TEAM’s Cost-Effective Transit Plan

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TEAM for a Liveable Vancouver today issued their plan for significant improvements to transit throughout the city.

TEAM proposes to build 58km of Light Rapid Transit for the same cost as the 7km SkyTrain extension to UBC. Their plan improves transit right across the city, rather than on one specific route, and offers dramatic savings on vehicle emissions.

“For the same price as seven subway kilometres to UBC we can bring 58 kilometres of state-of-the-art light rail transit to every corner of the city,” said Hardwick. “This single decision, with input from the community, would have a transformational impact by extending rapid transit throughout our city.”

Moreover:

“Hardwick says 58 kilometres of light rail avoids tunnels and eliminates a massive source of carbon emissions. “Having multiple lines, rather than just one, takes cars off the road, and reduces congestion and greenhouse gases,” noted Hardwick. “Giving more people more options just makes good sense in so many ways that benefit our city.”

Stressing TEAM’s commitment to public input on such major decisions, she notes:

“I want to see our city and its neighbourhoods fully engaged in this discussion before any final decisions, but when tax dollars are involved, I want the most for our money, and that means a complete light rail network rather than a costly subway to just one neighbourhood,” added Hardwick. “More transit makes more neighbourhoods affordable, and dollar-for-dollar, 58 kilometres of transit beats seven kilometres of transit any day of the week.”

It is this kind of imaginative approach to problem solving that makes a TEAM majority on October 15 a vital part of Vancouver’s future.