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Letters: $4 billion could buy us a lot of LRT

$4 billion could buy us a lot of LRT, about 160 km worth!
massey-tunnel-getty-images
Massey Tunnel. Photo: Getty Images

Editor:

In regards to the tunnel option for the Massey tunnel replacement and a recent letter from Preston Baggot, quote: "........... without an option for LRT it will be obsolete..............."

And somehow a bridge will be different?

TransLink does not operate LRT, nor plans to build with LRT. In fact TransLink's planners have little knowledge of LRT as the region currently builds with much more expensive light metro and to date has rejected LRT.

One just does not add tracks on a bridge for rail transit, the bridge must be designed to operate with rail, especially true of a cable-stayed bridge and with no current planning for LRT, no tracks will be laid on the bridge, demonstrating that no rail transit will cross the bridge.

There is only one bridge so designed for LRT or the modern tram or streetcar and that is the Granville St. Bridge and no tram has ever crossed.

The question I ask is why are we building a new bridge or tunnel at all, as supposedly we must reduce auto traffic significantly to comply with the government global warming targets?

$4 billion could buy us a lot of LRT, about 160 km worth!

That is something to think about!

Malcolm Johnston