Decision 2010: Calgary Municipal Election

[Calgarian]

Lol, I'm still not sure what Barb Higgins stands for, she talks about a lot of generalities but no specifics. A vote for Barb is a wasted vote.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Lol, I'm still not sure what Barb Higgins stands for, she talks about a lot of generalities but no specifics. A vote for Barb is a wasted vote.

I don't know if Nenshi's idea to realign the north LRT along centre street is too costly of an idea. What is the economic basis for this as none of the candidates are an expert in LRT construction costs or revenue modelling? Barb Higgins supports the LRT route as proposed by Plan It. She is also prepared to champion projects like preserving the money set aside for a central library ($40 million), plus engaging the private sector, province, and federal government for additional funds. Her stance on the airport tunnel is also different than her peers, where she proposes a three way funding arrangement. This would address the issue of the cost-effectiveness of the airport tunnel project.

Some of these priorities are outlined in her policy book with more specificity:
http://barbhiggins.ca/assets/files/Barb-Higgins-Policy-Book.pdf

I think people need to be open to looking at all candidates including but not limited to Nenshi. I don't think any vote is "wasted".

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Radley77

I don't know if Nenshi's idea to realign the north LRT along centre street is too costly of an idea. What is the economic basis for this as none of the candidates are an expert in LRT construction costs or revenue modelling? Barb Higgins supports the LRT route as proposed by Plan It. She is also prepared to champion projects like preserving the money set aside for a central library ($40 million), plus engaging the private sector, province, and federal government for additional funds. Her stance on the airport tunnel is also different than her peers, where she proposes a three way funding arrangement. This would address the issue of the cost-effectiveness of the airport tunnel project.

Some of these priorities are outlined in her policy book with more specificity:
http://barbhiggins.ca/assets/files/Barb-Higgins-Policy-Book.pdf

I think people need to be open to looking at all candidates including Nenshi. I disagree that people should be calling other people's votes "wasted".

Would there be any case for the current NLRT route combined with a Centre St streetcar? or would that just end up being a more expensive version of the current BRT?

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Radley77

I don't know if Nenshi's idea to realign the north LRT along centre street is too costly of an idea. What is the economic basis for this as none of the candidates are an expert in LRT construction costs or revenue modelling? Barb Higgins supports the LRT route as proposed by Plan It. She is also prepared to champion projects like preserving the money set aside for a central library ($40 million), plus engaging the private sector, province, and federal government for additional funds. Her stance on the airport tunnel is also different than her peers, where she proposes a three way funding arrangement. This would address the issue of the cost-effectiveness of the airport tunnel project.

Some of these priorities are outlined in her policy book with more specificity:
http://barbhiggins.ca/assets/files/Barb-Higgins-Policy-Book.pdf

I think people need to be open to looking at all candidates including but not limited to Nenshi. I don't think any vote is "wasted".

The project is so far off it doesn't really matter what anyone thinks in the matter at this point in time. There is no harm in doing a study to figure out what the cost differential would be (including of course the cost of using cpacity on the NE - W line) so council can make a good decision as to whether to start acquiring properties, placing development holds and what not.

As for the library, the $40 million set aside IS provincial funds. Federal funds, there are not enough to make a 1/3rd contribution to every project Calgary does because Calgary does a lot more than the Canadian average in capital expenditures per capita so securing federal funding for the library is just reordering our request to the feds and de-funding another project.

Asking for a three way arrangement to pay for new projects is bogus - we wouldn't have the West, Saddle Ridge, or Tuscany LRT extensions if we waited for 1/3rd arrangements. Heck, on those projects, they are funded basically 100% by the province. What is her policy person stuck in? 1999?

A 1/3rd contribution for the SE LRT would adsorb ALL of the current federal funding envelop for more than 6 years. Quite frankly, if we wait for the feds on these projects, they will never get built.

[Bigtime]

I just did the advanced vote, add a vote each to Nenshi and Pashak for the big tally on the 18th!

[Wooster]

CBC mayoral debate from a few days ago:

http://www.cbc.ca/calgary/features/calgaryvotes2010/debate.html

[mooky]

I know I'm asking a lot, but I just made a second donation and I challenge all Nenshi supporters to make a second donation to make the push to the finish line.

Whatever you can spare, 10, 20, 50 dollars, whatever, it all helps! Don't let Ric win!

[danofkent]

Originally Posted by Koolfire

It nice to finally see a poll for the wards. http://votecalgary.ca/_images/Aldermanic%20Poll%20Results%202010:10:07.pdf I can't believe how wide open Ward 4 is. If you live in that vote your vote is really going to matter. Get out there and vote.

Doing a bit of back of the envelope math. If the norm turn out of 10,000 to 15,000 votes for the ward means the leader has only 600-900 votes. Wow.

I'm suspicious of an opinion poll which forecasts a turnout of 84%. Only 33% voted last time and the last Federal and Provincial elections had province-wide turnouts of 52% and 40% respectively.

That figure, along with the high proportion of don't knows make me doubt the usefulness of the poll generally.

[srperrycgy]

Originally Posted by mooky

I know I'm asking a lot, but I just made a second donation and I challenge all Nenshi supporters to make a second donation to make the push to the finish line.

Whatever you can spare, 10, 20, 50 dollars, whatever, it all helps! Don't let Ric win!

Donation made.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by danofkent

I'm suspicious of an opinion poll which forecasts a turnout of 84%. Only 33% voted last time and the last Federal and Provincial elections had province-wide turnouts of 52% and 40% respectively.

That figure, along with the high proportion of don't knows make me doubt the usefulness of the poll generally.

Yeah well, the poll still has validity - distribute the undecideds straight line and you still get the same results (order of candidates, amount of spread, etc). People always say they are going to vote - for municipal elections it is always a good idea to ask did you vote in the last muni election to at least generate a somewhat accurate sub sample, at least in Calgary with the very low turn out. All that is inside baseball, doesn't really matter to any public pollster really.

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by Radley77

I don't know if Nenshi's idea to realign the north LRT along centre street is too costly of an idea. What is the economic basis for this as none of the candidates are an expert in LRT construction costs or revenue modelling? Barb Higgins supports the LRT route as proposed by Plan It.

Nenshi just recognizes, just like many people on this forum, that it makes absolutely zero sense to put an LRT route where nobody lives. There's just too much to gain and way too much to lose by not at least re-examining this alignment. The 110,000 people that would be by-passed by the nose creek alignment deserve an LRT too. This is a piece of infrastructure that will be around for potentially centuries - it would be very, very shortsighted to just go with the cheapest route of least resistance.

[Wooster]

Originally Posted by mooky

I know I'm asking a lot, but I just made a second donation and I challenge all Nenshi supporters to make a second donation to make the push to the finish line.

Whatever you can spare, 10, 20, 50 dollars, whatever, it all helps! Don't let Ric win!

Agreed. I've worked tirelessly for this candidate. He does need the money for the final push - adverstising.

[nick.flood]

Originally Posted by mooky

I know I'm asking a lot, but I just made a second donation and I challenge all Nenshi supporters to make a second donation to make the push to the finish line.

Whatever you can spare, 10, 20, 50 dollars, whatever, it all helps! Don't let Ric win!

Second donation submitted as well.

[Radley77]

Don't get me wrong, I'd like a Centre Street route as well. It's just that it would be cost-prohibitive or not result in efficiency improvements as already reviewed by transportation engineers.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/north_central_calgary_transit_corridor_review.pdf

Why revisit this, when one could allocate more resources toward implementation of Plan It?

[Doug_Cgy]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Lol, I'm still not sure what Barb Higgins stands for, she talks about a lot of generalities but no specifics. A vote for Barb is a wasted vote.

I think the "bolded" is an unfair statement. Are you saying as Barb Higgin's supporter myself, I should just stay home? Regardless of who anyone supports, I think its important to encourage people to become involved and VOTE.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Don't get me wrong, I'd like a Centre Street route as well. It's just that it would be cost-prohibitive or not result in efficiency improvements as already reviewed by transportation engineers.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/north_central_calgary_transit_corridor_review.pdf

Why revisit this, when one could allocate more resources toward implementation of Plan It?

It is important to remember that that report was done at a time when there was no money in the kity - at that point, 2006, the West LRT technical report recommended an above ground LRT instead of underground at Westbrook Mall on the west line to save money for example. Before Stelmach's MSI, before Harper doubled the New Deal for Cities and Communities Money. The "not result in efficiency improvements as already reviewed by transportation engineers" was in reference to an at grade system, and the efficiency was for service to the outer burbs, not the city as a whole.

When you read the report you linked to, there are no cost comparisons between an underground route and the Nose Creek Valley line. Heck, there are no cost estimates of the Nose Creek Valley line!

The report sees a problem, transit in communities north of 96th Ave for which the city left after room for exclusive ROW, and proposes the cheapest way to do it. It examines LRT service along Centre St and concludes out of hand that any option but underground (without saying it) would not work. It sees that with no pressure from communities north of 96th Ave, the bus network would continue to provide adequate service south of there.

We have no idea which option is best or not. Not only that, we don't know how much money we would save on rationalized bus services for each option, how much development they would spur, even ridership projections for the two!

Realistically it is around 15 years off before this line is even seriously considered for construction, likely even longer all things considered. Calgary has a long history of doing multiple studies on lines, and considering this was not even a full study, continueing to look at it is fine. For example, to my best recollection, there are West LRT route studies from 77, 83, 88, 2006, and 2008. There is more than enough time for another study before spending big money.

[suburb]

Fantastic! Naheed has his materials out in multiple languages now. He`s really following through on his promise to engage as many people as possible.

http://www.nenshi.ca/new/info-in-other-languages

You can compare his commitment to other candidates don`t even return calls when asked to participate in debates. Actually, there isn`t a comparison

[suburb]

Originally Posted by suburb

Fantastic! Naheed has his materials out in multiple languages now. He`s really following through on his promise to engage as many people as possible.

http://www.nenshi.ca/new/info-in-other-languages

You can compare his commitment to other candidates don`t even return calls when asked to participate in debates. Actually, there isn`t a comparison

Here are some of the Facebook response to this:

*
James Young
While many of Calgary's mayoral candidates talk about getting new Calgarians involved in the voting process, Naheed Nenshi is doing something about it. Election material in 23 different languages.

A candidate who leads by example. A novel i...dea.See More
5 hours ago
*
Connie Jensen Fabulous!
5 hours ago
*
Kate Schutz a mayoral candidate that recognizes that the majority of Calgarians are actually now so called minorities?! Amazing!!! Thanks Naheed for a practical and realistic approach to our city.
5 hours ago
*
Dasha Morrison I dropped a Chinese handout to my next door neighbors. They have so little English that in a year of living here, we get only smiles and waves. I'm sure they'll appreciate info in their own tongue.
4 hours ago
*
Jessica M WEll states James young! thank you
4 hours ago
*
Pam Zylik This is amazing. I've never heard of this being offered before. I am so proud to support Naheed, and am simply astounded by the level of commitment of these volunteers! Great job, everyone! Thank you!
3 hours ago
*
Filippo Angelini Do any other significant candidates offer this?
3 hours ago
*
Toni Lee Topilka It's details like this that show me how thoughtfully you would run our city. bravo!
2 hours ago
*
Nick Flood This just shows yet again why Naheed is the best man to be our city's mayor.
about an hour ago

[suburb]

From Naheed`s events page ... four events over the next two days:

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Meet Naheed Nenshi in Bridgeland!
12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM
Tazza Deli and Grill
1105 – 1 Avenue NE
More details >

Mayoral Candidate Forum
Hosted by Just Vote Society
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Deer Run Community Centre
2223 – 146 Avenue SE

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Calgary Public Library All Candidates Mayoralty Forum
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (followed by reception)
Calgary Public Library, John Dutton Theatre
616 Macleod Trail SE

African Caribbean Mayoral Forum
Starting at 6:00 PM
The Latin Caballero
3745 Memorial Drive SE (Beside Walmart on 36th st & Memorial)
More info >

[Bassic Lab]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Don't get me wrong, I'd like a Centre Street route as well. It's just that it would be cost-prohibitive or not result in efficiency improvements as already reviewed by transportation engineers.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/north_central_calgary_transit_corridor_review.pdf

Why revisit this, when one could allocate more resources toward implementation of Plan It?

Implementation of Plan It is not really a costly endeavour. It should save the city a significant amount. Pressing for denser greenfield development and greater redevelopment of the current built environment involves changing attitudes, not spending money. It does require spending money but when it comes to transportation it simply means reallocation of funds that were meant to service sprawl, like constructing new expressways, towards providing greater capacity within the current confines of the city. It is not Plan It or a Centre Street Subway. If anything, a successful implementation of Plan It only makes the Centre Street Subway a far more valuable, and perhaps necessary, piece of infrastructure. It could allow the population of the established north central communities to grow massively without creating a transportation nightmare.

If you're worried about efficiency improvements than the Centre Street Subway is even more important. As a more direct route, it cuts three kilometres off of the line's length. This should save about five minutes of travel time but it is hard to give a great estimate since there would be additional stations along Centre Street not needed for the Nose Creek alignment while also avoiding stops along Memorial. Speaking of the North East Line, what is the true opportunity cost of interlining the North LRT with the W-NE LRT? It would ensure that, for perpetuity, capacity to the North and Northeast would be half of what it otherwise could be. How does that kind of service limitation jive with Plan It? Capacity along 7th Ave is essentially maxed out at present. Four car trains will give us another 33% pretty soon here but after that we are done until we move the NW-S LRT under 8th Ave. So we should solve capacity issues along 7th by burying one line only to turn right around and give ourselves the exact same problem?

The North Line will not realistically begin construction for a long time. The SELRT has priority for transportation planners and politicians. Transportation planners are beginning to see the 8th Ave subway as a need on par with it. We have time to rethink the flaws of the Nose Creek alignment and decide whether the cost savings are worth it.