Evergreen for some...
To the Editor
Northwest Route for Evergreen Line - Province April 20/08
Dismissing the destruction of Small Businesses is short-sighted.
Before another penny of our tax money goes towards any other transportationmega-projects, or obscene pay raises, the small businesses that have beendemolished by the Canada Line Big Dig must be fully compensated for theirobvious losses.
There is a seemingly endless supply of tax dollars for projects that aredriven by this Provincial government, especially for anything that can belinked to the Olympics in 2010 - with no meaningful consultaion from thepublic, and controlled by a transportation board with no publicaccountability.
The Small Businesses all alnog the Canada Line route were the collateraldamage of the massive development plans for the Cambie Corridor. The'temporary disruption' to our livelihoods has been continuing for two yearsnow, and counting. We have suffered unprecedented hardship both personallyand financially while every level of government and all the project partnershave turned a blind eye, even now in the face of scores of bancruptcies.There is nothing temporary about losing your life's work.
What has happened to this community along the Canada Line is shocking. Thisabuse of power must be made right with immediate full financial relief. Ifpublic projects such as this cannot factor in adequate compensation, andtake care of citizens who are impacted; the projects should not proceed.
Susan HeyesHazel&Co3190 Cambie Street604 687-0721
3 comments:
Here's another one:
The Evergreen line was originally planned to be SkyTrain technology. Spurs were built as part of the Millennium line and can be seen on the east end of the Lougheed station.
But they've decided to go with ALRT technology.. like the Calgary system of rail trolleys - level crossings, et cetera.
This would save about 20% on the cost of the system. Wow.
And for this smallish savings, we're going to have more congested traffic, and commuters will have to change trains at Lougheed Station, which is probably the worst station for ergonomics in the city-- narrow stairways and passageways, not enough escalators, winding access...
Has anyone heard of a city which commits to one mass transit technology only to change ships in midstream?
Must be all the dope floating over the city from the Art Gallery.
Steve, I believe you are mistaken, as the government plans to go with SkyTrain, even though it will cost more.
It is interesting to note according to Translink's 2007 Annual Report, that the operating cost of rail is $2.11 per passenger, compared to $3.44 per bus passenger.
These figures don't include the cost of building the SkyTrain.
During the last transit strike, the SkyTrain was able to continue operating, which is a big plus.
Anonamoose, I looked at the Translink site just now and it looks like you're right, and I'm wrong again.
But in my defense...
When I checked Translink yesterday I couldn't find any info on the site. But other relatively credible (newspaper) sites claimed that they were using the cheaper non-SkyTrain technology.
Plus, when I talked to the people at the kiosk they set up in Lougheed mall last year, they told me it was not Skytrain technology, which would cost 1.7 billion, but LRT surface which would cost 1.4 billion.
The press release said 1.4 billion.
You can see where i made my mistake.
I'm glad it's SkyTrain; that just makes sense.
And I'll just shut up unless I know FOR SURE...
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