If You Build It, Will They Come?
Getting taken for a ride by grand transit plans
BY Tara-Michelle Ziniuk
Mega-project: Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV) line (TransLink, Vancouver)
Rail-based rapid transit line linking downtown Vancouver to the suburb of Richmond and the airport. Construction began in late-2005 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009 (in time for the 2010 Olympics). The contentious private-public partnership—a condition of provincial funding—was defeated twice by the TransLink board before passing by a single vote.
Official line: RAV will provide access between growing residential areas and key employment, commercial and institutional centres.
What the critics say: Project is in the interest of private developers and contractors, not existing transit users. Building plans will cause years of gridlock and project is too costly.
Projected cost: $1.72 billion
Mega-project: Millennium SkyTrain line (TransLink, Vancouver)
An extension of Vancouver’s existing SkyTrain, built to connect Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster, opened August, 2002. Ridership on the new line is well below projected targets, losing $27 million in 2003. Officials now admit it will be years before targets are met.
Official line: Built to promote development around each of the new stations, creating dense urban areas linked by high-quality transit.
What the critics said: The extension was unnecessary, too expensive and diverted resources from transit-reliant communities. (During construction, TransLink announced massive cuts, eliminating late-night inner-city bus service, causing many to question the transit authority’s priorities.)
What it cost: $1.2 billion
The project: Sheppard subway line (TTC, Toronto)
Nicknamed the “subway to nowhere,” Toronto’s third subway line, completed in 2002, loses millions each year. Stations are clean, cavernous ghost towns, but trains will get you to Ikea and the mall.
Official line: Built to provide faster, more effective transit service in North Toronto.
What the critics said: Project was the ill-conceived result of former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman’s personal political agenda. Built to benefit developers rather than transit users.
What it cost: $932.9 million
