A pro-bus rapid transit (BRT) lobby group has emerged to dispel what it calls myths about London's multi-million dollar public transit plan.
In front of a couple dozen like-minded people, Build this City launched Thursday afternoon at Market Lane. The group, led by realtor Marcus Plowright, kicked off by stating it represents the "quiet majority of citizens" who support BRT and want the city to live up to its potential.
"We are at risk of missing out on the largest infrastructure investment in the city's history. The largest project ever," said Plowright. "London has a history of saying 'no' to large projects. We get cold feet right before big investments."
Plowright used Fanshawe College's new downtown campus, Budweiser Gardens, and the Convention Centre as examples of major projects that were originally balked at by Londoners. He went on to explain that a new transit system was needed to handle the 84,000 more people who are expected to move to London over the next 20 years, before calling BRT "ridiculously affordable."
"How much does it cost? It costs about $12 million, it's not $500 million. The project is $500 million, it costs us $12 million. Twice the cost of the Blackfriars Bridge rebuild. One fifth the cost of a two-block-long underpass on Adelaide Street. About $8 per household per year going forward. This is the most cost-effective investment in transit in the province today," said Plowright.
Plowright's assessment that it would only cost London taxpayers $12 million relies on senior levels of government picking up the bulk of the hefty price tag. To date, the Ontario government has committed up to $170 million toward the 24 km BRT system. London’s financial contribution is capped at $130 million, so the remainder of the funding would have to come from the federal government.
Build this City is demanding answers to BRT-focused questions from municipal election candidates who have voiced their opposition to the current plan. Those questions include "if you support jobs in London how can you advocate for cancelling the BRT when it means 4,300 good paying jobs for a decade", "how are you going to replace those jobs if this plan is cancelled', 'what is your idea for better transit", "what research is it based on", and "who are your experts."
"I believe every person in the city's mind is changeable... I don't expect and we don't expect within Build this City to change everyone's mind. What we hope to do is make sure that those that we elect make informed decisions and consider the long-term implications of those decisions," said Plowright.
