THIS week's question is a bit of a dilemma. Most people would want to pay neither an extra five cent fuel tax nor a $75 vehicle levy. But it doesn’t look like we're going to have that choice. TransLink chief executive officer Ken Dobell told a collection of municipal politicians this week that the grand trans- portation plan has already begun — and the corpora- | inguiring tion is short $100 million. Guess who is going to : 4 S make up the difference? We are. reporter The $1.4 billion strategy will improve roads and —_—_—_ transit — changes this region desperately needs. The plan, Dobell says, will cut down on commuting times by four per cent. It will also reduce harmful emissions and get more people on the bus. Getting people to buck up is another sory. As West Vancouver Mayor Ron Wood pointed out, the average citizen has no concept of what $100 million means. But try to hand them a $75 bill and they understand very well. Lf the plan is successful, it’s 2 small price to pay. NORTH SHORE DEMOGRAPHICS NO DON’T YES NO OPINION KNOW Horseshoe Bay 15% 62% Dundarave/Ambieside 14% 58% British Properties 19% 39% Norgate/Pemberton Heights 15% 70% Capilano/Delbrook Highlands 29% 34% Lower Lonsdale 42% 32% Central and Upper Lonsdale 29% 43% : Lynn Valley 25% 27% : : Blueridge/Deep Cove 22% 39% COMSINED AVERAGE ............ 23.5% 45% bo YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE INQUIRING REPORTER? mailbox - * Dear Editor: 8 . _ ok TransLink’s Strategic Transportation Plan should go to refer- cendum.. : . “oo There is inherently a conflict of interest in a body whose main ’ interests are in public transportation and the facilitation of the pri- * yate automobile. Its mandate is “to plan and develop transporta- -tion ‘systems. that meet the current and future needs of our > yegion.”. Cars are’ the undeclared enemy. Through biased polls .TransLink gives the appearance that there is public support for its plan. The Angus Reid poll sets the stage with the usual false promise “Have you heard of TransLink’s Strategic. Transportation plan, a new pian to improve transit and major roads and bridges in ~: Greater. Vancouver over the nexi five years?” Then follows this up ~. with.“The plan proposes 2 50% increase in transit service (read “costs”), the development of new roads (no % provided) and the » feation of new options to reduce traffic congestion” (without relating it to what it is today) — but failed to provide the fact that idership will at most increase by 29% and the public. debr will ‘Nowhere in the Angus Reid survey is there even a sugges- tion/option of providing improvements to the SeaBus service. More bias is shown with statements like “The need to develop our ‘transportation network-in Greater Vancouver can be greatly: reduced by developing land to ensure that housing is near jobs, shops and services” which completely ignores the berefits of not living near industrial plants or over commercial establishments. Or. 1/2 PRICE SALE on Summer Stock 2 _ 13% an 6% 3% 11% 16% 0% 2% 10% 24% 36% [0% 26% 10% 27% 16% Tom Cook North Vancouver The $75 is better than a fuel tax, because fuel prices fluctuate so much. But I'd have to say that vehicle owners should pay. They are the ones that are caus- ing most of the problems and the pollution and we should Marie Antoinette Martineau North Vancouver It’s. not an casy question because especially in B.C. every- body talks about the environ- ment, the beauty of nature, Ia- la-la. Well let’s put our money where our mouth is. Pm in favour of the fuel tax, to cut down on the number of cars. Neil Carrodus . North Vancouver . A levy is better. In the short . run, it'll suck, because every- body’s got to pay $75 and cars are expensive enough already. But in the long run if the bus system is better, pcople will be more willing to say, “I’m not - *-“9f the vehicle charge is the only mechanism TransLink ive them the responsibility. 15% 23% e “sp ¥ 8% 23.5% ransLink referendum needed even more biased is “We need more roads and bridges in Greater Vancouver to reduce congestion even if it means more pollution and giving up some green space” — ignoring tunnel! options or doubte bridging and the tact that a major cause of pollution is due to transportation congestion! Furthermore, the survey concen- trates’ on transportation to/from work school and ignores our many other transportation needs. Finally, the pretty-piease like plea can use...would you still support the Strategic Transportation Plan?” (ignores other, fairer, funding alternatives) is followed by a raft of impractical options to make the fee more palatable — “interim charge for three to five years until some other way of paying” or how about “vehicle charge lowered from the proposed $75 to - $50” or having older (read “the poor”) more polluting cars pay more. Has any government ever phased out a tax? Are our princi- les to crumble when the costs are reduced? The public is being ood-winked — an annual vehicle levy, strongly opposed by most peuple ( and only strongly supported by 9% — according to the same Angus Reid poll!) would rapidly grow to painful levels. The public needs a greater say on the plan —~ a referendum in each municipality at che very least. The Angus Reid survey indi- ' cated the highest priority be given to “providing methods for the public to give their opinions on major transportation decisions”, - Well, tet them —- via a referendum! Corrie Kost .. North Vancouver : Retail Marketing Co-cp Program ee Capilano College's eight- month Retail Marketing ». Co-op program equips you for a challenging career in retail. After gaining valuable industry experience on a co-op work term, graduates find work as wholesale agents, store managers and sales representatives. Join us foran information session: Wednesday, August 2 7 to8 p.m. Capilano College, Cedar Bldg., Rm. 347 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, B.C.’ To reserve a seat at the information session, call 984-4960. For more information on | “the program, call Marilyn Taylor..." - at 990-7814. ~ oy going to take my car today.” P'd be more willing not to buy a car if the system was better. _ E-mail your comments or question ideas to: mmillerchip@nsnews.com Cove youth need drop-in: Dear Editor: : . | . ; oe As a Deep Cove resident, I spent many Saturday nights as youth at the Myrtle. Park drop-in. Since the old place burned .° down last February, I have been concerned about what will take .. , its place. At a recent public input meeting, no plans were put. forward to replace the youth drop-in center. There are as many-;. - youth in the Cove now as there were when the drop-in was; open, if not more, and it would be foolish to believe that they.’ will all migrate up to Parkgate. Ic is the interactions between. people in their community, that makes a community. And for me, the drop-in gave me an opportunity to learn that.” I was also appalled to hear that the district would consider financing part of the new building through corporate spcnsor- ship. I cannot think of anything more offensive, to anyone liv- ing in the Cove, than a corporate logo decorating our public parks. I really hope the district council examines these options carefully, so that the needs of all members of our community are represented, young and old. . peg ee ae Jeff Maynard, North Vancouver