LETTERS: LRT argument not about cost

Editor:

Re: Surrey defends LRT plan, May 22.

Editor:

Re: Surrey defends LRT plan, May 22.

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner is defending a new LRT (light-rail transit) ‘business’ plan because there is no economic transportation case for the original plan.

A recent study of four LRT lines in the U.K. concluded LRT does not reduce congestion; it does not takes people out of cars but instead pulls current transit users out of buses.

With this in mind, Hepner puts out a new plan that touts taxpayer-bought jobs and the benefits of spending billions so real estate developers can prosper from taxpayer paid-for infrastructure.

Worse yet is the underestimate of the cost, quoting a $2.1-billion price tag for 27 km of LRT. The most recent LRT line just south of us in Portland cost over $157m/km (Cdn).

LRT is more about a fashion statement than a cost-effective transit option. Surrey can’t afford and doesn’t need this multi-billion-dollar Hepner legacy project, when much more cost-efficient options exist.

Steven Feldman, Surrey

 

 

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