Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
Isn't that your argument for the airport tunnel though? We should put all of the other projects on hold (and have a somewhat stunted system as a result) so that we can have an efficiency there?
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That was never my argument and is a false dilemma. "All other" projects will not be put on hold.
However, to respond to the spirit of your argument, the two are not directly comparable.
Delaying the airport tunnel has direct, permanent and significant cost increases due to the impending construction of the parallel runway which will be in operation thereafter.
Delaying the subway construction did have associated cost and complexity increases, but nothing nearly to the scale of the airport tunnel, and they could (and have been) mitigated somewhat by ongoing preparations such as utility relocation and setbacks for new construction along 8th Avenue.
Also, the need for the subway had to be proven since the success of LRT was an unknown. Building the subway in the late 70s ran the risk of overbuilding for what could be needed. The need for the airport tunnel is easier to foresee due to the growth plans in the surrounding area being known and due to automobile traffic patterns being easier to predict.