I’m currently in Berlin, where efficient transit has been raised to something of an art form: in the past two weeks, I haven’t waited more than six minutes for a train, tram, or bus, and no matter where I’ve ranged in this vast city I’ve never been more than a few blocks from a train, tram or bus stop.

I bought a pass that allows me to ride Berlin’s entire system anytime after 10 am for one month. Cost: 51 Euros (less than $80 CDN)–or about $2.50 a day. (There’s a slightly more expensive pass if you need to ride earlier, but I’m on tourist time.) No wonder everyone here uses transit.

Anyway, I was all set to post a rant along the lines of “Why won’t Canada commit to creating a transit system that actually works for people?” when this good news story hit my inbox:  Vancouver’s new light-rail Canada Line service from Vancouver International Airport to downtown will kick into gear ahead of schedule on August 17, 2009.

For less than the tip you’d pay to a cabbie for the same run, you can get all the way from YVR to Waterfront Station–or any one of the 14 other stops along the route–in about 25 minutes.

Starting January 1, 2010 the fare will be $6.25 one way, but until then you can ride for a regular two-zone fare of just $3.75.

Just three little things I want to say about this:

1. Hurray.

2. About time.

and

3. It’s not enough. Keep it coming TransLink…

I’ll take the Canada Line for the first time when I return from Germany August 19. Are you as excited about this new service as I am?