Raise the Hammer
By Adrian Duyzer
Published February 04, 2010
In an editorial piece entitled LRT case more than numbers published today in The Spectator, Lee Prokaska comes out strongly in favour of LRT:
It is no stretch at all to suggest that if light rail transit is built in Hamilton, existing transit users will eagerly jump aboard. It is equally no stretch to suggest transit use will increase, likely in a substantial way.
Having said that, we must remember that in any discussion of LRT and our city, transit use numbers don't tell the whole story and never will. LRT means more to this city than simply moving people from place to place in a convenient, environment-friendly way.
Other communities have found LRT brings a ripple effect, one that can energize a community, create new and exciting ventures and inject a sense of boldness and hope into a faltering landscape.
In vivid contrast with another recent piece published in The Spec, Ms. Prokaska relies on the facts, pointing out that there are already almost enough trips on the Eastgate Square to McMaster University corridor - 25,000 to 30,000 each day - to reach the break-even point for an LRT system, predicted at 34,000 trips per day.
Kudos to Ms. Prokaska and The Spectator are well-deserved for this superb piece.
P.S.: have you written your MPP yet about LRT?
By z jones (registered) | Posted February 04, 2010 at 12:54:45
Like I said in another comment I think they're trying to eat their cake and have it too. I'm sure they really do editorially support light rail (you'd have to be loony not to) but they're still willing to stoke ignorant fear and controversy in the opinion pages (and even in their straight reports) to sell papers, even as they take a more lofty stance on the editorial page.
By jason (registered) | Posted February 04, 2010 at 15:23:18
they have said that they editorial support LRT. And why not? It would mean a great improvement to the business climate and economic climate in Hamilton along with enhancing quality of life and our urban neighbourhoods.
The spec's editors have never been the problem per se, other than perhaps not 'editing' pieces that are horrendously full of untruthful 'facts' and wrong information.
By frank (registered) | Posted February 09, 2010 at 09:24:05
I don't normally respond to you ASmith but you're stupidity is appalling... Have you been around the city lately? Have you read the proposal for LRT? It includes replacement of parts or sections of the trunk sewers on King/Main and James (the giant ones that are currently inaccessible and too large to reline) and if you take a gander at the WTP on Woodward you'll notice that they're doing a lot of upgrading there (or if you'd been paying attention to the news stories in late December/early January you'd know that as well). If you drive around on any given day you'll also be able to find a relining crew somewhere in the city hard at work relining watermains and sewers.
Option 1 is already in progress...time to get onto option 2.
By zookeeper (registered) | Posted February 09, 2010 at 09:34:14
Noooooooo Frank! Replying to our resident dismal scientist is like speaking the name of Candlejack. Hang on, someone's at the door--
By highwater (registered) | Posted February 09, 2010 at 11:27:51
If you drive around on any given day...
A Smith doesn't have a license.
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