Editor: I would like to start by saying that anyone who may think that LRT is better than SkyTrain does not know or understand the differences between the two.
The LRT system is an at grade level train system. It will have to cross every crossroad on its route causing the traffic to stop every four minutes and on Fraser Highway there are 24 intersections with eight of them being major forethought. Those interruptions are on top of the regular stops at those intersections.
The time travel for LRT from 91原创 to Surrey is 35 to 40 minutes as long as there are no accidents on the route.
LRT is very old style of technology and it went away years ago when car came in because cars were faster. A few governments have brought in LRT as a lower cost to SkyTrain. But LRT cost more to operate when you start adding the cost of the accident the trains are getting into and low ridership.
Since Diane Watts and the Mayors council decided that they would pick LRT over the public's demand for SkyTrain the cost of land in the Surrey area where the larger portion of land is needed has gone up by 30 per cent. SkyTrain does not have the same land demand as LRT.
Now look at SkyTrain, first it is a above ground independent system that does not interfere with the existing road structure. We call it SkyTrain because it sits in the sky above the road.
The time travel for SkyTrain from 91原创 to Surrey is 15 to 20 minutes and it would be connected to the SkyTrain system that already is built in Surrey. This would allow you to ride the same train from 91原创 all the way to downtown Vancouver without having to get out of your seat.
I find it funny that [a letter writer] would say that SkyTrain was obsolete back in 1983 which was the year it was first built. Because it was introduced as the most modern for of rapid transportation and it has served the Lower Mainland very well over its life.
The biggest problem with the transit is the people running it.
They have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on the compass card the does not work 100 pre cent. But yet they couldn鈥檛 spend the $30 million for a back up system on the EXPO line so the break down can be corrected quicker.
SkyTrain鈥檚 capital costs are only 10 per cent more than LRT according to Translink鈥檚 own information.
Which the government saves a little bit of money now but the public will pay every time after that in the form of lost time with the LRT in place.
But what they don鈥檛 tell you is the LRT is going to create more road congestion from the LRT stopping all traffic crossing. If you drive any type of commercial vehicle like taxis and also transport companies get out and talk to you city councillors and mayor and ask them who will pay you to sit in traffic waiting for the LRT to go through.
I hope this helps people see the difference between LRT and SkyTrain.
Alex Hannig,
91原创
.
