Read on Twitter
THREAD: It's understandable that the province (and by this I mean the bureaucrats) wants to look carefully at a project they are partially funding and ensure that there aren't any huge red flags. The feds (who are also contributing) do this too.
HOWEVER..... https://twitter.com/meksmith/status/1339686333325824000
HOWEVER..... https://twitter.com/meksmith/status/1339686333325824000
2/ While it varies from province to province and project to project the basic premise is the same: The city assumes pretty much all of the risk, and the upper levels of government act only as funding partners.
3/ Cities put forward pretty solid plans, usually backed by expert advice and solid consultation. I can say from experience that the Green Line team is better than average in this regard. It seems highly unlikely that this plan is "not feasible".
4/ While this kind of statement aims to put blame on the Green Line team and other bureaucratic processes the language is very clearly one of politics and game-playing. The fact that this project has undergone several rounds of improvement and debate seems lost on the minister.
5/ The "train to nowhere" ship sailed years ago. Throwing baseless doubt out there is a common tactic used typically by those who project their own values, needs, and lifestyles onto others.
https://www.spuryyc.org/the-familiar-refrain-of-transit-doubt/
https://www.spuryyc.org/the-familiar-refrain-of-transit-doubt/
6/ The fact of the matter is that the current length of the line is a function of the limited capital investment pledged for this project. It is not a function of poor design. The focus on getting the central part of the line means that future extensions won't suffer.
7/ (Pro tip: when someone distills a hugely complex transit planning and infrastructure project down into a three word quip, you can bet they've wrung any substance or critical thought out of what they're saying.)
8/ If the minister's concerns were legitimate, the feds would have them also. ( @meksmith have you checked in with them on whether they share the same concerns?). You can bet the provincial and federal bureaucrats share information.
9/ So, the (maybe obvious) conclusion here is that the province is stonewalling the city for political reasons, despite the Green Line being one of the easiest infrastructure sells in the province. The last municipal election made it very clear this project is popular in Calgary.
10/ With projects as big as this one, delays are costly. Even just counting inflation on $5 billion. So the fiscal responsibility argument is also out the window.
