Bumper-to-bumper
Interesting letter from Margie Pratt in today's Abbotsford News, although I'm not sure she totally grasps the issue:When I stand on the overpass on McCallum Road at rush hour in Abbotsford, Highway 1 is like a bumper-to-bumper parking lot.
People commute from Chillwack and further east to Vancouver to go to work, and then back again.
Consider the emissions from all those vehicles! What kind of legacy are we leaving to our children and grandchildren?
The immediate solution would be to stop building more highways and get TransLink in place!
Certainly there will be a great initial cost, but a lot can be realized from tolls at Port Mann and the Patullla bridges. Isn't that how we paid for the Coquihalla?
She's right: Highway 1 is gridlocked. And she's right: TransLink is part of the solution. But so is a twinned Port Mann Bridge. How else can tolls be collected, unless more Bridge capacity is added?
There is no magic bullet solution to gridlock. More transit won't solve it. Neither will simply building more roads. We need both!
Meanwhile, The Abby News also gives its tentative blessing to Abbotsford becoming a part of TransLink, although they totally overrate the quality of south Fraser bus service:
The past weekend aside, Abbotsford generally enjoys slightly lower prices on average than GVRD communities. But certainly not 12 cents lower. By sacrificing a few cents worth of lower gas prices, Abbotsford residents may be able to go from having a terrible transit system to being part of one of the nation's best.
Given present gas prices here, it's worth council looking at becoming part of TransLink.
2 Comments:
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"How else can tolls be collected, unless more Bridge capacity is added?"
Jordan, A few questions:
- When you say "tolls" do you mean congestion charging? Congestion charging is different than regular tolls - it serves a different purpose and is usually implemented differently (for example time specific). Many transporation experts feel that congestion charging is one effective tool to combat congestion.
- Why does bridge capacity need to be added for congestion charging? London and Stockholm have done it without adding capacitiy. Now, NYC is going to do it without adding capacitiy.
- What about that coffee in Langley sometime?
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