Vote Down the Revised West LRT Route
I’m all for people having the power to make change happen - but what’s playing out right now is ridiculous.
People living in the tiny communities of Sunalta and Scarboro should NOT have the ability to hold the rest of the city hostage regarding the proposed route and cost of the western leg of the new Calgary Transit LRT line.
Why?
Because of the numbers.
According to the City of Calgary 2007 Census (a link is below) only 4,566 people live in Scarboro, Scarboro/Sunalta West, and Sunalta.
That’s 0.004% of Calgary’s total population (which is 1,019,942 people).
There is NO WAY such a miniscule portion of the city’s tax base should have the power to change such a major project and ultimately jack-up the final price tag by millions and millions of dollars.
Residents of the communities don’t like the original route because the LRT line will be elevated within eye-sight of where they live.
The revised plan has a much shorter elevated portion of track BUT it means the LRT line will run partly up the middle of Bow Trail from 19th Street to 31st Street SW.
Anyone who has driven along 36th Street NE knows the traffic congestion caused by having C-Train lines in the middle of busy roadways.
The good news in this story is that the revised plan still has to be approved.
Here’s to it being shot down in record time.
If you want to let the Mayor or your area Alderman know how you feel… here are the contact details.
Mayor - Dave Bronconnier - 268-5622 - themayor@calgary.ca
Ward 1 - Dale Hodges - 268-2445
Ward 2 - Gord Lowe - 268-2430
Ward 3 - Jim Stevenson - 268-2430
Ward 4 - Bob Hawkesworth - 268-2430
Ward 5 - Ray Jones - 268-2430
Ward 6 - Joe Connely - 268-2430
Ward 7 - Druh Farrell - 268-2475
Ward 8 - John Mar - 268-2430
Ward 9 - Joe Ceci - 268-2430
Ward 10 - Andre Chabot - 268-2430
Ward 11 - Brian Pincott - 268-2430
Ward 12 - Ric McIver - 268-2430
Ward 13 - Diane Colley-Urquhart - 268-2430
Ward 14 - Linda Fox-Mellway - 268-2430
Here’s a link to the Western LRT Project on the City of Calgary’s website
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_766_298_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Transportation/West+LRT/West+LRT.htm
Here’s a link to the City of Calgary 2007 Census
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_766_259_0_43/http%3B/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Municipal+Government/Civic+Census/Civic+Census.htm