High speed rail between Toronto’s Union Station and Pearson Airport has been on everyone’s wish list for decades.
And I truly mean everyone – all three levels of government have promised to ‘explore the issue.’ Several studies have spent several millions of dollars exploring possible routes, timetables, scheduling and logistics.
Why hasn’t it happened yet? Well, there’s the obvious issue, money. But I have to wonder if it’s also in no small part to idiotic decisions like this.
Forgive me, but you’ve got the money lined up. The link could remove 5 million people from the roads each and every year… but “18 conditions stipulated by the Ministry of the Environment could set the plan back.”
One of those conditions? “The trains must use clean technology that is still in development.”
So to clarify – the Ministry of the Provincial Government responsible for cleaning up the environment says in order to take advantage of new, environmentally friendly transportation, you have to use a non-existent engine.
“John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, says he believes the technology SHOULD be complete by 2015.” Pardon me if I don’t hold my breath.
Does anyone want to take odds on whether or not our grandchildren will be complaining about the lack of high-speed rail between Union and Pearson?
