Dear Editor:
Paul Sullivan is clearly trying to rile up motorists stuck in congestion but to what end? Does he really think we can afford to build new transportation infrastructure without a source of funding? Those who rail against new funding can hardly complain when they remain stuck in traffic.
Mobility pricing would encourage more people to travel at off-peak times or car pool. We’ve seen first-hand how prices change driver behaviour with on-again off-again pricing on the Port Mann Bridge. It only takes a relatively small cut in motor vehicle volume to reduce congestion to manageable levels. If motorists paid the real cost of roads and bridges a lot more people would drive a lot less.
If Mr. Sullivan thinks widening the Lions Gate Bridge is a solution, just what does he imagine eastbound Georgia Street would look like since it’s already plugged up daily with traffic volumes constricted by the current bridge? Does he propose tearing down dozens of 40-storey buildings to widen roads or would eliminating sidewalks and getting rid of pesky pedestrians be his answer?
Mobility pricing is being explored by Metro Vancouver (not the provincial government) as a way to help fund transportation improvements while discouraging the phenomenal waste of resources and road space of single occupant vehicles. Should we really continue encouraging single 80 kg humans to rely on 2,000 kg motor vehicles that occupy the space of 20 people when we could provide viable alternatives?
Should Mr. Sullivan be given a platform to just make things up? He deceives by stating the money raised would go into general revenue when it is very clearly earmarked for the transportation funding shortfall. Meanwhile he complains new infrastructure has not kept up with population growth. From where would the money come for his grand dream of unhindered mobility? Would he take it from schools, garbage pick-up, policing or fire departments? If indeed we need to pay more taxes to fund improved mobility should it be paid for by pensioners who rarely drive or by those who put all that excessive demand on our expensive transportation infrastructure?
Ron van der Eerden
Vancouver
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