Pros and Cons of the LRT in Mississauga

The LRT is set to be a huge election issue for the city. Some are for it, and some think it’s going to be a multi-billion dollar boondoggle that will make congestion worse. Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons (or rather, a summary of what some residents are saying).

Pro:

While there’s more demand (and rightfully so) for east/west travel options, the Hurontario corridor connecting Brampton and Mississauga is a high-traffic area that could benefit from an LRT. There are commuters who live in Brampton and work in Mississauga, and vice versa.

Con:

Way more people travel east to west than north to south. This LRT should have been running to Kipling Subway station.

Pro:

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The LRT was proposed to manage rather than significantly reduce traffic, so the LRT won’t completely clear Hwy 10 of congestion. That said, it could keep traffic from getting worse, which is what will happen as more people use the corridor as the city grows

Con:

You have the most congested street in Mississauga, Hwy10, and you want to rip out three lanes and you think it will alleviate traffic? The construction period alone will be a nightmare.

Pro:

While it’s always possible that the project will go over-budget, the LRT could enhance residents’ property value in the long run, thus encouraging increased development along the stops and stations.

Con:

The cost in the books is $1.5 billion dollars, and Mississauga share is 1/3 that the City said they can’t afford at the moment. If The City actually put in the 1/3 there will be an increase in property tax.

Pro:

It carries more people than standard city buses.

Con:

There are already buses that go up and down corridor, therefore the LRT is redundant.

Pro:

Mississauga, like most suburbs, suffers from car culture — people are so used to using their cars to get everywhere, they’re reluctant to leave them at home and live at the mercy of public transportation. While the LRT might not prompt everyone to abandon their car from time to time, it might recruit more than a few converts. It could get some cars off the road, and that will have a positive environmental impact. 

Con:         

The same people that take the bus will take the LRT. To think people are going to leave there cars at home to take the LRT is ludicrous.

Pro:

The LRT might attract more investment in the city, as a solid public transportation system ups property value.

Con:

Do you know how many businesses will be affected during the construction of the LRT? Areas such as the HWY 10/Dundas district would see a huge loss in business due to the lack of car accessibility. Small businesses could suffer.

Pro:

The LRT, designed to keep traffic from getting worse, is not as promising as an east/west train or a subway. That said, it is better than nothing and it will encourage more eco-friendly and efficient commuting for north/south travelers. It’s the start of a public transportation overhaul in a city that suffers from poor urban planning and gridlock (gridlock that will get worse as more homes and condos are built and more new Canadians settle in the city). Also, there has been talk about planning an east/west line in the future. It isn’t perfect, but it’s something.

Con:

LRT will not do anything to relieve traffic or move people any more than the transit system we have now. The LRT is more about optics to make it look like Metrolinx is doing something, when really it’s a plan that was obviously not very well thought through.

What do you think?