Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevo26
It was quite an eye-opener hearing how far ahead of London cities like Hamilton and Kitchener are when it comes to mass transit. The K-W area already has a number of dedicated bus transitways and it's already getting started on developing a light rail line.
Hamilton is actively working on a light-rail line and recently secured $3 million in provincial funding to begin initial studies.
The K-W and Hamilton areas aren't that much bigger than London, so what's London's excuse for not seriously looking into light rail??
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I have emailed our city councillors several times over the past few years and had some of my letters published in the LFP asking these questions. Our mayor and city council just don't get it. They have no vision whatsoever and we as Londoners are paying the price. They had no vision to build a highway in the city in the 70's when the government would pay for it and they have no vision today to build LRT when the government is willing to pay for it. It is time for a new mayor in this city. Below is a letter that I wrote to the LFP. It was published in the VOX POP opinion section.
Letter to Editor
UNLESS otherwise noted, these letters are to be considered unedited. The opinions expressed in the letters and comments are those of the writers and not of The London Free Press.
RAILWAY
Light rail transit in future requires city planning now
It's time that our city politicians and planners put aside the bottled water and drive-through bans and considered the future of Londoners.
Recently Metrolinx, which is an organization created by the government of Ontario, announced a $50-billion transit project to improve transit in the Greater Toronto Area. This includes not only the city of Toronto, but also Hamilton, Mississauga, Brampton and other outlying cities. Metrolinx's plan is to build light rail rapid transit lines all across the Greater Toronto Area.
In Waterloo Region, they are doing the same thing with a $300-$500-million light rail project that will provide a transit line from Waterloo to Cambridge. In Ottawa, they already have light rail, but they are significantly expanding their system.
If we considered other centres across Canada, we would see the same rapid transit plans being drawn up and talked about from Victoria to Halifax.
So I guess the obvious question to London planners and politicians is this: Why are we sitting on our hands in this time of generous government handouts when we could be doing the same as Waterloo?
Our transit planners' grand plans are for more of the same. They call it bus rapid transit, but only two of the words in that phrase are correct. It's really just bus transit.
Cities that build light rail transit systems are the real "smart cities" because rail transit gets people out of their cars and onto fast and efficient trains.
Calgary and Edmonton knew this when they were London's size and they planned for the future. Today they have terrific light rail systems.
When I hear our politicians talk, they speak of how progressive and creative London is. But when I see their plans, I wonder who they are comparing us to: Teeswater?
Is it any wonder that we consistently lag other cities in the rankings? Is it any wonder that Waterloo Region has now replaced London as Canada's 10th largest metropolitan area?
If our city wants to stop drive-throughs, they should create a city that encourages alternative transportation. Oh well, I am sure this will fall on deaf ears as our council is too busy finding something else to ban.
POSTED BY: Rob Dore, London
POSTED ON: October 8, 2008
EDITORS NOTE: As published in The London Free Press on Oct. 8, 2008.