Re: Time to get on with light rapid transit, Letters, Jan. 25, 2012.
To the gent who wrote recently that “we’ve been talking about it for years; it’s time to get on with it.”
About commuter light rapid transit service in town, I would have this to say: talk is cheap, just talking about it does not justify it or make it viable.
I would add the following: commuter service, LRT or otherwise and along the old clapped out E&N should be based on sound planning and estimates starting with a solid ridership study (number of rides per day from origin to destination).
Cost estimates should also cover total installed costs from planning to commissioning, operation, training, rolling stock, maintenance and so on.
Beware of pundits, punters, politicians and promoters who promise low costs and high returns on these infrastructure services that prove the exact opposite after the fact.
Not to belabor the point, but strong interest in public transit and even commuter rail service is commendable, but it should be based on facts, viability, solid planning and estimates.
That is not the case at this time.
Pierre Vallee
Colwood