Even if it was possible to build tomorrow, a third bridge to the North Shore would get us nowhere.
An online petition demanding a re-evaluation of transportation infrastructure to North and West Vancouver has collected around 5,800 e-signatures.
We sympathize with the author’s plight. Thousands of drivers stewing in their own fumes every rush hour is a recipe for frustration.
But the petition favours an emotional panacea rather than a rational solution.
Primarily, it ignores the fact that numerous studies on this issue have already been done, dating back 50 years. And few of them conclude that a third bridge is a silver-bullet that will slay our traffic monster.
Last year, an engineer’s study commissioned by North Shore municipalities revealed options for an eventual replacement of the Ironworkers Memorial crossing.
The document concluded that rapid transit, not additional vehicle lanes, could bring a regional economic benefit of $500 million annually by 2050.
While the rail solutions imagined in the document are a long-term remedy, there are more immediate salves on the way. Last year, the province pitched $300 million to fund Bus Rapid Transit to the North Shore, which could roll out as early as 2026.
More affordable housing would also reduce bridge traffic, by turning commuters into local residents.
Searching for answers is human nature, but anyone who’s driven a car knows it’s never a good idea to abandon reason for road rage.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
Want to stay updated on North Vancouver and West Vancouver news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
