Quote:
Originally Posted by spaustin
On the other hand, spending money on things like a widening Bayers Road or a third Harbour Bridge to "solve" a rush hour problem that, comparatively, is really not that bad and only exists for an hour or so a day would be a really ineffective use of limited funds.
|
I disagree completely with this attitude. Congestion results in a huge cost in terms of lost time, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. with zero benefit. It is horrible for the economy and overall quality of life in the city. The correct way to view the situation is to weigh the costs of transportation investment against the benefits they provide.
The argument that building more roads accomplishes nothing because it induces more traffic doesn't hold water. Travel times drop all the time when new roads are built, and even if the congestion ultimately returns to the same level there is more capacity so more people are traveling and the route is providing more value.
The reality in Halifax is that there's a modal split between different kinds of transportation. Hopefully it can be shifted over time in favour of transit but it's completely unrealistic to expect all new traffic to be accommodated by transit. What about trucks and deliveries, people who live in areas that cannot be served by transit, or people who must make lots of little trips every day for work? What about the buses themselves that add congestion to roads?
Some people don't like the idea of roads, and transit and bike lanes are trendier, but some new road construction is necessary in any growing city.