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In the Ontario region a crucial public transport shakeup has been hugely expected by the public since 2007. GTA will largely benefit from the ‘MoveOntario 2020’ project. This 12-year plan comprises of 52 transit projects including the expansion of various subways, train, and bus lines and selected highways. Real estate demand is expected to rise in the affected areas with a decisive effect on the environment being seen by those that live in Toronto.
Real Estate: Rising Values
Understanding the way the real estate prices are predicted is quite a science, but since everyone has to leave the house once in a while; the accessibility is among the most important variables when calculating property prices. Various studies have concluded that nearby railway station significantly elevates the value of property. A comparison was made in Portland between houses within a 500m area of a light railway station and those positioned further away. The houses nearer the station sold for 10% more. Overall the positive effect of new stations on the property prices rise is recorded in a half-mile radius.
The positive environmental impact: bettering the air quality
Since exhaust gasses contain number of elements unsafe to individuals, being inhaled long term, they slowly poison our bodies, causing number of serious diseases and often leading to premature death. The parts of the body most afflicted are the lungs, heart and veins.
Pollutants and fine specks enter our body as we breath. As air is not pure these specks stay in our lungs causing hypersensitivity and in some cases irreversible damage. Air pollution can either cause or worsen asthma or bronchitis or other chronic respiratory ailments, it can cause blood clotting or heart attack and of course it can eventually lead to premature death. Although the research still continues, there are about 1,700 premature deaths associated to the air pollution in Toronto every year.
The affect on automobilist
It is believed that this reorganization plan will replace approximately 300 million car trips, which in turn will reduce the greenhouse emissions. But will this really work? Is this really the best solution for cleaner air? The plan is clearly fixing on the public transport changes, showing consideration to the railways, bikers and pedestrians before the drivers; of course expanding capacity of those means of transport is the way to go, but the requirements of every-day drivers must not be forgotten. At the moment, drivers in Toronto spend about 67 hours in traffic jams every year. Despite other means of transport a congestion study shows that in 20 years cars will still form 70% of all journeys in Toronto. (Source: http://www.hastebc.org/haste-news/torontos-war-cars). For instance, I know for sure that the majority of my colleagues working in real estate in Toronto will never give up their cars no matter the cost or availability of public transport system.
Exhaust gas emissions are higher when traffic is stopping and starting. Eliminating congestion and improving traffic flow will improve air conditions. Or maybe the way to go is to find incentives in the recent plans of Israel or Denmark. The electromobile vehicles are massively promoted by massive systems of charging stations throughout the country and vehicle exemptions. GTA should not rely solely on upgrading the size of the public transport system. It has to answer the demands of those who chose cars as their foremost means for transportation.
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