The Editor,
Trust TransLink to throw the proverbial cart under the horses with its planned pricing system.
Peak and off-peak pricing is not a bad idea at all, as long as car drivers and transit users have alternatives. Roads and transit are congested at peak hours simply because the majority of working people do not and cannot have flexible working hours.
Talking about emulating Washington transit pricing is ridiculous. Washington has five heavy duty subway lines covering most of the city, with more lines to come. The city also has two commuter train lines.
Meanwhile in Metro Vancouver, there is no rapid transit system over two-thirds of the region and only one commuter train line so most car drivers cannot easily switch to rapid transit.
Of all the second-tier cities in the G8 countries, Vancouver must be the only one with such a poor rapid transit coverage.
Why is Metro Vancouver so far behind? Why doesn't our provincial government care about transit? Have we ever had a transportation minister that was actually familiar about transit? Do TransLink board members use transit regularly?
J-L Brussac
Coquitlam
