Comment 26784

By Civic Values (anonymous) | Posted September 30, 2008 at 17:09:02

>A billion dollar train is not needed for daily survival.

Public transit is needed for daily survival - more than 10% of our city already uses the HSR. I was contrasting public investment into auto infrastructure, which benefits some citizens exclusively, with public investment in transit, which is inclusive (poor, disabled, young, elderly).

>Who is even asking for rail service to the airport anyway?

Not me. I'm an opponent of aerotropolis. On my response to the rapid transit public consultation, I argued that the a-line go as far as Mohawk, and that other lines should be constructed along Mohawk, and along Barton.

>I'm struggling to get by and support a family on a small salary. My neighborhood is not serviced by transit. I resent that taxes will have to skyrocket on all levels to pay for this.

Understood. But understand this: your low density mode of existence(suburban? rural?) claims a larger proportion of public money for water, sewer, ambulance, fire, etc. Because you drive long distances every day, you consume a much greater amount of the public roadway, and generate a much greater need for road maintenance. So "we" subsidize you, perhaps to a greater extent. (Remember: a lot of taxpaying white collar workers live downtown.) And the subsidies that you consume are ecologically unsustainable. As a municipality, we can work through these differences democratically. But not with the crass attitude that you display.

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