And so WCE to Abbotsford will likely become a thing (once Abbotsford joins TransLink); it's low-cost, low-reward.
The interurban won't, because you could spend an entire Ontario Line's worth of funding on it, and it won't change the fact that nobody in the Valley wants to waste half an hour each way detouring to Huntingdon.
Meanwhile, the metro's streets are just as clogged as the TCH, and have much higher demand than
22,030 drivers and
3,900 potential train passengers. The Langley Expo extension alone is set to carry over 3x as many people as that, and even that one took the better part of a decade to get off the ground.
In other words,
until the Valley comes up with a proper commuter line that actual gets value for its money, the Province needs to be more resourceful with what little money we have, and will so put SkyTrain first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ssiguy
... The time to do this is now because in 30 years it maybe too late as people choose to live in far flung suburbs where there is no viable transit at all and suburban rail helps build TOD. The rest of the world is realizing that ever expanding subways is not financially viable and are instead building up their suburban rail systems to serve regional travel at a fraction of the cost............it's a policy that Vancouver desperately needs to learn.
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Funny, it's the opposite in Montreal, Toronto, LA and Melbourne (among others)... where the suburban rail is being built (or rebuilt with grade separations) to act more like a metro.
Abbotsford could build TOD - or at least a decent bus grid - right this minute.
2/3rds of all their commutes are inside the city. Change needs to come from within, or from actual, usable transit - not a crappy tourist train.
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