Traffic is only going to get worse on the North Shore.
Despite aiming to concentrate density in transit-served centres, District of North Vancouver planners say the car will be the communitys dominant transportation option for decades to come.
Doug Doyle, acting district manager of engineering services, told a Monday night council workshop that by 2030, staff hope that 35 per cent of all trips would be made either by walking, biking or taking transit, up from the current 21 per cent.
The district hopes that TransLink will provide frequent bus service seven- to 10-minute intervals from Lynn Valley to Lower Lynn, Capilano University and the Lower Capilano Area. Express buses are hoped for from Lynn Valley and Lower Lynn to Lonsdale, Park Royal, and Dundarave.
All of these plans are yet to be confirmed by TransLink.
New district transportation capital projects, said financial planning manager Rick Danyluk, will be weighted 60/40 in favour of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, out of a $17-million budget over the next five years. The reminder will go to road safety and other corridor improvements. The funds, said Danyluk, will be a combination of tax revenue, developer fees, ICBC contributions and provincial funding.
I find it frightening, said Coun Lisa Muri, that by 2030 were only going to increase transit (use) from 10 to 15 per cent when well have 20,000 more people, or so they say, and 65 per cent of them will be taking a car.
Muri said it was worth planning for transportation between the centres but noted that many neighbourhoods are still under-served.
In Seymour, you need a car, she said. You cant wait for the bus.
Muri warned that the districts demographic trends would mean more cars, not fewer, and asked chief administrative officer David Stuart how many cars his household owned.
Four, he replied.
Tell me how we are going to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions with 20,000 more people? she said.
Coun. Mike Little said, We need to stop vilifying the single-occupant vehicle. It is the primary mode of transportation for the vast majority of our residents and will continue to be long into the future. Technology is going to bring the environmental impact of that down.
Little said an electric car was a more efficient option that public transit, which he described as not a great mode of transportation.
I use it when Im going downtown and maybe one stop from Lonsdale Quay. And I dont let my wife use it because of Phibbs Exchange.
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