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“] don’t know
what impelled Don
(Bell) to break out
of the pack. I hope

that we can still

_ come ip with a
j. concerted position.”
“WY Mayor Pat Bonamie

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"gl ‘VD MAYOR
DON DELL

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', PAT BONAME

NVC MAYOR
_ JACK LOUCKS

WHAT you see Is pretty much what you'll get with a three-lane Lions Gate Bridge plan endorse d by North Vancouver District. However, the idea calls for wider. traf.
fic. lanes, and pedestrian and bike lanes to be added to the outside of the bridge. ‘ ; ;

By Martin Millerchip
Contributing Writer
miller@nsnews.com

THREE lanes, 1 the province pays;: no tolls
and long-term transit solutions.

Forced to choose on Monday for fear of being left out of the”

“process, that’s what North Vancouver District. Council unani-
mously: voted as its preferred’choice for Lions Gate Bridge.
.. North Vancouver District Mayor Don Bell told coundl, “Ifwe
don" t take a'stand we are going to get led down a path,”
.. The two other North Shore councils have yet to debate the

issue but both West Vancouver, Mayor’Pat. Boname and North.

Vancouver City Mayor Jack Loucks say it is likely there is majori-
y support on each council for the same position, " °-
item was a surprise addition to,

Monday’ § meeting agenda’ar 10:30 pan. when
Mayor Bell told council he, wished to report on
& his ‘attendance, at “a ‘Lions Gate rid ge

< Consultative. Committee A GBCC) last
\ Wednesday, ;
oS, Following that’ ‘meeting, Bell said he had.
: been’ asked to provide an indication of his council’s preferred
ms optio: by June 2 and hence. the short notice,

The province announced in’ April that the government will
~ seek private- ctor proposals for designing, constructing and
financing a anew Lions Gate crossing. According to Transportation
Minister Bais Boone, bidders must provide tor:

& pBthe use of the existing bridge and causeway alignment;
© four lanes ‘of traffic with surface traflic through Stanley Park
‘- eliminated or reduced;
M reductions to trafic f in the West End; and
M funding over a $20 million commitment from Victoria to come
: from tolls, aN
Amid criticism thatthe government strictures accommodated
Me est Endl residents and’ Sees Park users ahead of North Shore

_ Squamish 3 Nation will be part of the development of a proposal

District Council

A second one-month delay in the Ministry of the
Attorney General’s pollution case against Howe Sound *

North Van District wants a
Lions Gate Bridge without
tolls and no extra car volume’

residents, Boone confirmed that local municipalities ‘and the

call " %
Sra?’ representatives from We st Vancouver, North Vancouver
City and District, the city-of Vancouver, the Greater Vancouver
Regional District (GV RD), the Vancouver Parks Board met with
senior staff from the B.C, ‘Transportation Financing Authority and
government consultants for the first time May 28 as the LGBCC,
First Nations representatives ftom the two North Shore Bands
Were absent, *

Bell, 'the only politician present ab the meet
ing, told counell the province reiterated that its
preferred choice was taseplace the bridge.

_ He said the response to questions concerning
emergency and disaster’planning-in the event of
. at Lions Gate Bridge clostire, was “that, had not
really been addressed to this point.” ; %

Bell said he was also told there would be no further public con:
sultation (a process that -has continued for ‘almost four, years)

“although municipal consultation would continue

However, said Bell, “They say if the process.of consultation is
unsuiccessfil the government ‘will continue with a three-lane rehars
bilitation of the existing bridge.”

Bell told council the adjustment of provincial cost estimates sig
interesting” and appears designed to support ity announced $70
million funding commitment.

The bare-bones approach t0 rehabilitation is still pegged at
$60 million, but the price tay for an enhanced rehabilitation bas."
dropped from a first-announced $90 million to $70 million,”

Meanwhile, a four-lane replacement has jumped trom an esti-

inated cost of $ 120 niillion’ to $320 million; ;

‘The $70 million rehab would feature three wider lanes anew
deck, side tresses dnd outboard decks for safer sidewalks, .

Bell told couneil he believed the pravince has a responsibility :
to provide.“a safe bridge with the same capacity, and to provide’
public transit and fight rapid transit as the solution to the long-..
term transportation needs of the North Share,” a

‘Coun, Ernie Cristya long-time proponent of light rapid inn

pr

sit as a-soltition to car-dependént conimuting, traded motions ~,

- with Bell until council unanimously agreed to “advise the Minister

of Transportation and. Highways; By hranspoftation Financing ,

* Authority and the LGBCC that: ode

B council supports the provincial pavéranient prac eding withan
enhanced rehabilitation of Lions Gate Bridge’ consisting of three.
widened trattic lanes and separated siclewalks for increased bridge *
user safety, with all required fithding to be provided by the provin-

“cial government; 2

2M council reaflirny its support. for improved public’ transit-and
rapid transit to the North Shore: asthe primary trauiartation goal.
of district council;
Hi council inform the minist
option that would: result ia” any. . 5‘ Mt Rw burden,
including tolls, for North Shore residentsjand*,
Mthe City of North Vancouver and District: of We est ‘Vancouver be
invited to support this position,”
«City mayor Jack Loucks told the ‘News he thbught his cone
‘might support such a position, : !
“L support it because everyone seers opposed ta tals
lane brid xe With tolls is not a significant solution,” said /L woueks.

Ri
apposed roany *

1

\

4

“He added that a rehabilitated bridge could i remai for the present.

“but wired into that they (the provicice) must look toarlong: range
solution with rapid transit.”

ee

West Vancouver Mayor Pat Bonaine § said she had hoped that a

all three North Shore councils would have worked outa preferred |
option together,
“TL don’s know whit impelled Don (Bell) to bréak out of the

“Eean see what they are doing,” jacks nid. “They are waiting for this
to go away,”

‘Stall tactic
alleged in
mill suit:

Pulp and Paper has Terry Jacks spitting mad. |

“Phe environmentalist and former pop singer launched a private praise :
cution against Howe Sound in April, Jacks charged the Port Mellon mill,
focated 22 kilometres (13.7 miles) from Horseshoe Bay, with ¢ exceeding
its permitted emissions on numerous vecasions in January, mo

He points to mill data on emissions of sulphur dioxide and smog-form-
ing nitrogen oxide as proof the company exceeded its permit,

Jacks said a second adjournment, given to the ministry in Sechelt ¢ ourt
Tuesday, is merely an artemnpt by the attorney general to bury the case. °

_ pack. Phope that we can still come up with a cancerted position.” 4

uh

HR

Bu ministry communications officer Kate Thompson said her ministry.

has yet to receive information from the environment ministry. That in
‘mation is required before the Ministry of the Altice if General can pro-
‘ceed vith che case, she said.

In tarly May, the dtorney-genenwl’s oflice took aver the case and asked +
for a one-month delay,

"Tuesday" s delay was the second requested by the Crown, said Jacks, ‘

The provincial environment: ministry cails the mill: the! lowest inthe
“ provinice for sulphur emissions,

ve, . a A a nv Nite