tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post2242191605352921640..comments2024-03-28T17:34:21.418-07:00Comments on The South Fraser Blog: Why the Interuban will not work todayNathan Pachalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-83047254334319854312008-11-19T18:49:00.000-08:002008-11-19T18:49:00.000-08:00There is much wrong with this article. First, the ...There is much wrong with this article. First, the BC Hydro Railway was sold off because the Social Credit regime DID NOT WANT MUCH CHEAPER LRT OPERATED ON THE ROUTE.<BR/><BR/>Why? After the electrification of the North East Coal Railway, there was serious talk of 'hanging wire' once again on the route and operating electric vehicles. A quick sale and no embarrassment to the expensive SkyTrain metro system.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, the author brings up the density issue, which is a 'man of straw' argument. No one can answer what density is needed to sustain a light railway.<BR/><BR/>There is no business case for any passenger line on the route unless it services Vancouver. The hype and hoopla argument for a Scott Road/SkyTrain, to Langley route is just that, hype and hoopla. Unless the interurban services Vancouver, just as the old interurban did, it will remain a curiosity and not a benefit.Light Rail Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422776386583809414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-54154637002122863022008-11-19T18:00:00.000-08:002008-11-19T18:00:00.000-08:00I received the following in my email as a comment ...I received the following in my email as a comment for this post…<BR/>---<BR/>The problem is, the IRTSC proposal (light rail down South Fraser Way) is for 25-30 years down the road, as discussed by the City Staff presentation. The map you show, assuming light rail down Highway 1 connecting to South Fraser Way, would take a long time to build (at great expense) and would leave out most of Abbotsford and all of Chilliwack for 25-30 years until light rail finally makes its way down South Fraser Way.<BR/><BR/>Also, the Interurban corridor would make an ideal bypass route through Milner. Why doesn't the map also show that? (I assume 200th St. would have quite a few stops and would be a headache for people traveling, for example, between Abbotsford and Langley City or beyond.)<BR/><BR/>When people talk about a "business case," what do they actually mean? (Not rhetorical... honestly I'd like an answer.) Because we're not building light rail only for current ridership focusing on minimizing subsidies, as I believe "solid business case" implies. We're building it for sustainable economic and residential development. To me, that criteria far outweighs any concerns with any short-term "business case." We need to remember that Abbotsford is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada.<BR/><BR/>That's why we need to build NOW, and not wait 20-30 years for rail to make its way through Abbotsford and to Chilliwack and eventually Hope.<BR/><BR/>At the end of the day, I agree with your last paragraph, with the important caveat that we urgently need to get in place as well at least a basic Interurban service in the next 2-3 years, all the way out to Chilliwack... To send an immediate, strong signal to City Planners and to developers as to the future growth patterns of the region, and to, maybe most importantly, show the public that light rail is a real solution, and to inspire people to demand more. Seeing is believing, after all.<BR/>---<BR/>To respond:<BR/>We all want a system that can connect the most people, in the shorted time, with a reasonable balance between speed and cost. I'm not saying that we shouldn’t use the Interurban corridor to get to Abbotsford, but if the Provinces want to build rapid bus, maybe we could get light rail instead. As I said it’s only a thought… As far as Langley goes, In order to serve the most people in the Township, we would need rapid transit on 200th Street. If this could connect to whatever comes from Abbotsford and Surrey/Langley City, it would help with the whole freight issues around the Page Sub. <BR/>I think the business case for the South Fraser mean that our transit system should be running through urban areas, not ALR when possible. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, we do need rail now, and all the local government are talking about it. I’m not saying that we should scrap the idea of using the Interurban, but there many be some detours from it original course that will serve our region better…Nathan Pachalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.com