SkyTrain is a much better rapid transit choice than LRT, a letter writer argues.

SkyTrain is a much better rapid transit choice than LRT, a letter writer argues.

SkyTrain versus LRT

Other cities have made the right choice with SkyTrain systems.

I would like to comment on the disadvantages of LRT over SkyTrain:

• LRT is much slower than SkyTrain as it runs on the surface and has to stop at the traffic lights.

• LRT will increase congestion. It will share roadways with other vehicles. Thus it will make rush-hour worse and will slow traffic and waste time

• LRT stops won’t attract development as much as SkyTrain stations do.

• LRT will have fewer riders as compared with SkyTrain. Thus the loss of revenue to TransLink would be worth billions of dollars over the next 100 years or so.

• SkyTrain will make thousands of drivers get out of their cars whereas the LRT won’t be able to do that.

• SkyTrain takes less travel time than LRT. The value of the time savings would run into billions of dollars over  its life.

• Because SkyTrain will generate more ticket revenues and offer huge time savings, SkyTrain is much cheaper than LRT.

All other cities in the Lower Mainland – Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster  and Coquitlam – have made the smart choice by choosing SkyTrain as their cities’ rapid transit system. Even Broadway-UBC line is being planned as a SkyTrain line.

Why Surrey is insisting on having LRT, I don’t understand.

 

Kuldip Pelia

 

Surrey Now Leader