Putting air conditioning on 38 new C-Train cars could be transit spending money in the wrong place, according to a Calgary organization.
Environmental group Clean Calgary believes unless Calgary Transit can prove that comfort is one of the utmost concerns of riders, then the money forked out for air conditioning could have been better spent.
“If (Calgary Transit) properly assessed why people aren’t using Calgary Transit and if (air conditioning) was at the top of the list, then I’d say it’s worthwhile,” said Natalie Odd, executive director of Clean Calgary Association.
“But I would question if they’ve surveyed people as to why they’re not taking transit.”
According to Odd, the money spent on air conditioning could be put to better use improving transit efficiency.
“The number 1 thing that will encourage people to take transit is to make transit faster than cars,” said Odd.
The 38 new cars should begin arriving in 2010.
