Comment 35860

By seancb (registered) - website | Posted November 29, 2009 at 16:44:05

People respond to incentives. We currently give a high incentive to use a car for all work/play/chores. Unfortunately, growth and development which happens in response to peoples' choice to drive everywhere tends to be low density and wasteful. This limits the number, size and scope of these developments which in turn limits the capability to generate tax income. The end result is that the cost of servicing developments can easily outweigh the income, putting the city into a downward spiral. Sound familiar?

Smith, you already understand the argument about responding to incentives - every few minutes on this very site you use it as a basis for your "lower tax rates" argument (which we are still waiting to read your full fledged article on).

A properly built LRT system provides a transportation option that is more convenient than driving for many trips currently taken by car. For in-town trips and errands, a well designed transit system is faster, easier and cheaper than getting into a car, battling traffic, finding and paying for parking etc. LRT wil not eliminate car trips from most peoples' lives but it will replace some of them.

People respond to incentives - and a properly built rapid transit system gives people many incentives to use it. Our current public transit system is not properly built, so ridership is low (the incentive is not there).

By providing a system that people will actually use, the city is opening the doors to more dense development. This means more people and services in a smaller area, which translates to a much higher tax-income-to-servicing-cost ratio. Which could easily translate to lower tax rates.

Smith, did you know that an LRT could lower your taxes?

I vote down for offensiveness and up for humour. I cast no votes based on my level of agreement.

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