• Oderus@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I agree. Trains and light rail transit in general are the way to go but there’s a major issue. Rich people never use them and they have the power to influence government so they don’t spend ‘their’ tax dollars on it. Elon did it with the Hyperloop and it’s why every public transit system I’ve seen in Canada or hear about, sucks donkey balls. Poor people can’t afford to do anything but transit so there’s no need to pander to them. .plus they have no influence.

    In Alberta Canada, a study was done years ago to build a highspeed rail between Calgary and Edmonton for only $1.2B and instead the government give away $400 rebate checks to everyone, including inmates and people outside of Alberta which cost us $1.4B.

    The current LRT (light rail transit) in Calgary is being ‘upgraded’ but the costs are getting crazy and they’re already saying they don’t have enough to do the rest of the plan (including a train to the airport which is like… phase 3 or some bullshit) and yet we’re all on the hook for this shitty system.

    • ILikeBoobies
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      7 months ago

      Cars just lack the luxury of trains

      Add private booths and private cars then rich people will like them

      • Oderus@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Good idea but I’m too jaded to believe the rich will do anything that further distances themselves from the rest of us.

        Parking in Calgary during the last boom was $850/mo. FOR PARKING. Some people can’t afford that for RENT but here we got lots of rich assholes driving expensive cars paying nearly a grand on parking vs. buying a $112 bus pass.

        I take public transit and I prefer it to driving. Too bad the system is so bad that doing anything other than doing downtown is a nightmare.