Parametrix’s Post

Projects and Value for Money - If your job is delivering transport for getting city commuters from A to B in an efficient and timely way, it's important to pick the right solution. Yes there are differences in complexity, but even allowing for that, if you are looking at Value For Money, there are some striking contrasts. What you build, how you finance it, and ridership (measure of benefit as people vote with their feet). Take a look at this article and the cost per mile comparison chart https://lnkd.in/evKaRizF

Sigh. Yet more “studies” that exclude options that are most likely to be successful. The most obvious route for rail is the Highway 1 right of way. It is already owned by the BC Government and it is already grade separated. Straight too so trains could go 200kph plus. And there is plenty of publically owned land next to it. Cap the highway near the stations and build lots of affordable housing in mixed use developments. Really disappointing and unacceptable the BC Government has not been planning this instead of expensive highway widening.

Cost of SkyTrain and BART https://lnkd.in/gYsfJV4v It is the same for the SkyTrain extension in Metro Vancouver to Langley City the cost is not $4B but $8B TransLink and the BC Govt are trying to hide the real truth.

Repost. JR Ball on https://lnkd.in/gZn2KrKD “Am OK with TIFs when used as originally created—which is to spur development in areas where traditional financing doesn’t work, or to spark development in a specific area—but that’s not why the #EBR Metro Council hands them out so freely. As for those who argue these developments—where the TIF goes to the developer to help cover his or her costs—generate new revenue … that can be hard to prove, especially in a parish that has declining population. Is this new sales revenue or simply transferring the sales from an existing retailer or hotel to a new one? I understand the theory on hotel taxes, but the question remains whether or not corporate welfare is necessary to build a hotel in an already fast-growing or vibrant part of the parish. The most defensible TIFs, in my for want it’s worth opinion, went to the King Hotel downtown, Bass Pro in #denhamsprings and the Swaggart dorm-to-hotel conversion on Bluebonnet (that project has a double TIF—hotel/motel and sales taxes).”

RACQ attended today’s #QldBudget briefing. Short summary: ✅ Cost of living measures including for mobility such bus/train fares and rego ✅ Continued increases in road and transport infrastructure ($37B over 4 yrs) ✅ Rail a winner including GC and SC 🚆 ❌ Neglible investment in buses (1.1% of budget) ❌ Road maintenance stable ($5.23B over 4). We need more. ❌ Where’s the long term infrastructure plan for Qld’s growth? An extra 2m people in SEQ over next 2 decades.