CambridgeToday received the following letter to the editor from John B. Waylett about bringing the ION light rail transit system to Cambridge.
What's so alarming about the Cambridge LRT discussion is the number of purely emotional claims cited for doing it.
There's a lot of "patting on the back" and "atta boy" amongst pro-LRT groups.
The regional government is pushing its agenda hard, but not rationally. Perhaps they want another tentacle into Cambridge that can be leveraged in the upcoming amalgamation talks.
Without massive government grants, the LRT will come at a huge cost to Cambridge property taxpayers.
A fact-based financial analysis showing the LRT to be justifiable and the best alternative for Cambridge must be put forward before a rational decision can be made.
Mayors/chairs and councillors come and go. Residents must live year after year with the aftermath of their decisions.
Multi-billion dollar decisions like the Cambridge LRT that could commit residents to dramatic property tax increases for years to come should be put to a referendum vote, with accurate projected cost information provided in advance.
John B. Waylett
Cambridge
