Dear Editor,
History shows that Richmond City Council is not a credible voice on transportation infrastructure.
In 2004, a number of city councillors vehemently opposed elevated tracks for the Canada Line. They wanted an at-grade line running down No. 3 Road instead. This design would have worsened traffic on No. 3 Road and all of its connectors, as well as drastically increased the chance of accidents. This is the same design that Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner is inexplicably spending billions on.
TransLink, thankfully, said no to this comically stupid idea. In the face looming deadlines and the possibility of the Canada Line not being built at all in Richmond, the city relented. The line was built. But city council had one more trick up its sleeves: To appease Richmond council, the stretch between Brighouse and Lansdowne was single-tracked. This design flaw will eventually make it impossible to increase service and has already made it impossible to extend the line anywhere past Brighouse.
So tell me, what does Brodie and council know about infrastructure? What do they know about moving people around?
And why am I still stuck in this damn traffic jam?
Justin Chau
Richmond
