Dear editor:
Re: BIRT in the Hand, March 4, editorial viewpoint.
Let me first give kudos to Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, for her efforts in getting our plight of gridlock on the radar.
I fear these efforts will not bear any results. In the fifth paragraph, you have successfully identified the Achilles heel of TransLink [getting the billions of dollars needed to make it a reality will require the support of all levels of government] and history says the heel has sustained many injuries. This is due to the revolving hordes of politicians who have given us non-binding plebiscites, reneged promises, ineffective reorganizations, etc. We need only mention what happened in Surrey and that is only at the municipal level.
Keep the BIRT [Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit] work going and at the same time Ma should impress our premier to get all levels of governments together with two main objectives to accomplish. This is the opportune time as we have two minority governments. The objectives are to come up with a steady source of funds to meet future transportation needs of our economically important region and to come up with a new mandate, governance and a responsive organization for TransLink, that does not include politicians, who make decisions on a justified need basis. All politicians need to do is to ensure that all checks and balances are met.
Without these changes, we will always be in the Ferris wheel, spinning forever and getting no place – and, may I say, with a waste of scarce capital. In the meantime, I will keep on breathing as I do not want to turn blue waiting in anticipation that something will be accomplished.
John Consiglio
North Vancouver
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