Quote:
Originally Posted by lrt's friend
If we are talking about commuter service, it is not always density that matters but the number of people that might be served. All that needs to be provided is a Park n Ride lot and maybe a few other key pick up points. If we are ever going to be considering commuter rail service, then a proper commuter bus service must be established first. At some point, satellite towns should have commuter service. Exurb sprawl is inevitable as the cost of housing in the city continues to rise. If we provide no service, then we create traffic problems leading into the city, which adds to the traffic headaches that those who already live in the urban area experience. There are already examples of this and areas within the Ottawa city boundary that receive no transit service even though population would suggest that there should be. I am thinking of Greely.
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Put on a congestion charge around Ottawa and watch how quickly traffic ameliorates and how quickly people take up transit.
Traffic is not "inevitable". It's a direct function of the low cost of driving. Gas and parking are still cheap enough that commuting costs are an afterthought when shopping for housing in the exurbs. It Ottawa had congestion tolls at the greenbelt, these towns would be a quarter the size and Kanata, Barrhaven and Orleans would be half the size.
Unfortunately, congestion tolls might be politically difficult. In that case, I fully support making the commuters bear every penny of their commuting costs. No sweetheart deals for fare integration. And not a penny should go from Ottawa taxpayers towards facilitating services for them. Either their pay for it, or the province can. People need to understand the cost of sprawl and pay for it.
I also don't buy the bullshit of "as housing prices rise", exurban growth is inevitable. What's happening here is that people aren't changing expectations of housing despite the city growing in population. They still want the 2200 sqft McMansion on the 0.2 acre lot. And so all of a sudden, "Housing is too expensive." And "we're being forced to move to the suburbs". Nobody is forcing you to do squat. Adjust your expectation of living space for a city of a million and you can still live in a reasonably convenient location. Making exurban commuters bear the cost of their commutes might actually help along this realization. They are among the worst offenders of the mindset described above. Your lifestyle choice should not require effort or subsidy from me. It's your problem.
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