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Metrolinx’s board recently endorsed a community advisory committee's recommended scope for a study exploring the electrification of GO Transit’s rail system. The 16-member committee includes residents with expertise in transportation and other related issues.

Later this month, the board plans to issue a request for proposals seeking bids from consulting firms to perform the study, which would be completed by December 2010. The study will determine the benefits, cost comparisons and recommendations for converting the railroad from conventional diesel to electric.

Specifically, the study will analyze power supply and distribution capacities based on an overall power demand simulation for each proposed technology; the amount of land needed to accommodate infrastructure associated with each technology; system-wide capital costs ranging from rolling stock and energy to training and power distribution; environmental and health impacts; and infrastructure requirements.