A passenger rail line between Vancouver and Whistler would solve so many problems—and the infrastructure’s already there.
There’s a problem with our current city-to-resort shuttle services: they all operate on the same roads that house Whistler’s legendary traffic. Sure, they’re affordable and they offer a good alternative for people who don’t own cars, but they’re still subjected to the same issues that plague buses in the city. A passenger rail line would not only ease that issue and make Whistler a more welcoming place to carless families—it would bring more business and increase the potential for Whistler’s own transit system to grow.
I know… the last thing we all want is even more tourists crowding Whistler’s streets and ski runs. It’s hard to positively frame a rail line in a way that won’t upset the locals and elitists. But (here we go), more public transit means fewer cars. Fewer cars means less stress on roads, fewer accidents, fewer traffic jams and less noise in town. It means less space dedicated to cars, creating more room for business, leisure and culture.
As someone who has lived in Europe and experienced the magic of taking the train from ski town, to city, to ski town, I would love to see a passenger train connecting Vancouver and Whistler. And—best yet—the rail’s already there.
What are we waiting for?
