dramatic fuel savings.
Electric vehicle and related technology development is progressing rapidly. For example, Envia Systems has demonstrated a tenfold increase in battery power to weight over the current Toyota Prius battery technology. Solutions to long charging times now exist. It is possible to fully charge a transit bus in less than ten minutes. Other innovations include ultra-light composite materials and regenerative braking systems that increase fuel economy and reduce noise and air pollution.
The result has been significant decreases in vehicle noise. Traditional diesel buses emit noise levels in excess of 87 dBA when accelerating from a standstill while electric buses noise levels are as low as 58 dBA. The difference amounts to a greater than eight fold reduction in perceived noise levels.
The economic cost of noise on communities is significant, since each 3.2 dB (Leq24) increase in noise levels in excess of 60 dB results in a 2% devaluation of property values. Furthermore the World Health Organization has identified noise levels greater than 55 dBA (which are routinely exceeded in James Bay) as hazardous to public health.
It is understandable that operators of old, noisy, polluting diesel buses may prefer to run their diesel dinosaurs into the ground since they are already a "sunk cost." In addition, most private bus operators are unlikely to consider the public health costs and the devaluation of properties along the routes of their noisy diesel buses. The reason is simple. If private operators can shift the costs of noise and pollution on the general community, they increase their profit margins.
BC Transit would be wise to explicitly account in financial terms for the community health and real estate value costs of transit bus noise since 22% of BC Transit revenues are ultimately derived from municipal property taxes.
The GVHA is about to issue a request for proposals for the shuttle bus system currently operated by Cruise Victoria (CVS) and its fleet of old, noisy diesel highway buses. This is good news because the GVHA recognizes that a high quality tourist experience and community liveability are both enhanced through quiet, convenient, non-polluting passenger movement. Indeed, the CEO of the GVHA has stated that the key criteria will be passenger carrying capacity, noise, and engine emissions.
It will be interesting to see whether potential new operators will seize the opportunity or whether it will be necessary for the GVHA to emphasize other tourist and community friendly shuttle methods such as a ferry service from Ogden Point to the Inner Harbour.
Unlike the transit and tour buses that ply our community, local elected officials have been silent. Political leadership would be welcomed.
Elected officials could direct changes to bylaws such as the Victoria Vehicles for Hire Bylaw that would require increasingly low-noise/non-polluting vehicles.
Councillors, as representatives to boards including the GVHA and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, could require the explicit inclusion of monetized community impacts in the selection of new technologies.
Organizations such as the GVHA could move forward with initiatives such as docking for whale watching and ferry boats at Ogden Point, restrictions on parking of noisy/polluting buses on their properties, and education/enforcement of driving behaviour that includes quiet, careful, and considerate operation of taxis and buses.
Lastly, councillors, as members of the Victoria Police Board, could show leadership in requiring the enforcement of current Motor Vehicle Act excessive vehicle noise standards and by pressing the provincial government for changes to the Traffic Fines grant program that would reward municipalities for enforcing existing provincial laws and adopting new enforcement methods.
Solutions to the problems of tourism related traffic noise, congestion, and pollution will create both a better community and a vastly improved visitor experience.