Quote:
Originally Posted by lrt's friend
I have to agree with Dado on almost every point. We have a fixation on a tunnel, which is delaying transit progress. A surface rail line downtown doesn't have to be the long-term solution but it can help get a rail network up and going much sooner while we study and find funding for a tunnel. Ultimately, surface track will serve a function even when a tunnel is opened. We have let the downtown business lobby dictate the city's agenda far too long. We also need to look at existing track on the south perimeter of the city to deliver a cheaper way to deliver a service that doesn't presently exist while at the same time diverting some transit traffic away from downtown. We could have a useable rail transit network going east-west and north-south long before a tunnel is ready if we really wanted it and it could be funded by not replacing things such as exclusive bus lanes with expensive parallel running busways. There are other cities which are now building multiple rail lines simultaneously and they will all be open before our first line is ready.
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There is nothing preventing us for starting building a streetcar system in the meantime, but that will add hundreds of millions on top. We need an efficient transit backbone, with cheap operating costs. The key here is with cheap operating costs. I would gladly like to see the Carling to MTL road streetcar via Sparks St. going up soon, but the reality is that it's not sufficient for Ottawa's need, and we need more. The LRRT is needed in Ottawa, as it offers much capacity, but still won't be enough in 30 years.
We have about a 10G$ backlog in transit projects, the problem is that they shouldn't be tight on budget, but some level of governments rather give us a measly GST rebate than actually invest in the future. I was never for short term gain. For the city of Ottawa, 7 years is a joke. But where is Clive when he should put for a 6 month tunnel EA, or request commuter trains that could be up and running soon? Right, he still cries about the old plan's cancellation.