Dear Representative [or Name],

I am writing as a concerned citizen of Nova Scotia. I believe the time is right in this province to adopt light rail public transit (LRT), and I hope you will advocate for LRT as a representative of our community.

Nova Scotia has seen rapid population growth in the past few years, and the Halifax area is experiencing severe traffic congestion. Whether or not we have the ability to rein in the pace of population growth, it will likely still occur since immigration is a federal responsibility.

Frequent light rail service offers high capacity passenger travel that is more efficient than cars and buses, meaning it has the potential to fight traffic congestion, while also offering freedom of travel for those people without access to a car. Light rail also has the potential to move people faster because it can run on its own alignment, separate from road congestion. Many of those alignments already exist: to Truro, Tantallon and Windsor, for example.  

Our current premier has said his government will study the feasibility of LRT in the future, while at the same time it continues to widen provincial highways. But it is not a feasibility study we need: it is a commitment to light rail!

We spend billions of dollars every decade on roads in this province. If we can afford that expense, we can afford LRT, by rebalancing the expenditures between roads and public transit and taking advantage of federal dollars which have already been offered. Our future depends on this.

The benefits of LRT far outweigh the cost. At this moment, there is a global and local existential crisis that revolves around population growth and climate change, housing and affordability, social equity, health and quality of life, as well as economic prosperity. LRT, combined with good land use planning and good housing policies, can allow Nova Scotia to address these issues head on.

I recommend you visit railconnects.com for more information about LRT and its benefits for Nova Scotia.

In closing, it is my hope that as my representative and a potential lawmaker in government that you will adopt LRT a key component of your philosophy and vision for Nova Scotia!

Sincerely/Regards/Yours truly/Thank you