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LETTER: Many unaware of extent of B-Line plan in West Van

Dear Editor: Re: Nice Things , Dec. 7 editorial viewpoint. Your editorial misses the point. You are correct that the North Shore, which pays significant amounts into TransLink, gets very little in return for these funds from TransLink.
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Dear Editor:

Re: Nice Things, Dec. 7 editorial viewpoint.

Your editorial misses the point. You are correct that the North Shore, which pays significant amounts into TransLink, gets very little in return for these funds from TransLink.

It is interesting to note that the new mayor of Surrey can abandon a light rail transit proposal after many millions of investment (much paid for by North Shore citizens) in favour of a more expensive SkyTrain, which we will all pay for.

The questions for the North Shore is whether TransLink is making sufficient investments in transit and whether the B-Line is the best transit solution and whether it really requires one lane to be closed (to through traffic) in each direction on Marine Drive from Dundarave to Park Royal and (possibly) onwards to Lonsdale and Phibbs Exchange. Closing of the traffic lanes will undoubtably add to the traffic gridlock and misery of citizens and commuters who have no choice but to use their cars. It seems the B-Line will save little travel time for those riding the bus compared to the misery inflicted on drivers. There are proposed traffic light and turn lane improvements that TransLink should pay for, B-Line or no B-Line, that ought to have been made many years ago.

Many citizens and business owners were aware of the B-Line but almost none were aware of the plans to close two lanes for traffic along Marine Drive to be reserved for B-Line buses. TransLink and our mayor and council have been unable to answer very basic questions, from citizens and business owners, regarding the initiative. Clearly, TransLink and our mayor and council in West Vancouver (perhaps North Vancouver city and district as well) have done a poor job in engaging fully with citizens and business owners on such a major change to such a key corridor as Marine Drive.

We need more vision from TransLink, municipal politicians and the provincial government, including acknowledgement that transit and traffic woes on the North Shore are significantly driven by through traffic visiting parks, Squamish, Whistler, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island – this needs investment in both improved road and bridge access along with improved fast and efficient transit.

To date their tendency has been to throw their hands up in the air and just tell us all that traffic gridlock and poor transit options will only get worse.

Graham McIsaac
West Vancouver

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