The excitement surrounding the RTS Link may run into daily operational friction for both sides of the border.
Rather than unlocking a seamless economic boom, the project has triggered a classic mismatch between infrastructure design and consumer behavior.
Why Both Sides Are Hurting
Congestion & Friction: The promised seamless commute has been bogged down by bottlenecked terminal access, congested surrounding roads, and exhausting pedestrian walks through massive immigration complexes. The physical journey feels longer and more tedious than anticipated.
The Rent Trap: Anticipating a massive wave of foot traffic, landlords aggressively hiked commercial rents around the RTS terminals. Retailers locked into these spaces will be bleeding cash because higher overheads completely outpace actual sales conversions.
Consumers Refusing to Foot the Bill: Retailers tried passing those exorbitant rents onto shoppers by raising prices. It backfired.
The "Skip-and-Go" Effect:
Instead of stopping to spend money at the expensive malls right next to the RTS terminals, shoppers are actively bypassing them. They are voting with their feet—skipping the immediate terminal zones and traveling deeper into local neighborhoods or suburban malls where prices are fair and realistic.
Bottom line:
The infrastructure brought crowds, but not the right kind of spend. Landlords priced the market out before it could even stabilize, leaving retailers squeezed and commuters exhausted.
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