Dear Editor:
Mixed (election) results on the North Shore. The City of North Vancouver returned the same slate which has driven development and congestion and the district has tilted slightly to lower and slower growth based on the platforms of those elected.
Development and congestion will be the main issues for years to come. When the Upper Levels Highway was built in the '50s it handled the population quite well. The growth of the North Shore and the region in the past 70 years have contributed to massive bottlenecks as the North Shore has been left out of significant upgrades. The recent announcement of a 3.5-year plan for the Mountain Highway interchange leads one to believe that the piecemeal direction of easing the five bottlenecks (traffic funnels of three lanes turning into two) could take up to 20 years. As we blindly follow growth patterns established in various OCPs, will we ever have the proper roadways and transportation methods (i.e. transit) to deal with the growth we already have and the future growth everyone says is inevitable? I have seen OCPs tinkered with regularly so I would ask the newly elected district council members to be cautious in proceeding with everything laid out in the OCP. Don't operate in a vacuum. Consult with the province and when there is some agreement on proper road widening (and eventually the two bridges) then proceed with growth at a reasonable pace.
Unfortunately, citizens in the City of North Vancouver want more of the same based on the re-election of the same crew. We can expect more bike lanes (I don't mind them; however, side streets and greenways are better situated than putting them on main through roads.) and more expensive planters in the middle of intersections under the guise of roundabouts.
TransLink continues to ignore the North Shore but keep up the good fight. I am sure they will take the already constructed third SeaBus out of mothballs within 10 years. It is needed sooner.
Finally, as a district voter, I have saved all of the elected members' position statements on density and congestion. It will be interesting to keep tabs on whether or not you will all deliver on your statements. Infrastructure catch-up is badly needed.
Darryll McDonald
North Vancouver
