Kevin Gillies WITH LIONS Gate Bridge on its tast legs, a community focus committee is studying proposals for replacements or complete rehabilitation of the bridge. The committee members must keep in mind certain criteria when ¢x- amining the options and the choices must be in line with the Greater Vancouver Regional District's (GVRD) long- range transportation plan. The community focus group is also to consider a ‘‘user pay'’ system of financing — How do you feel about paying te in telnet ateUy Victor Elles North Vancouver it doesn’t bother me that im much because | doen't use Lions Gate that much. | wouldn't agree with tolls on Second Narrows. Julia Elles North Vancouver I don’t think it's right. We give cnough money to the government. | think the government can afford to pay for Lions Gate Bridge. Christmas ferry traffic increased ALMOST 11% more people crowded on to ferries during the Christmas rush this year compared to last year. - BC Ferries Corporation recorded the customer increase between Dec. 24 and 28., : In-total; 218,791 passengers and ~ _* 67,674 vehicles boarded ferries to “: "travel on the three main routes ‘between Vancouver Island and the “mainland. Last year, 197,840 passengers cand 62,126 vehicles travelled the routes during the same five days. Locally, the Horseshoe Bay- Nanaimo route logged 67,576 pas- sengers and 20,756 vehicles com- |, pared with 60,125 passengers and ,“ 18,990 vehicles last year. Higher traffic volumes were also recorded between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale over Christmas./ - This year, 45,092 passengers and 15,883 vehicles travelled the route compared to 37,944 passen- gers and 14,443 vehicles last year. Mike Haskins North Vancouver alright provided we get a new bridge. | don’t feel safe on Lions Gate Bridge. tolls — any improvements tothe First Narrows crossing. This falls in tine with (he GVRD’s plan to reduce our dependency on automobiles by tolling both hzidges that span Burrard Inlet. While advocates of the plan to (oll both bridges say it will induce behavioral changes, those apainst it say we have no other way to cross the inlet. That leads io today's question. tolls to cross either Burrard Inlet bridge? _ | Nick Wadsley \ Vancouver ,