VICTORIA – Light rail is the best, most cost-effective option for our region’s transportation future, and we will work to make it happen, says a group of prominent local politicians. They agree with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce that an independent review of benefits and impacts is needed, and they are confident that such a review will validate the LRT option.
“A modern LRT system is what CRD residents want and deserve, but they need it to be affordable,” said Victoria MP Denise Savoie, adding that cities cannot build large infrastructure like LRT on the backs of property taxpayers and the gas tax alone. “Affordability is eminently feasible if the federal and provincial governments step up with their fair share, and if our community chooses LRT, I’ll make sure Ottawa contributes its part.”
Under the federal Building Canada Plan, $10 billion are earmarked for sustainable infrastructure upgrades across Canada, including next-generation transit, from 2007-14. The proposed Evergreen Line on the Lower BC Mainland has been pledged $417 million in federal funds to match municipal and provincial commitments. In one sub-fund 90% of funds remain unallocated.Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison wants the federal government’s investment in rail to reach across the island. “The West Shore will particularly benefit from the combination of LRT and the re-emergence of the E & N as a Lower Island freight, dangerous goods and commuter alternative,” he said.
Numerous other politicians and former politicians are on side with Savoie and Garrison. They include provincial MLAs Lana Popham (Saanich South) and Rob Fleming (Victoria-Swan Lake), as well as CRD Director Judy Brownoff, Victoria Councillor and Transit Commissioner John Luton, Saanich Councillor Dean Murdock and former MLA and Saanich Councillor David Cubberley. The group believes that the CRD will reap similar economic, social and environmental benefits that LRT projects have brought to other Canadian cities and regions.
“BC Transit has shown LRT is the best choice for achieving a giant leap in transit ridership, a potentially massive lever for investment, development and green jobs, and significant reductions in our GHG emissions," said Fleming, who pledged to press the provincial government for its contribution to the project.
The CRD’s updated Regional Growth Strategy will see LRT as the spine of the larger transportation network that links all municipalities and residents in the region.
Supplementary quotations from press conference participants
Judy Brownoff, Saanich Councillor and CDR Director: “Data from regional planning is showing that if we don’t invest in urban transit, commute times between Victoria and the West Shore could reach 80 minutes one way. That is not sustainable or healthy for this region.”
John Luton, Victoria City Councillor and Victoria Transit Commissioner: “Full cost accounting will verify the numbers on ridership and financials. We’ll need to demonstrate our strong business case to senior government funders. Our return on LRT is a more vibrant economy and a more generous supply of sustainable urban housing.”
Dean Murdock, Saanich Councillor: “We know that in other jurisdictions, like Vancouver and Portland, rail transit has created enormous economic opportunities. The redevelopment potential that LRT creates along the Douglas corridor will be dramatic. That means jobs and economic growth in Saanich, Victoria, and our region.”
Benefits of Light Rail Technology (LRT) for the CRD
BC Transit has recommended light rail as the technology solution for the Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Project. The CRD’s approved Regional Growth Strategy includes LRT as the spine of the larger transportation network that links all municipalities and residents in the region.
Light rail technology (LRT) best meets the project’s goals and would provide the most economic and environmentally sustainable benefits to Greater Victoria residents:
- The light rail project’s Multiple Account Evaluation has estimated that the project would provide Greater Victoria with $1.4 billion in new economic benefits.
- The project would create thousands of job years of employment.
- The LRT project would lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air contaminants from cars by 4.7 million tonnes by 2020.
- Residents in Victoria would benefit from a higher capacity transit system that is faster and more comfortable than other options.
- The LRT solution is more sustainable over the long term and allows for more room for future growth than other solutions such as bus rapid transit (BRT).
Affordability: Funding from senior levels of government
- Municipal governments continue to receive just eight cents of every tax dollar collected in Canada, which has led to a $120-billion infrastructure deficit in Canadian cities because of a lack of long-term federal infrastructure funding or a national transit strategy.
- The federal Building Canada Plan includes a $8.8-billion Building Canada Fund with $4 billion remaining over the next three fiscal years, and a $1.26-billion fund dedicated to public-private partnerships, of which only $103 million has been allocated as of July 2011.
- The federal and provincial governments have committed $417 million ($350 million from Building Canada Fund and $67 million from Public Transit Capital Fund) and $410 million, respectively, to Metro Vancouver’s proposed Evergreen Line.
- In 2008, the provincial government announced a $14 billion Provincial Transit Plan and selected Victoria as one of nine regions to receive $1.2 billion in funding for rapid bus corridors.
- BC Transit recommended light rail technology in their May 2011 report with both the provincial and federal governments to be approached to develop a cost sharing agreement for the rapid transit project.
- MPs Denise Savoie and Randall Garrison are awaiting a meeting with the new federal Transport Minister Denis Lebel (the third transport minister in three years) to discuss the CRD plan and federal funding options.
