Dear Editor:
Besides the claims and counter-claims by Yes and No sides in the upcoming Lower Mainland vote, much anger has been directed at the “appointed TransLink board of directors.”
Of the nine directors, only two appear to have any background or experience in the field of Transportation: Ms.(Marcella) Szel and Ms. (Lorraine) Cunningham.
The other seven directors include: two accountants, one lawyer, two with either investment or food services backgrounds plus the mayors of Surrey and Vancouver. They are basically well qualified in many varied fields but not in transportation.
These are the folks who say “turnstiles are too expensive” and would cost more to install than the revenue lost by non-paying riders.
(The transit systems in London, New York, Singapore or Madrid probably don’t share that opinion.)
The TransLink board don’t have a solution to the two million non-paying bus passengers who are “clocked-in” by drivers — rather than confront them.
One solution for the Yes side to win the upcoming vote would be to call for the resignation of the existing board and replace them with only those qualified and experienced in the field of urban transportation.
Such a move would gain my vote and those of many others disappointed with TransLink’s past performance. With only four TransLink board meetings a year there is still time for positive change to be made.
John A. Hill
West Vancouver
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