Ask us about www.carstaroakville.com 905-8457579 905-847 -2595 2212 Wyecroft Rd. 547 Trafalgar Rd. bleaching for new patients FREE 90 905-842-6030 den dentistoakville.com HALTON TRANSMISSION SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010 ontario's top newspaper - 2005-2008 Sports 559 SPEERS ROAD, UNIT #3 (905) 842-0725 32 Pages $1.00 (plus tax) A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 50 No. 38 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 Spring sowing Mayor eyes big picture on future of transit system By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Will Oakville's transit system one day feature automated trains? Oakville Mayor Rob Burton opened the door to that possibility Tuesday during his presentation before the Oakville Chamber of Commerce where he played a video featuring the Siemens Canada project titled Cityval. "It presents opportunities for communities all over the world to solve the problem of getting around," said Burton. The computer-generated video advertised a fully-automated metro system called Cityval, which the narrator said has the ability to instantaneously match train capacity with passenger demand by either adding or reducing trains. The video showed that with the click of a mouse, the Cityval operational centre could run trains at shorter intervals or longer trains at rush hour and shorter, fewer trains during off-peak periods. Cityval, the video said, has been designed to smoothly integrate into a city and can adapt to any configuration with its concrete platform running along viaducts, at ground level or in tunnels. This adaptability is possible because the Cityval runs on tires. Mayor Rob Burton The automated operational principle, electrical braking system, the adaptability of the train lengths, the high frequency of service and the use of super-capacity batteries were all said to be considerable energysaving aspects to the project. As the system is fully automated, the narrator said, Cityval minimizes passenger waiting and transit times. Following the video, Burton praised Siemens Canada, that announced in August it would be moving its corporate head office to Oakville where it will employ approximately 800 people. "There's a company that's worldclass, there's a company that aims high, there's a company that thinks big," said Burton. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you See Budget page 4 ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog in the community garden: A community organic garden on the Freedom Centre International Church property on Bronte Road, grows produce and donates it to Kerr Street Ministries. Here, Christina Anderson tills the soil. For more photos, see page 14. Apply Now for September 2012 · Pre-School to Grade 12 · www.maclachlan.ca · 905-844-0372