Dear Editor:
With long experience as working group leaders advising on West Vancouver’s municipal land use issues, we were asked to serve as a focus group advising on our Official Community Plan process for two years. When council unanimously passed the OCP last summer, the B-Line was welcomed as a key element. We now join support for this fast, frequent B-Line as central to our future: to jobs, diverse housing, commerce and a restored tax base that must reverse an expensive population decline.
Minor changes are needed in the route, terminus, turnaround and timetable. After making those changes, we urge council to approve the B-Line—and transform new transportation interest into a dialogue aimed at answering such questions as:
Can we negotiate unused parkade stalls surrounding our commercial core for employee parking, freeing the streets for customers? Cyclingis clean mobility, here to stay. Can we solve north-south hills, dangerous, narrow access and make cycling more inclusive for a safe North Shore route? Can we extend the B-Line to Horseshoe Bay’s ferry terminal? Can we improve north-south bus routes, connecting ferry, North Van and West Van riders to a downtown B-Line?
Are we planning for the end of fossil fuel cars within 10 years? The demise of gas stations, roll out of electric, autonomous, and car share vehicles and park & rides require re-engineering our community while the environmental clock is ticking. Can West Vancouver add an Ambleside “Blue Boat Line” to its downtown transit fleet? Can the North Shore lease access to underutilized rail lines to transport riders from the Quay to Horseshoe Bay in four stops—could this line connect to the region? Can we widen select roads, connect hillside roads, and divert local trips from the Upper Levels to ease congestion?
West Van Councillor Marcus Wong reminded us during the election campaign: “West Vancouver is great, but we can always make it better!” The B-Line is the first “better” of our new council’s tenure. We ask elected leaders to make an informed decision in the best interest of West Vancouver’s future and open an Ideas Dialogue engaging our community’s brainpower to solve issues we face to secure that future.
Maggie Pappas, for the OCP Focus Group, joined by:
Christine Banham Jacqui Gijssen Graham Nicolls
Alan Bardsley Andy Krawczyk Freda Pagani
Rebecca Buchanan Charlotte McLaughlin Peter Scholefield
