Quote:
Originally Posted by fatscat
Maybe. BRT is just as, if not more, performant (in respect to capacity, costs, people flow) as LRT and it's been mostly untested in Halifax. Our buses are understaffed and also, pretty empty (both different problems), and there aren't many ROWs operating right now that highlight the benefits of such a system. (I think Bayers would be the longest/most developed?)
I love LRT for many reasons (it's way more comfortable for one) but I find the LRT debate gets tied up for too long and the result is we build *nothing* instead. We can begin building more BRT tomorrow and when the time is right, convert that ROW to LRT. You only need to go look over at Toronto and its Transit City mess to see how this can play out (poorly)
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I see the LRT argument in the same light as extending BRT - we have actually needed this for many years, but are only considering it now. The ferry situation that people like to complain about is being necessitated because adequate ROWs for rail transit (or separated bus-only roadways, if one prefers buses over rail) weren't secured many years ago, when the land was available (and relatively cheap). Poor planning and slow execution is an old problem that continues being repeated, unfortunately.
I don't think it really matters whether people are moved by bus or rail, but it seems rail could have an advantage of being able to move more people, and be able to work in situations that would be impractical for buses (thinking of Keith's comment regarding using the BUP ROW for LRT, but also running elevated tracks in areas where ground-level ROWs are not possible, etc.).
I think the new ferry routes are a good idea, since it doesn't require a land ROW that doesn't exist, but they are still limited to harbour access. LRT could be run further out to communities where people currently rely on cars to get into the city because they don't have another option (thinking of Elmsdale, Lantz, etc, for example, as these communities are expanding and many residents work in HRM and thus have to commute).
The main point I was trying to make, though, is that we have experienced growth that hasn't been supported by infrastructure, so the future is now.
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