Let’s not derail a good thing

I fail to see sufficient reason to delay the Caisse de dépôt’s REM any longer.

Does the new system cause concerns and are there many who want to have a further say in how this project is undertaken?

Of course.

But are these concerns grave enough to cause further delay? I think not.

Perhaps the new system could be done at lower cost as a “government” project rather than be undertaken by an outside interest.

However, the history of cost-overruns in government projects is legendary.

Also, the so-called “outside interest” in this case — the Caisse — is a governmentcreated entity that is not a private corporation answerable only to its stockholders. And it has a good record of investing in viable projects.

As for the charge of being anti-environmental, I fail to see how using an electric train for getting to Trudeau airport, for example, from the South Shore, is any less harmful to the environment than driving in an automobile.

The proposed routes from the REM seem to use quite a lot of existing railway lines and a tunnel.

Let’s face it: Any environmental damage done by that infrastructure has already occurred.

Any alternative routes would not be without their own environmental impact.

If we are to accept the “what’s the rush?” argument, then approving of the perfect is getting in the way of approving the good.

In my view, and in the view (I predict) of a future populace, this will be seen as a good project once completed.

John D. Northcut, Côte-St-Luc