To the editor,
Re: Island’s highways vulnerable, other transportation needed, Letters, Dec. 1.
Years go by and transportation on the highways has increased tenfold on Vancouver Island.
Driving in Victoria is a nightmare now. Langford-Colwood-Metchosin has grown into a city all its own.
I remember years ago signing a petition for rail service to these areas but there wasn’t the population at that time, so they changed the old rail line into the Galloping Goose Trail which many people now use. This is a good thing but does not take into account the issue of road traffic.
Rail service used to go out to Sidney, Langford-Metchosin and the north Island. Today only Nanaimo still has a limited use of a train.
I rode on the E&N railway years ago before it ended and stayed in Courtenay overnight, touring around in the day. It was a lovely experience riding on the train and looking at the scenery. Tourists would love that trip and they could return whenever they wished. It would bring money to our economy in towns along the way.
How much will it cost to upgrade the Trans-Canada Highway by adding more lanes, overpasses, underpasses, etc. to cover the already congested traffic we have now which is causing pollution to the environment? Has this ever been taken into consideration now with global warming we know now is happening worldwide?
I don’t believe getting the rail service back would cost anywhere near as much money.
Why are we lagging behind on this issue?
Theresa Kowall, Ladysmith
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