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Post by CRCP on May 26, 2007 11:02:45 GMT -5
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Post by John Zeger on May 26, 2007 11:04:27 GMT -5
The thinking displayed in managing editor Tom Wilson’s editorial “Think ahead, protect options” (The Okanagan, May 19, 2007) is an example of the type of flawed reasoning that could get this region into some very serious trouble. Promoting the concept of a commuter rail system for the Okanagan, Wilson seems to be caught up in the glamour of this idea without adequately considering the consequences. Being guilty of misplaced priorities, he suggests that we should increase our population densities in order to make commuter rail a reality and fails to address some very basic questions.
The first question is “Would increasing our population densities have the desired effect of getting significantly more people to take public transit?” The answer is “no” in that densities would have to triple in Kelowna, for example, to achieve those comparable to some lower density cities where rail transit has been termed successful, and even then there are many cities that have densities in excess of 3,000 persons per square mile where rail transit has captured an insignificant share of passenger trips. This is because there are other factors such as income that have a higher correlation to transit usage than density as studies have confirmed that public transit appeals mostly to lower income people which is not what the Okanagan is presently attracting.
The second question is “Even if these threshold densities were achieved, is rail transit the best type of rapid transit for the region?” The answer again is “no” as many experts have concluded that bus rapid transit (BRT) is superior in that it has significantly lower fixed costs and is far more flexible in getting people to where they need to go. Recently after conducting a six year study, Eugene, Ore. (metro population 340,000; density 3,400 persons per square mile) opted for a BRT system over light rail. There is also a strong movement underway in Seattle, Wash. to invest future transportation dollars in BRT instead of adding to their existing light rail system.
Lastly, would creating a high density region make for livable communities? The answer is a resounding “no”. Surveys have indicated that most people want to live in low density neighbourhoods where they can enjoy adequate private space and avoid the crowding and congestion of high density urban centres.
The pie-in-the-sky notion of a commuter rail sytem for the Okanagan is prohibitively expensive and creating high density communities in the hope of making it feasible is a risky gamble that would in all likelihood fail except if densities such as those found in cities like Vancouver or Toronto were achieved. And isn’t it for the very reason that they wanted to get away from such crowded places that people are moving to the Okanagan? Therefore, let’s quit wasting our time on such pipe dreams and put a commuter rail system for the Valley in the graveyard for bad ideas where it belongs.
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