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Taxes up, density up, traffic way up

Dear Editor: My homeowner taxes were increased this year 25 per cent. What do I get for this? A current sign on Marine Drive advises residents to "use alternate route" September/October due to construction. At 12:45 p.m.

Dear Editor:

My homeowner taxes were increased this year 25 per cent. What do I get for this?

A current sign on Marine Drive advises residents to "use alternate route" September/October due to construction. At 12:45 p.m., Wednesday of last week, the back road to Park Royal (the alternate route) was lined up westbound at Fell to Pemberton. It was also lined up westbound from Phillip Avenue to Capilano Road. And that was not rush hour.

The North Shore is a traffic zoo. For the last few years, the North Vancouver District and City has been in a building boom. Continual construction and traffic delays have plagued residents. There is more to come, as projects on Lonsdale between 13th and 17th are to begin, and Marine Drive at Capilano Road. I do not object to growth or new residents, the North Shore is a great place to live and grow. Have you told these people however, that they should not bring a car?

You claim our city and district are not grappling with the problems of sprawl and accompanying pressures on transportation experienced by other municipalities in the Lower Mainland and that your efforts lean towards becoming a more complete community, with people living and working in the same area to help solve transportation problems. This is a big city area, and its commerce and employment is spread from here to the Fraser Valley. You expect the new arrivals to live, socialize and work within a radius of their home? Have you told them you have narrowed lanes of traffic to allow for bicycle lanes (I have yet to see any bicycles in most of these lanes), to allow for traffic circles, speed bumps and narrowed corners? Have you told them the present infrastructure does not seem to be able to handle this growth, to support the density?

I do not ever remember voting for these traffic improvements and likely did not pay as much attention as I should have. As an example, I objected loudly to no avail, to the traffic circle in my neighbourhood (I was one of 19 per cent who returned the survey for traffic calming, but one of 49 per cent who voted against it). Cars continually play chicken, honk horns and screech tires as they chase each other to get by. The traffic circle itself took over two years to finish and is not pretty among the million dollar real estate.

Municipal elections are poorly supported. Our mayors were elected by acclamation. Maybe it's time we showed some interest.

Lynn Gordon

North Vancouver