Quote:
Originally Posted by shogged
From the Okotoks Western Wheel - Letters to the Editor
Transit extension will end Okotoks’ small town feel
Dear Editor,
I have to applaud our local politicians for being proactive in regards to the environment and the proposed light rail or LRT extension and there have been plenty of pros mentioned.
However, I assume most of the Okotoks residents have moved to our wonderful community to escape the city. By proposing a rail transit extension we are defeating the small town feel and becoming an extension of the city. This transit system will also make our community more accessible for more than just out of town shoppers, like criminals that prey on that small town honesty. This system will make it easier for these kinds of activities as well. Do we want the undesirables to have easier access to our quiet town? We already have 15-year-olds robbing our merchants, do we want more?
If you don’t like the commute or the price that comes along with it move back to the city. I like the idea that we have some distance between our town and the big city.
Lets allocate these funds to a much needed bullet train between Calgary and Edmonton, that I am sure will reduce way more greenhouse gas than a LRT extension to Okotoks and area.
Greg Baher
Okotoks
http://www.westernwheel.com/editorialpauls.htm
Laughed really hard at this one. I sent in my reply which included things such as, "you must be in serious denial to think that Okotoks isn't already just an extension of Calgary, ever heard of the term bedroom community?" and I also mentioned the lack of existing infrastructure in Edmonton and Calgary that would be needed to support a HSR. |
Yeah, there is going to be this resistance still. And keep in mind, that there are quite a few residents (such as myself) that don't travel to the city regularly.
However, in the bigger picture, you're absolutely right. Okotoks wouldn't be 21,000 and growth of 43% since 2001 if it was truly a stand-alone town. The biggest problem with the comments this person made is making it "accessible" to out-of-towners. As much as I like Okotoks, I don't know too many that get so bored in Calgary that they need to make the trip south....that applies to "all types".
Anyhow - no rail extension...it might just be a BRT line. What a lot of folks don't realize yet is bedroom community towns need to re-invent themselves as well, or they' just become irrelevant in the not-so-distant future.
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