|
Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Feb 2, 2010
ATAC Holds a “Productive Meeting” with Minister Prentice
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC) met on Saturday with Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment, and held a frank, but productive discussion. ATAC called on the Minister to provide political leadership to help get an Airport Trail Tunnel deal done. The meeting, arranged by Calgary Northeast MP, Devinder Shory, produced some key discussion points that may move the Airport Trail Tunnel forward.
“The Minister reiterated that there is no more funding available via the Stimulus funds. However, he did commit that he would be discussing the Tunnel inclusion options with the CAA and the City of Calgary.” Galpin went on to state that the Minister has also invited ATAC to a future meeting in the next few weeks where he hopes to bring all the parties together to discuss the options available.
“We also felt he understood the strong case for the LRT extension to the Airport via the Airport Tunnel, as something that has received broad public support in the Calgary region,” stated Rofina Groebmair, Co-chair for ATAC, and President of Coral Springs Community Association.
In recent months, public support has coalesced around ATAC, especially on this issue of linking the LRT to the Airport. Many Associations, including Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Tourism Calgary, Calgary Hotel Associations, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, Federation of Calgary Communities, Calgary Leadership Forum, Airways Business Association, Canadian Home Builders’ Association, and many others have come out in full support for the Airport Tunnel as the easiest, least expensive way to make the connection.
ATAC also gave the Minister a package of impact statements from many of these Associations which reflect the growing concern over the closure of Barlow Trail to the Airport Terminal, and the limiting of the Airport access to the Deerfoot Trail exit. “The Business & Tourism Associations continue to be deeply concerned about their economic survival and the transportation implications of limiting the primary Airport access to Deerfoot Trail,” stated Curtis Fernets, GM of Sheraton Cavalier Hotel.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 650-6068
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 28, 2009 – 8:30 pm.
Airport Trail Tunnel – It’s in Plan-it! But Now Let’s Get the Cost Right…
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of 14 local Community Associations of Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, are celebrating a key step forward as the Airport Trail Tunnel is back in the Calgary Transportation Plan. Alderman Jim Stevenson has secured the inclusion of the Airport Trail Tunnel in the amended CTP that was passed on Monday. But even as ATAC celebrates the inclusion of the Tunnel in Plan-it, they are challenging the previous cost estimate of $400 million.
Alderman Stevenson cited the incredible effort put forward by ATAC to ensure the public was aware of the implications of not including the Airport Tunnel in the CTP. “The grassroots public campaign that the ATA Committee led was the key influence in helping City Council and Administration to restore this vital east-west connector to the Calgary Transportation Plan.” Stevenson highlighted the fact that the stakeholders of ATAC were from a broad cross-section of the City residents, businesses, and organizations. “The fact that ATAC reflects stakeholders from business, community, and non-profit organizations across Calgary demonstrates how important the Airport Trail Tunnel is to our City.”
ATAC spokesperson, Grant Galpin, praised the strong community and public response that the issue received over the past few months. “We are very appreciative of how thousands of people responded to this issue, and many made their voice heard in the time leading up to the Public Hearing.” He added, “We still have a ways to go to ensure it becomes a reality, including getting the cost right and finding the funding. But to have it back in the CTP is critical and enables us to move forward in a very positive way.”
ATAC, however, has a significant difference of opinion on the estimated cost of the project. ATAC recently received a draft cross-section drawing of the Airport Trail Tunnel from an independent construction firm challenging the $400 million estimate previously put forward. “The stakeholders are not asking for a Taj Mahal Tunnel, but a practical and useable, east-west link to the Airport Terminal,” Galpin stated. JEC Enterprises Inc, who provided the cross-section drawing showing 4 lanes of roadway, plus 2 lanes reserved for rapid transit, and the tunnel, estimated that it could be built for approximately 1/3rd of the $400 million City estimate.
ATAC also continues to express its willingness to the Calgary Airport Authority on a shared effort to secure Federal funding for the new Airport Runway & the Airport Tunnel as a joint project. “We are in process of setting a meeting with the CAA for mid-October and look forward to a potential joint effort to secure the necessary funding.” Galpin indicated that the ATAC group is favourable to the runway development, and would welcome the opportunity to work with both the CAA and the City Administration to pursue this funding.
ATAC believes that the strength of the Tunnel lies in its capacity to reduce traffic gridlock & auto emissions, improve airport bound industrial & hospitality traffic efficiency, and provide a future LRT link to the Airport off the current east C-Train line.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
Curtis Fernets, ATAC Fundraising Chair (403) 291-0107
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 29, 2009 – 11:00 am.
Airport Trail Tunnel – Back in the Transportation Plan
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of 14 local Community Associations of Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, are celebrating a key step forward as a result of the Plan-it Public Hearing last week. Alderman Jim Stevenson has secured the inclusion of the Airport Trail Tunnel in the package of amendments that will be part of the revised Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP) that will come back to City Council in the fall session.
Alderman Stevenson cited the incredible effort put forward by ATAC to ensure the public was aware of the implications of not including the Airport Tunnel in the CTP. “The grassroots public campaign that the ATA Committee led was the key influence in helping City Council and Administration restore this vital east-west connector to the Calgary Transportation Plan.” Stevenson highlighted the fact that the stakeholders within ATAC were from a broad cross-section of the City residents, businesses, and organizations. “The fact that ATAC reflected stakeholders from business, community, and nonprofit organizations across Calgary demonstrated how important the Airport Trail Tunnel is to our City.”
ATAC spokesperson, Grant Galpin, praised the strong community and public response that the issue received over the past few months. “We are very appreciative of how thousands of people responded to this issue, and many made their voice heard in the time leading up to the Public Hearing.” He added, “We still have a ways to go to ensure it becomes a reality, but to have the City Council & Administration on the same page enables us to move forward in a very positive way.”
ATAC will now turn its attention to the process of influencing other levels of government for funding to complete the Airport Trail Tunnel during the construction timeframe of the Airport’s new Parallel Runway. ATAC believes that the strength of the Tunnel’s case lies in its capacity to reduce traffic gridlock & auto emissions, improve airport bound industrial & hospitality traffic efficiency, and provide a future LRT link to the Airport off the current east C-Train line.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, Business (403) 291-2003
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 – 7:00 am.
Airport Trail Tunnel – a key missing piece to reach Plan-it goals
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of 14 local Community Associations of Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, will be active in today’s Plan-it Public Hearing. ATAC stakeholders and supporters are planning to reinforce their key message that the Airport Trail Tunnel is an absolute necessity to a successful transportation network around the Airport.
ATAC supporters are on both sides of the Plan-it debate. “This issue of access to the Airport is crucial regardless of whether you think Plan-it is a good long-term plan or a flawed plan for the next 50 years. Whether you support higher density targets or not, you want to be able to access the Airport easily for travel, business, and employment reasons,” said Grant Galpin, spokesperson for ATAC. Many of the ATAC supporters are businesses in the South region of the Airport who depend on quick, efficient access to sustain their businesses and to serve their customers.
ATAC will be holding a brief rally near the steps of City Hall at 9:00 am today to remind City Councilors and City Administration of how crucial this issue is to their long-term livelihoods and quality of life. “The Plan-it transportation goals of greater use of public transit, fewer autos on the road, less environmental impact, and easier movement of goods and people are all realized more efficiently with the Airport Tunnel in the Plan,” Galpin added.
The Airport Trail Tunnel has been in the City Transportation Plan (CTP) in various forms since 1986. In the latest version of the Plan, City Administration is recommending not including it. Alderman Jim Stevenson has a Notice of Motion to amend the report and keep the Tunnel in the Plan. The City Council has already approved $50 million towards the project that is conditional upon the participation of the Provincial & Federal Governments, and the Calgary Airport Authority as equal partners. The decision to include the Airport Trail Tunnel in the Calgary Transportation Plan will be debated as part of today’s Plan-it Public Hearing at City Hall.
ATAC is confident that many City Councilors understand the need for the Airport Trail Tunnel, and that it will be put back into the Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP) as part of today’s public hearing. Once it is back in the CTP, the group plans to work with the City to ensure that it is appropriately funded as part of the Calgary Airport Authority’s Parallel Runway project.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, Business (403) 291-2003
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 18, 2009 – 10:30 am.
Airport Tunnel supporters take their case to the streets
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of 14 local Community Associations of Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, are taking their message to the streets – literally. Today ATAC stakeholders and supporters will be at three locations along Barlow Trail between McKnight Blvd and 32nd Ave, with provocative banners. The teams will be located at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel, the Days Inn, and at the Islamic Centre and face on to Barlow Trail with their banners from 3:30 – 5 pm.
The idea to create awareness along Barlow Trail came from community residents who wanted a simple way to get the message across that NO Airport Tunnel = Traffic Gridlock. Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair highlighted the reasons for the unique message medium, “Residents and daily commuters need greater awareness of how planning decisions will impact them 2 -3 years down the road when Barlow Trail is permanently closed. Once Barlow Trail is closed there is no LRT to the Airport and roads such as McKnight Blvd and Deerfoot Trail will be backed up like parking lots.” She added, “We saw this last week when two stoplight outages created a major mess for commuters on McKnight Blvd. What will happen when we funnel 40,000 – 50,000 cars per day off of Barlow Trail on to McKnight Blvd?”
The ATAC banners will also feature the website www.yestunnel.com where concerned citizens can obtain information to communicate with their elected officials. The website features a “How You Can Help” section that provides contact information for all levels of government, and who is responsible for transportation decisions. The website has been a big hit with citizens in the few weeks it has been up, with over 7000 people visiting the site, and communicating with various elected officials.
The Airport Trail Tunnel has been in the City Transportation Plan in various forms since 1986. In the latest version of the Plan, City Administration is recommending not including it. Alderman Jim Stevenson has a Notice of Motion to amend the report and keep the Tunnel in the Plan. The City Council has already approved $50 million towards the project that is conditional upon the participation of the Provincial & Federal Governments, and the Calgary Airport Authority as equal partners. The decision to include the Airport Trail Tunnel in the Calgary Transportation Plan will be debated as part of the June 23rd Plan-it Public Hearing at City Hall.
ATAC is confident that many residents and business owners from all over Calgary will be at the June 23rd Public Hearing to speak in support of the Airport Trail Access Tunnel.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, Business (403) 291-2003
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 – 3:30 pm.
Residents, Business Owners speak out for Airport Trail Tunnel
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of 14 local Community Associations of Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, stated their case today before City Councillors and Administration Staff. Representing over 150,000 residents, the Committee outlined the many impacts on all Calgarians if the Parallel Runway was built without the Airport Trail Access Tunnel.
Grant Galpin spokesperson for ATAC, citing an independent transportation consultant, highlighted the increased traffic bottlenecks on McKnight Blvd, Country Hills Blvd East, and the Deerfoot Trail interchanges at Beddington Trail, Airport Trail and Country Hills Blvd. “The current traffic load of 40,000 – 50,000 cars per day on Barlow Trail have to go somewhere – and the only option that the City’s Transportation Department is offering is greater gridlock on McKnight Blvd and Deerfoot Trail which will impact all Calgarians.” He added, “As the City’s own report states, for $104 million we can provide a viable first stage that puts the Airport Trail Tunnel and roadway in place, allowing for greater expansion at a later time as needed.”
Also present at today’s public meeting were representatives from the Calgary Hoteliers Association. Michael Sieger, General Manager of the Royal Executive Inn, noted that the 18 hotels in the southern Airport region have paid approximately $1.8 million in Airport transportation levies over the last 5 years for future Airport improvements. This was done with the full understanding that the Calgary Transportation Plan all along has included the Airport Trail Access Tunnel.
“Without the Airport Trail Tunnel, it will cost the hotels in the region millions of dollars in lost revenue and additional transportation costs.” Sieger went on to outline the economic impact on the hospitality industry, “A single Airport commuter bus trip which now goes through 4 stoplights could exceed 20 stoplights and go from 10 minutes to 30 minutes per trip. At 20 trips per day per hotel, it is the potential difference between a profitable business and a losing proposition.”
ATAC members also highlighted a significant go green option of the Tunnel, noting that it could easily include an LRT link to the Airport from the future Airport Trail Station on the east LRT spur line. “We are advocating that the City and the Calgary Airport Authority build into the Tunnel the capacity for the LRT. Given that upwards of 18,000 people work within the Airport region, the addition of public transportation to the Airport would take many cars off of the road,” noted Galpin. “But without the Airport Trail Tunnel, this is not even possible.”
The Airport Trail Tunnel report was received unanimously by the Standing Policy Committee for Land, Planning, and Transportation. The City Council has already approved $50 million towards the project that is conditional upon the participation of the Provincial & Federal Governments, and the Calgary Airport Authority as equal partners. The decision to include the Airport Trail Tunnel in the Calgary Transportation Plan will be debated as part of the June 23rd Plan-it Public Hearing at City Hall. ATAC is confident given the thousands of hits on their website, www.yestunnel.com, that many residents and business owners from all over Calgary will be at the public hearing to speak in support of the Airport Trail Access Tunnel.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, Business (403) 291-2003
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, May 30, 2009 – 11:00 am.
Residents rally for Airport Tunnel
Calgary, Alberta — The Airport Trail Access Committee (ATAC), made up of local Community Associations of NE Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations, hosted a public meeting today despite the withdrawal of the Calgary Airport Authority (CAA) who originally committed to attending. The CAA is holding a public consultation process, but has refused to host a meeting in the North of McKnight region to date saying that mailing out flyers in the area is sufficient public consultation at this time.
ATAC is calling for the CAA and the City Administration to truly engage the local communities and businesses on the social economic impacts of their plans to close Barlow Trail. Grant Galpin, spokesperson for the Airport Trail Access Committee notes, “Sending out flyers is not public consultation. Ignoring the very real impacts on people’s livelihoods, quality of life, and transportation realities by saying ‘it’s not our problem’ is not public consultation.”
ATAC held today’s meeting to enable the residents of the North of McKnight region and other areas to clearly voice the impacts the loss of the tunnel would have. Aldermen Jim Stevenson & Ray Jones both participated, along with leaders of the ATAC in presenting the issues around the loss of the Airport Trail Tunnel. ATAC also announced that they will be rallying Calgary residents and business leaders to participate in the upcoming Public Hearings.
Alderman Stevenson cited the importance of the upcoming Plan-it Public Hearing on June 23rd where his Notice of Motion to restore the Airport Trail Tunnel to the Calgary Transportation Plan will be debated. “Council was unanimous to put forward the previous motion to support the building of the tunnel with a $50 million contribution. I fully expect this Notice of Motion to pass and then the discussions will begin in earnest with the CAA on the nature of the Tunnel in the plans.” Stevenson also noted that a new construction estimate which he believes will be much more favourable is coming forward at the June 10th Standing Policy Committee meeting for Land Use, Planning, and Transportation.
But for the residents at the ATAC meeting this was their opportunity to clearly tell the CAA and all levels of government that the Airport Tunnel is critical to their future quality of life in one of the fastest growing areas of Calgary. Many of them came to communicate this despite the absence of the CAA and City Administration. The ATAC’s website- yestunnel.com – has over 5000 hits in just 2 weeks since it went up. The grassroots campaign has just one core message – don’t build the runway without the Tunnel. It’s a message they clearly willing to repeat until the Tunnel is a reality.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, Business (403) 291-2003
Rofina Groebmair, ATAC Co-Chair, Communities (403) 293-5225
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2009 – 11:00 am.
Community Stakeholders call for inclusion of Airport Trail Tunnel
Calgary, Alberta — The local Community Associations of NE Calgary and several Calgary Business Associations are calling for the Airport Authority to ensure access to their communities and businesses is maintained within their Runway Development Program. The Airport Authority is moving forward with its closure of Barlow Trail in 2011 without including the originally planned tunnel access along Airport Trail from the east to the Airport terminal.
Grant Galpin, spokesperson for the Airport Trail Access Committee notes, “The loss of Barlow Trail as an access route along with no plans for a tunnel off of Airport Trail will mean that all traffic is forced to approach the airport from Deerfoot Trail. This cuts off multiple access points to the airport from all of the hotels, restaurants, businesses, planned housing developments in NE Calgary, not to mention the airport employees who live in the region.” Galpin highlighted the economic impact by further stating, “It will mean a loss of millions of dollars of revenue for businesses dependent upon the largest economic generator and employer (the airport) in the region, and create a very significant potential loss of regional employment as businesses potentially choose to move out of NE Calgary. This tunnel is a necessity for the continued economic health of the area.”
The Community Associations of Coral Springs, Martindale, Saddle Ridge, Taradale, Temple, and Whitehorn recently joined up with the Hotel Association of Calgary, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, several land developers, and a number of other local businesses to form the Airport Trail Access Committee. The Committee is not opposed to the Airport Authority’s expansion plans – in fact, the expansion of the Airport is very good news – but without the planned tunnel access from the east – the economic future of NE Calgary is significantly jeopardized. The committee is in the process of launching a website, “yestunnel.com”, and is encouraging people to attend the Airport Authority’s public sessions and voice their concern about the exclusion of the Airport Trail access tunnel. The committee will be reviewing the Airport Authority’s planning documents and releasing a response in time for the public hearing at the Land Planning & Transportation Committee (City of Calgary, SPC) planned for June 10, 2009.
Galpin also noted this is not just a NE Calgary issue. “We’ve all seen what happens when there is an accident on Deerfoot Trail during rush hour. In this scenario, Airport commuters from downtown or other parts of the City would also be cut off given the closure of Barlow Trail. It is poor long-term planning to limit the access points to one side of the airport, and not include the option of access from the east side via a tunnel.”
The Airport Authority is holding public consultation sessions on Thursday evening at Inglewood Community Hall, Saturday at Whitehorn Community Hall, and Monday evening at Harvest Hills Alliance Church in Country Hills. ATA Committee members will be present at each meeting to present the group’s concerns about the Airport Trail Access Tunnel exclusion.
For more information contact:
Grant Galpin, ATAC spokesperson, (403) 615-7597
Michael Sieger, ATAC Co-Chair, (403) 291-2003
|
