Ridership and Return on Investment Questions

Stephen Fanjoy has something to say about this project. I hope with more people making such comments, that Mayor Bob wakes up and gets a clue. Someone has to grab the reigns here.
-Ron

From: STEPHEN FANJOY
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:16 AM
To: 'Rainer.Bloess@'; 'pmcneely.mpp.co@'; 'Royal Galipeau'
Subject: FW: Transit truth jumps the track

Hi Rainer, Phil & Royal,

I am forwarding the article below in case you did not get a chance to read it over the weekend. Denley does an efficient job of showing how the city's North-South business case does not exist (in much the same way the current East-West business case is also MIA).

There are many reasons why the current NS plan does not make sense (maintenance yard location, O-Train closure, etc...) but surely the most fundamental reason must include the fact that $725M+ buys the city virtually nothing towards increased transit ridership:

"The $725 million north-south train will only reach one area that is not already well-served by transit. Riverside South, assuming it increases in size tenfold, will generate 1,400 riders in the morning rush by 2021. That would be less than half of one per cent of all morning rush hour trips."

If you disagree with this analysis and conclusion, please help me understand why it may be wrong. If you agree, then you must be obligated to do whatever is necessary to set it right. You each have all the tools to do so at your disposal.

If you will excuse the graphic metaphor, in my opinion all three levels of govt will have political blood on their hands if cooler heads do not prevail. The city for shooting Ottawa taxpayers & commuters, and the provincial & federal governments for providing the $400M inducement & ammunition to do it. The North-South project must be stopped and thoroughly reviewed and recast until a sane and feasible plan for public transit is provided.

Respectfully,

Steve Fanjoy

P.S.: It is a stunning commentary on the failure of the city's planning and consultation process that such an irresponsible project could proceed so far. However this is another topic for another day.