What a shame that debate over light rapid transit is focusing on this loony-tune $950 million cost figure, which works out to $62 million per kilometre.
Readers might like to check out a very informative online article at the transportpolitic.com titled “How is Besançon building a tramway at $16 million per kilometer?” How indeed.
It’s not just this one place by any means. Just this month, Norfolk, Va., brand new tramway started up, which cost less than $29 million per km. And there are many other examples.
Victoria was dumb to follow “progressive” trends and rip up our streetcars in 1948.
We shouldn’t magnify our stupidity by accepting the first number thrown at us by some fancy consultant.
Louis Guilbault
Victoria