Introducing Transit Metropolis Vancouver
Posted on January 17th, 2008 in environment, links, politics, rants, society, transportation, vancouver |
I’ve been periodically working on this project since mid 2007. I was originally planning to release it Monday, but Gordon Campbell was too quick to steal my thunder as I found out Sunday night. I have chosen to hold it off a bit unless the dust on that announcement settled.
I originally thought that my plan might become redundant with the Province’s announcement. Thankfully, it turns out that my plan is almost an extension of the Provincial Transit Plan.
Transit Metropolis Vancouver is my extensive plan based around the idea that transit in this region should work for 90% of the population, not 10%. As you can already tell, this far surpasses the Province’s goal of reaching a 20% transit modal share.
Two unique parts of my plan that weren’t at all touched in the Province’s: expanded commuter rail, and a whole new LRT, or “SkyTrain mini”, rail network. The goal, as I said, is to allow anyone to get anywhere in the region - quickly, conveniently, and comfortably.
Transit Metropolis Vancouver, in my mind, is almost a personal visioning practice for transit past the Province’s plan that ends in 2020. Check it out and let me know what you think.
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7 Responses
It looks very good . You haver my vote to go ahead with this deal.
Amazing vision as always Paul, no one can argue that this would not be great for the region. What would really spark debate is to prove it would be financially feasible. Money talks! That’ll be the best way to get politician’s ears. I challenge you to make a case for it’s financial viability!
Mark gave an interesting scenario -if every family with 2 cars in the lower mainland gave up one of their cars would the collective cost savings of that add up to the cost of a transit network of this scale? If by some miracle it did add up, then there could be a conversation about what our values and priorities really are.
THIS makes sense. Get your ass in govt, or bureaucrazy, Paul.
I’m glad you’re releasing it after all! My goodness, if only you were head of transpo here.
I’m trying to brainstorm ways that vital, bold ideas such as these can reach those with actual power. I know- I know- it’s not as if Kevin Falcon is eagerly awaiting you to drop by his office or Gordon Campbell writes on your wall. The essential problem: how do you get from here to there? Right now, as brilliant as you are, you’re preaching to the choir. Lots of Amens here- this energy is the necessary second step. But how can people like us move these ideas along, convert some skeptics? You’ve spent so many hours working on this…so, now- how to provoke people high up in the food chain to see it? to think about it? to act on it? How can these words of praise get something done? The transit system is currently rapidly veering away from the grass roots. How do we steal it back from the Czar in Victoria? How do you capture the attention of the media? You have three elements in your favour: the rare combination of your youth, your depth of knowledge and your stubborn persistence. This is a novelty, a hook that you can use to publicize these ideas, qualities that make it harder to dismiss you. “MORE, sir?” I know you said you’re hoping for a vacation, but I’m thinking in terms of a campaign : )
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