Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
If we're going to have a rapid transit network across the city then you need to build it out across the city.
But if that's what you believe, are you calling your councillor to demand the cancellation of road projects such as the Chief Peguis Trail extension which will end up in farmland north of the airport? Now that is truly a roadway to nowhere.
|
A rapid transit network should be built where existing ridership and the potential for increased ridership would justify the investment. There is insufficient demand for a half a billion dollar plus bus roadway to Peguis Street and Canterbury Park with not a lot in between, esp. south of Nairn and Regent. If I was for example to live near Talbot and Kent, it would be quicker to use the existing Route 45 - Talbot than to get to Kildonan Place or a station someone south of Nairn and transfer to the BRT. All the while, many of the more densely populated areas of the city are woefully under serviced. Resources should be allocated to a rail-based system along major arteries where ridership is already high and where the transit using demographic already resides. Improvements in these areas would result in a far greater increase in ridership that could be achieved by improving journey times to distant suburbs by a few minutes. There is a reason why the two rapid transit lines in Minnesota's Twin Cities have been successful far beyond expectations.
As for Chief Peguis Trail, it is part of the very long-planned inner ring road and the extension at least to McPhillips is very much needed. It is neither being built as a result of nor to facilitate sprawl.
Like every other city, Winnipeg has to spend money on both public transport and road infrastructure. It's not a question of if one gets the other doesn't, but rather a question of what is the best use of the resources.