Posted on
December 15, 2010
by
Leong & Roozendaal (Re/Max Camosun)
It is starting to look like our wonderful little city will actually have a rail rapid transit system in the near future. I’m not saying that our bus system doesn’t work, but it really isn’t comprehensive enough to solve our regional transportation woes. With buses on the road, they just get caught in the same congestion that affects cars. The latest ideas involving rail – partially on existing roads and partially on railway right of ways – holds great promise.
What I am also seeing is a much greater level of agreement between commuters, municipalities, and businesses that this needs to happen. If you look back at how long it took us to replace the Memorial Arena, and how many false starts there were, the progress to date on rapid transit is amazing.
Even though my line of work as a Realtor means that I’ll still be stuck in my car most of the time, I am a huge proponent of rail rapid transit for Victoria. Yes, my tax bill will go up, I realize that. But, the benefits are many. Even though I can’t use the system fully, I will benefit from lower emissions from cars and maybe even enjoy fewer cars on the road.
I can also see that this system will bring our community together in a way that we have never seen before. Along upper Douglas, we can expect to see more re-development of an area that has fallen behind the rest of Victoria. In this area there will be new demand for high-density residential within a block or two of the line. Land costs are lower there so we can expect more affordable housing compared the downtown core.
What about the Westshore? I feel terrible right now when I look at all those people stuck in their cars. Not only is this adding to our pollution, but it is reducing the quality of life for all of those families. With a good system in place, we will greatly reduce the commute time, and the pollution.
Some say that this system isn’t necessary and that the current traffic problems are just because of the road work in View Royal. Even if that is partially correct, then I encourage you to at least see our current congestion as a foreshadow of times to come. Face it, the bare land is out West and that is where the bulk of the development is going to be. Just look at a few of the mega developments such as Bear Mountain, Westhills, and Kettle Creek Station and it is as obvious as the nose on my face that rail rapid transit is a must for our city. This time, let’s think big, and get it done!
