Questions and Answers
Why is this topic important right now?
In June 2008, City Council will be asked to decide the future of Edmonton's trolleybus system. Administration has commissioned a vehicle technology evaluation through Dr. David Checkel of the University of Alberta, an internal combustion engine specialist, as well as a report from the consulting firm Booz, Allen, Hamilton. These documents will be used, along with the results of public consultation, in formulating an administrative recommendation.
The trolleybus vehicles we currently have will need to be replaced by 2010 with new low floor trolleybuses if the city continues with trolleys, or with diesel-based buses if the city does not.
Who is served by trolleys in Edmonton and what does the trolley system consist of?
Trolleybuses are used on seven main transit routes that serve about 46 communities. These routes are very important because they service the downtown core and other central areas of the city. There are about 140 kilometres of overhead wire, 4,600 specialized poles and 8 power substations that make up the trolley system.
The trolley electrical infrastructure was valued at $73 million replacement value in 2002. The system has been maintained and even upgraded recently, including a brand new substation in Rossdale, several poles replaced and some key intersections rebuilt. New infrastructure typically lasts 25-50 years.
Also, in the downtown and in some Business Revitalization Zones (124 St., 107 Ave., 97 St.), new streetscape designs incorporated special accommodations for the trolleybuses.
These investments would all be lost if trolleys were abandoned.
What are the advantages of trolleybuses?
Trolleybuses offer quiet operation, zero in-street emissions, route stability, and freedom from complete dependence on oil. They also have excellent operational characteristics such as quick acceleration and ability to carry heavy loads, so they perform well on busy routes. Some people feel trolleybuses contribute to community character, and there is evidence to suggest they are more attractive to riders than diesel buses.
Diesel buses offer 'flexible' operation, but they also produce higher noise levels. Their emissions are harmful and have been linked to cancer and other ailments. Although electricity generation for trolleys also results in emissions, these emissions are not released in the streets. As well, electricity can be generated from completely zero-emission alternatives, such as wind power.
Both new trolleybuses and new diesel buses are low floor.
Are there cost issues?
It is important to understand that in the context of total transit expenditures, any costs specific to trolley operation are small: about 1.5% of transit's annual operating budget. Trolleybus operation does entail greater expenditure than diesel buses because of the need to maintain overhead lines. Administration would like to replace trolleybuses with diesels for reasons of cost savings. The 2004 proposal would rehabilitate older, more polluting diesel buses to save short-term costs and maintain service until new diesel buses arrive.
New trolleybuses have always been more expensive to buy than new diesel buses. At this time, a new trolley costs about twice as much to buy as a new diesel bus. But Edmonton needs less than 50 new trolleybuses. There has been a large investment in diesel buses annually since 1998 and over half the old diesel fleet has been replaced with new diesel vehicles. Many old diesels have even been rehabilitated. No corresponding investment has been made in the trolley fleet to date.
Some people feel the extra expenditures for trolleys are offset by the trolleybus' advantages. In areas of higher population density or on busy routes, the benefits of using trolleybuses over diesel buses accrue to large numbers of people. The absence of harmful diesel exhaust both inside and outside the vehicle and the quiet operation of trolleys benefit both transit users and residents. The population of downtown is growing due to revitalization, so there are many who would benefit from continuing with trolleys.
Various future possibilities exist for keeping trolleybus service (i.e. more trolleybuses, less trolleybuses, status quo), but the costs and savings associated with these scenarios have not been investigated. The only scenario portrayed in administration's report is trolley elimination.
Are there service issues?
With Edmonton's present trolleys, a power outage may affect several vehicles. New trolleybuses are better. They offer greater reliability than current models because they have the ability to operate away from the wires. They can detour around obstructions, for example. New trolleybuses are also low floor, offering greater accessibility to persons with reduced mobility. They have other conveniences for both operators and passengers. Vancouver has ordered 228 of these new trolleybuses; the first will arrive in 2005.
What are other cities doing that operate trolleybuses?
Of the nine cities that operate trolleybuses in North America, all are planning to continue with trolleybuses at this time. All have either bought or are buying accessible new trolley fleets.
Prior to 1975, many cities did abandon both trolleybuses and electric streetcars. This was before the health impacts of noise, diesel exhaust and air pollution were as widely known. A number of these abandonments have since been regretted. Toronto and Hamilton both abandoned their relatively small trolley systems in 1992-93 on the promise of 'clean' natural gas buses subsidized by the Ontario government. Officials have later stated it was a mistake.
Are there other issues?
The power and maintenance services to operate the trolley system are supplied by Epcor on long-term contract. Epcor is a city-owned company and has paid an annual dividend to the city in recent years of over $100 million. The purchase of fuel for diesel buses benefits oil companies, with no dividends to the city.
Oil prices are predicted to rise sharply over the next decade or so. Leading economists and energy experts like as Matthew Simmons and Charles Maxwell are projecting oil prices of $300/barrel in about five years. Having electric transit as part of our system offers an alternative that could be readily expanded in the event of high oil prices.
Eliminating trolleys could help to 'standardize' the bus fleet on one type of vehicle, helping administration to streamline its transit operations. Some changes could be made in transit routes and schedules. However, these administrative benefits would come at the cost of increased noise levels, increased emissions, loss of investments, loss of partnership with the city owned power entity and loss of non-oil based transportation alternatives. A more sensible proposal would be to extend trolley wires and make better use of trolleybuses.
