tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post6837171431313529634..comments2018-01-23T08:03:09.276-05:00Comments on Waterloons: It's the System, stupid!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10827962943106611451noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post-51065161173271776612011-12-11T13:07:30.156-05:002011-12-11T13:07:30.156-05:00thanks Chris for this thoughtful piece. I am parti...thanks Chris for this thoughtful piece. I am particularly struck by the Melbourne report. I have started a Word document listing my pros and cons.Jane Mitchellhttp://www.janemitchell.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post-45022081589125197912011-12-09T21:04:26.157-05:002011-12-09T21:04:26.157-05:00Karen,
Thanks for the kind words. My main concer...Karen, <br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. My main concern in this whole matter is that the overarching goal of radical uptake in transit use requires an excellent system, and putting the critical piece of that system behind a PPP interface hurts that goal, *even if* the PPP itself more or less works out. <br /><br />I've read even more interesting stuff today, some of it either positive or neutral on PPP and I'm processing that. LUAS in Dublin is, so far, the most positive 3P outcome I have found for transit. I may have some afterthought to post. <br /><br />Other factors are at play here in KW though. We have an "aggressive schedule" (in software I openly call this a euphemism for "effing impossible) and I am afraid this will get railroaded in the course of just over a month and be locked in without real thought on the implications. <br /><br />So we have to react strongly.cdkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15582516106739781716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post-27625653827460669352011-12-09T11:54:20.064-05:002011-12-09T11:54:20.064-05:00Chris, content aside (I'm still working my way...Chris, content aside (I'm still working my way through this latest development and have not formulated an opinion) ... I'm just happy to see an increased level of scrutiny and dialogue!<br /><br />My oft-made point (for which I've been criticized by members of Regional Council and members of pro-LRT groups) is that the most effective oversight MUST come from those who consider themselves LRT supporters. For this project to be successful, blind faith must be discarded and thoughtful scrutiny (like your post) must generate a persistent public dialogue.<br /><br />Great job.Karen Sciannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post-28622460003440158162011-12-09T05:58:57.109-05:002011-12-09T05:58:57.109-05:00I agree with your post. I must say I was very disa...I agree with your post. I must say I was very disappointed in regional council when I heard about this 3P option. The regional council is taking the easy way out and in my opinion doing totally the wrong thing. <br /><br />It is not like an LRT system has never been built before anywhere before. Is it not possible to hire the talent required to design and build it? If they had no idea then how were they ever able to cost it initially? <br /><br />What is so much more difficult laying rail than building roads? You tender the work out and have prey-qualified bidders that are able to get the work done like is done building other infrastructure. University of Waterloo pumps out some pretty bright people in Engineering that are instructed for just this kind of thing. Why does council think we can not handle it? <br /><br />Waterloo Region already runs a transit system so how incredibly hard is it to dovetail in a LRT system. A multi organization approach will not work. Look at the mess in getting public transit functioning in the Greater Toronto area between the different systems. It does not work. <br /><br />I don't think there is enough money in this project to have a private company make a profit on top of it. We have to get away from the notion of having public infrastructure controlled by private companies. Do we really want the decisions made on Wall Street about our LRT rather than in our own region? This infrastructure needs accountability to the taxpayers of Waterloo Region not the shareholders of some corporation in New York, Berlin, or Hong Kong. This project is for the 99% of the population for a select group of people to get even richer. I remember when the 407 was privatized by the Harris Tories. In the time I was using that system the cost to me went up 400% . I could no longer afford to use it and had to increase my time spent commuting to Toronto by 1 hour each day. As well a Cabinet Minister left the Government to sit on the Board of the 407. Will that happen here? <br /><br />Why is it always assumed the private sector does such a better job getting things done? The economic turmoil we are in is a direct result of this idea being a fallacy. <br /><br />And while we are at it why does it need to take years before we put a shovel in the ground? Why do the wheels need to turn so slowly? Every day this is not built makes the cost of this project more expensive. China & South Africa built high speed rails in short time frames. I would only assume that the engineering required to build those systems is that much more difficult than an LRT.<br /><br />With this revelation I now think this project will not get done at all or will be done poorly or not respecting the spirit of building the LRT in the first place. I hope I am wrong.Poul Dysonhttp://twitter.com/#!/accessguyherenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828111806827394610.post-37740166951198043362011-12-08T23:58:17.183-05:002011-12-08T23:58:17.183-05:00Excellent post; you've said it better than I h...Excellent post; you've said it better than I have. Retweeted and crossposted.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09057746479664970752noreply@blogger.com