You can’t deny Benjamin Franklin his oft repeated adage of “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” But it seems taxes—normally an election year darling—while still certain, are taking a back seat.

The Ottawa mayoral election is locked in a heated debate over a CAN 2.1bn (USD bn) Light Rail plan with a 3.2km downtown tunnel estimated to cost CAN 735M (USD bn). A poll by local newspaper the Ottawa Citizen says public transport is the most important policy issue among city voters, ahead of taxes.

Ottawa is not alone. Many of the candidates vying to be Calgary’s next mayor support the proposed traffic Airport Tunnel. One who’s quite vocally opposed, Bob Hawkesworth, says “they need to come to grips with reality” because the city does not have the cash to build the tunnel. The estimated price tag on the 700m tunnel varies by candidate and government agency.

In Toronto, mayoral candidates see the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)’s Transit City as an integral election platform. George Smitherman outlines his Integrated Plan for Toronto with a two-phase expansion of that calls for tunnelling to be underway for the Eglinton light rail transit to integrate with the new Air Rail link station by 2015. Candidate Rocco Rossi has promised to fund rapid transit with CAN 4.5bn (USD 4.3bn) over 10 years, which would include “continuous tunnelling of 2km and one new station opened per year on average.” Sarah Thomson says she’s been working with early TTC maps and density plans and estimates the city needs to expand approximately 58km of subway system, some above ground and some underground.

Elections for both Toronto and Ottawa will be held Monday, October 25. Calgary will go to the polls on Monday, October 18.

Meanwhile, the US is gearing up for the Tuesday, November 2nd midterm elections. Though cable news would have you to believe most races revolve around tea and mosques, high-speed rail is making its mark among the usual campaign issues.

With forecasts for democrats to lose congressional and gubernatorial seats, President Obama attempted to throw a life ring to the party this Labor Day. He announced a proposal for a new transportation bill to update roads and build rail, with a USD 50bn cash injection for the first year. The bill must first pass congress—a congress with only a few weeks left until its members return home to campaign.

2010 may be the year to take the vote underground.


Nicole Robinson