Tom Durning wonders if “this type of thought win out in the transit referendum?” From the Abbotsford Times:
Abbotsford council has nixed plans to develop a long anticipated regional Fraser Valley Express bus linking the city to Chilliwack and Langley and tying the communities to the Metro Vancouver transit system. … Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman, among others, were baffled by the outcome, especially as just prior to the vote council had unanimously passed a motion allowing it opt out of the plan in the future if the proposed costs were too great. …
According to FVRD staff estimates, the cost of the route would work out to a cost of $10.57 per residential property in Abbotsford and $9.07 per property in Chilliwack.
Prior to the Abbotsford council vote, Coun. Braun noted that Langley, part of the Metro Vancouver TransLink system, would be part of the bus route but wasn’t contributing to the cost. He questioned whether the decision for the route was premature.
“I don’t want taxpayers of Abbotsford to be paying for something that would be benefiting Langley.”
Braun also said he needed more information about the costs and fare box revenue, and that Abbotsford and Mission should look for efficiencies in their local transit system before undertaking the cost subsidizing of a regional route. He also questioned whether there was demand for the inter-city service. “I don’t hear taxpayers clamouring for this service,” he said. …
That’s the result of getting politicians on board making decisions rather than planners.
Just look at the mess Toronto is in regarding transit planning (largely because the Province is deferring to the City of Toronto, which can’t decide what it wants (think flip-flopping with the Canada Line vote at Metro Vancouver)).