Quote:
Originally Posted by Zmonkey
The province should take over and change the scope. Move it all above ground. Cut the costs and deliver what is suppose to be built.
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If oil prices remain low, the province is looking at 6 billion deficit next year, so nothing will be built in the foreseeable future.
That said, if the prices recover, the only question is what donors are influencing what decisions. It seems like the Seton/Mahogany developers will press forward for the SE leg - which should be affordable - especially if they avoid some complex integration into the core.
Why the SE line isn't running at surface level on loop around 6th and 5th Avenue (like the original plan for the BRT) downtown remains a puzzle to me? That would be far more affordable than tunnels or even elevated.
As for the North, it sound likes they re-opening the Deerfoot Valley LRT plans, abandoned by the city years ago. An Airdrie, far North suburb, and Airport connection before joining up with the Blue Line? I'm a little more skeptical on this one, but I'd take anything over nothing.
That said, it would still be possible to build a low cost BRT to service the Beddington, Inner City communities for pretty cheap.