Re: DonB次元官网网址檛 believe costs for light rapid transit, Letters, Sept. 2, 2011.

Louis GuilbaultB次元官网网址檚 letter underscores the need for a review of the proposed costs for the Victoria regional light rapid transit.

As he notes, at $62 million per kilometre (about $100 million per mile), its cost is vastly greater than most similar systems in the U.S.

According to an article on the website cited by Guilbault (transportpolitic.com) called B次元官网网址淥n Reducing Costs for LRTB次元官网网址�:

B次元官网网址淭he large majority of light rail lines like NorfolkB次元官网网址檚 (at $46 million per mile) will come in at less than $100 million per mile, most between $50 and $70 million per mile. Streetcar lines, running in shared automobile lanes, are a bit cheaper.B次元官网网址�

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 proposed cost is about $100 million per mile B次元官网网址� at the extreme end of the range of costs. The question is why so high for Victoria?

Are there construction scenarios for the same route and technology that cost less? Plan B? Plan C?

An independent review of  costs and alternate cost scenarios are needed to answer these questions.

John Olson

Colwood