19th-century LRT makes no sense

Re: Mayor Hepner reiterates case for light rail in Surrey, Oct. 5

Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner’s frequent prognostications in favour of building an obsolete LRT commuter rail network south of the Fraser instead of building a network that uses Canada Line or SkyTrain technologies, are, plainly, motivated by politically cowardly intentions.

How many sane, ethical transit planners have ever, or would ever, advocate replacing immensely successful, fully automated, separated from roadway Canada Line and SkyTrain rapid transit lines with LRT?

Of course, fighting for the establishment of a first-class, world-beating, rapid transit rail network in Surrey and the two Langleys would come with significant political risks, and would require a lot more effort than simply acquiescing to the easiest, cheapest and — as a consequence — least politically challenging “solution.”

So, let voters decide: In collaboration with the B.C. government, all South of Fraser city councils should put a plebiscite question on next year’s (October 2018) civic elections ballots that asks:

a) Do voters want an at-roadway-level, humandriven, slow-and-dangerous throwback-to-the-19th-century “light rail” network to be built in their cities? or

b) Do voters want a separated-from-roadway, computerdriven, incomparably safe, rapid transit network to be built?

Roderick Louis, White Rock