10 ~ North Shore News -— Friday. November 17, 2000 Third Seal From paneS within five years. A new operating centre is crucial for the North Shore within the five-year plan. The size and operation of the bus depot needs to be resolved in the short term as TransLink's temporary solution is to. use other depots south of Burrard Inlet and bring buses across the Second Narrows bridge i in the morning. After summarizing the main points of the North Shore ‘Transit, Area Plan, TransLink's Glen Leicester, manager of implementation planning, addressed the additional recommendations and answered questions from council. Said Leicester regarding SeaBus con- cerns, “Surge loading is the main problem on SeaBus.” He said 88 per cent of the time, the vessels cun at less than 50 per cent of capacity. The vessels are only over capacity on 0.2 to 0.7 per cent of trips. He added that a third vessel would cost an estimated $18 miflion to purchase and an additional $1.4 million per year to run and maintain. “Have you considered running smailer vessels instead of empty boats during the day?” asked Coun. Lisa Muri. ““The SeaBus terminals would have to Se moditied to accommodate smaller ves- sels,” said Leicester. He added that crew costs would remain the same whatever the vessel size. Leicester described the SeaBus service as reliable and said that while TransLink Stolen vehicle THE Vancouver owner. of a 1997. Volkswagen Golf recently awoke to discover it had been stolen and recovered all in one night. According to West Vancouver Police : media liaison officer Jim Almas, police Setup a Counter Attack ‘roadblock on ~ the Lions Gate: Bridge at 3:30 a.m. on Now. 14, us woul will be checking the maintenance of the vessels, it was felt they could fast 35 vears. “The 35-vear lite span of the vessels is based on what?” asked Coun. Bill Denault. Replied Leicester, *Professionally- based marine vessels average 30 to 40 vears.” He said that another SeaBus is on TransLink's schedule as a medium to long: term option. Coun. Ernie Crist verified that no new SeaBus crossings to Maplewood | or Ambleside were planned in the immediate future. Leivester said that new ferry routes involve a long planning process. Because of priorities in other areas ew routes Will not be considered until years four and five of the five-year plan. Addressing transit’ priority. measures Coun, Janice Harris asked, “Who will pay for changes to bus lanes and fights? TransLink oor | North Vancouver (District }?™ Leicester explained that TransLink cur- rently provides a 50 per cent cost share, which 1s currently under review. On the issue of the North Shore bus depot, TransLink acknowledges a need to maintain 200 buses on the North Shore. However, there is limited industrial land available for such a facility, “Have you considered two-storey bus parking?” asked Harris. “That would be uneconomic as construction costs soar and space is fost te necessary ramps,” replied Leicester. He suggested that there might have to be two: facilities on the North Shore as When stopped, the driver of the Golf seemed nervous. said Almas. “When the officer questioned him about the vehicle, he sped off through the roadblock.” The driver raced cast on Marine Drive. then turned north on Capilano Road. He abandoned the car at the Grouse Inn. More officers and a police dog attended and the man was found hiding, in nearby bushes. Va oo Come Celebrate West Vancouver Memorial Library’s & th Birthday! ~ November 12 to 18, 2000 “Movember 14~7pm - Douglas Coupland . author visit (*) * s0-00%m ~ ~ 5:00pm: ~ 10:30am: : November 17 Family Sleepover at the library (*) Saturday November 18 Friends of ihe Library Mini-Book Sale Mad Science, & the World of Harry Potter (5-12 | year, ‘olds) (te) "Puppet Show (3-5 year olds) (x) oo Hick Bantock - Special reading from his new book The Artful Dodger (x) Official Ceremony © Winners of Bookmark and Trivia Contests will be announced . * Birthday | Cake° ~ Face painting, button making, balloon animals and ; music! Limited edition Library Book. bags on sale! “. Pra-registration for these (* ) programs Is required. ‘Call the West Vancouver Library at 925-7400 West Vancouver Memorial Library 1959 Marine Drive, ‘West Vancnuver BS viv 138. Arson fires in North Van NORTH Vancouver has been smoking lately with looking for 13 acres in one area is not half'a dozen arsons in two days. viable and the current site of eight to 11 ‘ acres cannot be expanded. Land on the North Shore is expensive and building another deport could take three to four vean, Coun. Heather Dunstord wanted to know why West Vancouver buses were housed in North Vancouver District if depot space is so limited. Mayor Don Bell interjected to explain that the West Vancouver Blue Buses had been part of BC ‘Transit, and now TransLink, since the 1980s. Historically, the Blue Buses were maintained at their current, (TransLink-owned) |= North Vancouver logation because of the fast turn-around from there across the Lions Gate bridge te Vancouver, Ina discussion about shuttle bus service «According to the North Vancouver ROMP, thice dumpsters at North Vancouver City hail in the 100-block of West 14th Street were set ablaze on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. At about the same time 4 fire was set in a garbage container in the 100-block of West 3nd. Street. Const. Heidi Hoffman said the fires were limited to the dumpsters. No one was injured, North Vancouver Mounties believe the fires were start- ed with paper and matches. Police do not have any suspects. A few hours later, a fire was started in a garbage container in Semisch Park in the 200-block of West Ist Street. The park is Jocated across the street from Sailor Hagar’ s Brew Pub, About six hours later on Nov, 13 a3 a.m. a 1988 Honda Civic was gutted in a blaze in the 200-block of Tamarack in Upper Lonsdale. Police say a can of aerosol lubricant was found nearby, The parked car was moved six metres before being torched. Anyone with information concerning the dumpster tires. contact Const. Owen Rusticus at 935-1311 and refer to case: 2000-38158. For the car fire, contact Const. Peter being introduced to the North Shore, it Kennedy and refer to case 2000-38200. was noted that shuttle service had bees —Anna Marie D’Angelo introduced to the British Properties ahead _ of service to the cast in North Vancouver. Asked Muri, “fhe population of o lace. mour is 25,000, why was the West Free Biundstones! Jancouver shuttle introduced firse" Leicester responded that conventional Try on a pair on Nov. 18 and become eligible to bus service in the British Properties had not been working well and that TransLink was saving money by operating smaller buses in that area. “Sevmour residents are within walking distance of a conventional bus route,” he said. Council voted unanimously to adopt the North Shore ‘Transit Plan subject co the additional stat¥ recommendations. win a FREE pair. recovered by West Van Police Charges pending against 2 23-vear- old Debra man include theft over $5,000; possession of stolen property; excessive speeding; failure to stop for a police officer; cunning a red light; and failtre to produce a driver's ficence. Drugs were also seized from the vehicle. The man's first court: appearance is set for Jan, 3 at 9 am. in) North Vancouver. INDIAN RIVER TACK SHOP 3081 Highland Bivd.. North Van. (Edgemont Village)... — Deana Lancaster 984-7270 Toll Free: 1-888-349-4593. 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