[All] FW: "Get the Real Story on LRT in Waterloo Region"

[Robert Milligan]

Neil,

Thanks for letting us know about this meeting. As Susan wrote an op-ed  
pro light rail article and as most members support it, it is to GREN's  
advantage to hear constructive criticism even when its likelihood is  
remote.  However, when their concerns appear to be valid & significant  
-- or a large # of people think they are -- then they should be given  
serious consideration. Unaddressed angry "taxpayers" can be very  
disruptive of necessary social & environmental advancement -- as the  
"tea baggers" in the US demonstrate.

As my previous email on Light Rail said, I agree with members of T4ST  
-- most of whom will likely never use any form of transit -- unless  
they lose their job &/or have to work in the GTA -- who say that Light  
Rail as currently designed can cause some "grave problems". However, I  
differ with their implied exaggerated conception of a "grave problem".  
For example, their co-chair has a business on King St. between the K&W  
downtowns. His "grave problem" is that taxpayers -- including he, his  
wife & their clients -- will be inconvenienced by the new equivalent  
one-wayness of King street & a raised track. To me this is a very  
minor sacrifice that some taxpayer-drivers will be asked to make for  
the sake of LRT speed & safety (exclusive car dominance has existed  
for too long). In fact, to enhance these 2 LRT benefits, I would  
prefer to see a protecting fence on either side of the tracks --  
especially for the sake of children, animals and poor-thinking tax- 
paying cheaters!

A "grave problem" for me would be for foresightless planning to make  
-- on key arteries -- unnecessarily decreases in road capacity (King:  
4 lanes to 2) or  necessary road capacity increases difficult  
(Ottawa:  2 lanes to 4). And this with new environmentally-neutral car  
propulsion systems & growing core-populations!  Being more future- 
sensitive, we will need all the road space we can muster in order to  
avoid developing local traffic jams (making this area less desirable  
to live -- with attendant property value decreases [but resulting  
lower property taxes?] -- & visit). A very successful LRT will both  
attract more higher-level people as users but also not anger drivers  
in their green vehicles from transit-caused insufficient road  
capacity. Then we will beter signify to the World that Waterloo Region  
has arrived as a modern municipal player on the World Stage. (I agree  
with T4ST on 1 thing though:  using the name Golden Triangle.)

This group certainly merits watching especially as they want to have a  
Rapid Transit referendum as part of the 2010 municipal elections.  
Maybe we should invite them to address GREN? Try to attend their  
meeting this evening & speak your thoughts.

Best wishes,
Robert M.


PS: Further, I have learned of an underlying involvement of a local  
murky bad actor and his newly morphed ideological mushroom house. To  
elaborate, T4ST's own implied lack of general community &  
environmental goodwill positioned them to be gullible targets for  
seduction by this Region's most powerful agent of extreme personal &  
corporate selfishness. For them he has donned has rarely used nice  
face. More specifically, their work has been supported by anti- 
environmentalist and corporate anarchist (corporations must be given a  
free "hand" to ravage society & the environment -- which they have  
been very successful at) retired UofW philos. prof. Jan Narveson. He  
has been meeting with T4ST in his musical concert room for over a year  
-- a sort of anti-environmental "accelerator center". Jan, an American  
import, also has been a long-time supporter of big oil and a critic of  
efforts to recognize fossil-fuel-related climate instability (&  
potential destruction such as by H2S from  degraded World Oceans). In  
line with this position -- and complementary to GM & EXXON led very  
successful, sneaky & disgraceful efforts to remove streetcars from  
North American streets -- Jan is doing his best to ensure that  
streetcars aren't reborn here as the very World-popular LRTs.


On 5-Nov-09, at 11:16 AM, Neil E. Taylor wrote:

> I am unsure where I stand on all of this, but I had this sent to me  
> by a person in our community who thought I’d be interested.   
> Unfortunately, I am unable to make it.
> NT
>
> Greetings from Taxpayers for Sensible Transit,
>
> I am writing to you because you have previously expressed concerns  
> regarding Waterloo Region’s plans for  spending money foolishly.   
> The current LRT proposal is just that!
>
> Our group, Taxpayers for Sensible Transit, will be holding a free  
> public forum on this important topic next week and you are invited  
> to attend.
>
> On Thursday November 5, 2009 at 7 pm at the Delta Hotel, Downtown  
> Kitchener, Taxpayers for Sensible Transit is pleased to present an  
> informative evening with Andy Haydon, former regional chair of  
> Ottawa-Carleton and architect of Ottawa’s internationally recognized  
> Bus Transitway. (Free parking off Charles St.)
>
> Mr. Haydon will be speaking about his many years of experience  
> running a transit system much larger than that in Waterloo Region.  
> Ottawa’s innovative system has proven that buses are far cheaper,  
> more flexible and more efficient than the expensive rail system  
> proposed by regional council. I think you will find his talk of  
> great significance. Other speakers will provide additional detail on  
> the specifics of Waterloo Region’s situation. There will also be an  
> opportunity to ask questions.
>
> Taxpayers for Sensible Transit is a local group with a broad  
> representation from across the spectrum – business people,  
> professionals, taxpayers – who believe an $800 million LRT system is  
> the wrong choice for Waterloo Region. We are concerned about the  
> high cost and damage that will be done to King Street as well as the  
> fact a massive LRT system is inappropriate for our region. Improved  
> bus service would be a far better choice.
>
> If you want further information, please visit our website at www.t4st.com 
>  or reply to this email and I will be happy to answer any questions.
>
> Best wishes and hope to see you on November 5th
>
> Please RSVP to 519-748-2301 or email at info at T4STgroup.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca

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