Editor:
Re: Bridging the rapid transit gap, Community Comment, July 20
The piece by ML Burke has more holes than Swiss cheese. The claim that the Canada Line is an "unprecedented success" is sheer nonsense.
The Canada Line's station platforms are a mere 40 metres long and can handle only two-car trains and effectively has half the capacity of the rest of the light-metro system, which has station platforms 80 metres long and can handle four-and six-car trains of Mk.1 2 stock.
For added insult, the Canada Line is not compatible in operation with the proprietary ALRT/ART light metro system.
The Canada Line is the only heavy rail metro in the world built as a light metro and has less capacity than a simple tram costing a fraction to build.
The Canada Line has been effectively at capacity during peak hours because all South Delta and Surrey buses, as well as all Richmond buses, are forced to transfer their passengers onto the Canada Line if they wish to go to Vancouver.
Internationally, the Canada Line is seen as a bit of a joke, especially when its operating costs are about three times more than comparable light rail operations.
Rail transit is not part of the proposed George Massey Tunnel bridge replacement and if rails are not laid when the bridge is built, they never will, as engineering a bridge for rail traffic is quite different than for cars.
The current Liberal government only builds regional rail projects for photo-ops at election time (note: the Evergreen Line's opening has been delayed to just before next year's election) and the massive costs for extending the Canada Line across the South Arm of the Fraser, including the virtual rebuilding of the original line to increase capacity, would amount to well over $5 billion.
There are efficient and affordable ways to provide rail transit, but I'm afraid the B.C. Liberals are blind, deaf and mute to such proposals.
Under the B.C. Liberal leadership, the Metro Vancouver region has passed the point of no return with public transit solutions and the future is bleak with rubber and asphalt solutions, including new bridges and highways to pretend they are improving gridlock and pollution, while the opposite, increased congestion and pollution, happens.
The proposed multibillion-dollar bridge, without rail, is a harbinger of things to come.
D. Malcolm Johnston
