The proposed rail link from downtown to Pearson should not be built till the following core changes are made:
1. To reduce noise and air pollution the trains must be electric, not diesel. The suggestion of "clean diesel" is not an acceptable solution. The increased upfront cost will reduce pollution to zero and pay for itself by saving healthcare dollars and lives.
2. The trains should make frequent stops and be fully connected to local public transit routes in Toronto, Malton and Georgetown with no extra fees above the local transit fare.
3. The project should be publicly-owned and operated rather than by private interests through a PPP (public-private partnership). PPPs cost extra because of higher private financing costs and profit taking. PPPs also mean loss of public control.
4. The train link should be financed not by federal, provincial or city taxes, but by collecting the rise in land values that it generates along the route and especially around the stops.
Like thousands of other Torontonians, we here in Davenport riding live near the proposed Union Station-to-Pearson rail link and share the concerns of the Weston Community Coalition. World class cities don't treat their citizens this way.
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Having had experience of railways throughout the world including airport railways I would like to make a few points.
ReplyDeleteI think the argument of diesel trains verses electric ones is spurious. The biggest impact of running diesel will be a worse ride for the on train passengers. Diesel trains are a mere bagatelle compared to the exhaust emissions from cars on your roads.
Experience suggests that stopping trains to the airport will not be successful or satisfactory to anyone. Locals will grow frustrated with the number or airport passengers on the train. Airport passengers will not be attracted by a ‘all things to all people’ train and stick to car and taxi for getting to the airport.
There are many models for financing train services. Suffice it to say that the best airport trains in the world are private. Just take a look at London, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm.
With the greatest respect, North America is not exactly a paragon of virtue in public transport.
@rb
ReplyDeleteActually, the argument for electric over diesel isn`t spurious. Electric trains accelerate, and break extremely quickly. That makes it possible to make more stops, and serve commuters along the same corridor. There`s not much point in having rail infrastructure running through so many commuter heavy places, and then not put it to it`s full potential.