Transport committee  If there are some questions that you would like me to address, if they could be sent to me, I could then put something in writing.

Transport committee  I think there's one point with regard to philosophy. The point is this: Can we afford it, and can we afford not to do it? In many cases, that “not” situation is something we have to consider. Can we allow these cities to grow without helping the people move around them? That's philosophy.

Transport committee  No, no. It depends on the partnership I'm talking about. The actual stations, for example, would be designed by the authority to incorporate the required safety for the passengers, including to allow people to move out of a station as quickly as possible, all designed so that you have access in case of a fire or some catastrophic event.

Transport committee  Oh, talk about a loaded question.

Transport committee  There was not just one. There was a whole series of them. Basically, as I mentioned, Canada is becoming more of an urban society. Whether we like it or not, this is a fact. Basically, we have a situation where the cities themselves have to gear themselves up to the reality that they're getting big enough that they're going to have to either initiate or expand some kind of mass transit system, because people really have to be transported around.

Transport committee  The fares on line 1 are extremely low and have been increasing slowly with time. The fares they were projecting or wanting for line 2 were much higher. I think they've had to reduce them to gain more ridership. The same is true for line 3.

Transport committee  On line 2, we attempted to get together with different developers and stores to try to get them interested. Most of them were not, mainly because of the bad experience with line 1. So it became a major problem—well, not a problem, but something we were unable to do. Line 3 is mostly privatized, as you may know.

Transport committee  There are two issues right now with regard to Toronto. The first is that both Toronto and Metrolinx refuse to work with developers. If they worked with developers, in a partnership arrangement, maybe using the Hong Kong model as a possibility, then money could be made with regard to the operating costs.

Transport committee  That's a good question and one of the things I'm proud of, to be perfectly honest. In 1984, Manila had an elevated LRT system that was built in Belgium, I think. In 1994, we had a team of people from Japan—which the Japanese funded—and from Britain, and the Philippines. I was the project manager.

Transport committee  No. This is the problem with projections: it's very difficult to get people to use the system, but once they do, they become more interested in it. I think the ridership is now increasing. I haven't been back to look at it, as far as the—

Transport committee  Yes.

Transport committee  To a partial degree, yes I agree. The use of elevators is a very good idea. It means extra costs, mind you, and it's something you have to sell to the government, but it is a good idea. I agree with that 100%. I think it would also help with the ridership. It goes hand in hand with regard to people getting used to the system.

Transport committee  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure to be here, there's no question about that. I want to assure you that what I'm going to talk about relates to me; I'm not associated with any consultant, any transit agency, any contractor, or any vehicle supplier. So the ideas and issues I will be discussing are issues that I have learned about and been helped to think about based on the experience I've had in various countries.