& - Wednesday, September 17, 1997 — North Shore News Dae 5 nd Dear Editor: We are close to squandering hundreds of millions uselessly, if Highways Minister Lois Beone’s latest plan for a four-lane Lions Gate crossing goes ahead. If this happens, we'll lock in for decades much greater problems than those created in the 1930s by the present bridge’s short-sight- ed builders! Government officials have stated — and the ministry’s request for expressions of interest confirms — that the new cross- ing must “reduce future traffic impacts on the West End of the City of Vancouver.” Such wishes are understandable and prop- er. And they’re pie in the sky if the exist- ing routing is used! Denman Street could be and should be among the finest people //pedestrian/ commuunity-oriented streets in the coun- try. But it can’t as long as it serves as a connector to a First Narrows crossing. We must face two facts realistically. A very large and growing portion of bridge traf- fic originates in — or goes to points beyond — the downtown peninsula. And downtown streets can’t begin to handle any traffic diverted from Denman. In other words, the existing bridge is only part of the problem. The infrastructure feeding it is totally inadequate. _. Without adequate infrastructure at - both ends (i.e. connections to south, cast and westbound arterials on the Vancouver end-and direct linkage to the upper levels Enter to win fickets to Diana tribute at Coliseum A special tribute to the ePrincess of Wales is planned for this Saturday night at 8 .m., Sept. 20th at the : Pacific Coliseum. More than 450 performers (including “the Vancouver Symphony * Orchestra and the Vancouver ‘Bach Cheir) will take part in “Diana: A Tribute with pro- =, ceeds donated to The ‘program. will include Overture; and Eiton John’s special song for Diana per- . formed by the Vancouver Bach Children’s Choir. To win two tickets to this speciai evening tell us the ‘name of the song Elton John wrote new lyrics for in . Memory of the princess. ~ Send us your name with the answer (by fax or by hand) to Diana Contest, c/o North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4. Gur fax number is 985- 2104. Include your name and phone number. Deadline for entries is tomorrow, 5 p.m. Thursday, September 18. If your name is drawn for two tickets you will be notified by telephone on Friday, September 19. answer to ct Mixed CROCUS 140 bulb pack § Reg. 7.99 north shore news MAIL Box freeway on the North Shere), a four lane crossing in the existing location is no solu- tion at all. In addition, the complete disregard for rapid transit right-of-way in the proposed four-lane crossing is as short-sighted today as was the design of the present crossing in the 1930s. We should be learning from this experience, not locking in even greater problems for decades. A tunnel beneath the park that termi- nates on West Georgia Street may satisfy Vancouver’s myopic Park Board. It will also be a costly guarantee that downtown/West End traffic problems will increase, not improve! Worse set, today’s traffic backups into the park become a safety and health concern if, in future, they back up into 3 tunnel. The more I study the problems related to this crossing, the more appropriate and effective the proposal tor a mid-harbor crossing becomes. Such a routing offers the advantages of feasible infrastructure connections at both ends and capacity for rapid transit. It removes non-downtown {West End/Stanley Park traffic from these areas and improves the fivability of * North Shore native lands by eliminating the need to cross them. - If all these positives aren’t enough, the possibility of creating a small mid-harbor island to assist in paying the capital costs of much of the system could be a major bonus if harbor island developmert is Sedum spectabile, Perennial Late Summer, pink flower, attractive to butterflies! re -THIS: WE! pf 50 bulb pack NE Reg. 8.99 C sa $499 SA Grape HYACINTH Great shade $499 ur-lane fix is Ingest properly handled. Such an island, with effective vchicle and transit linkages to downtown and future North Shore hotels provided via a tunnel crossing beneath it, could serve as a unique and attractive location for a world-class casino, conven- tion and/or performing art centre. Revenue generated from a government- supervised casino could be directed toward transit improvements — or other priorities — for decades to come. Visitors and local gamblers with resources divert- ed from Las Vegas, would be paying a sig- nificant part of the cost! For 1 safe, viable and cost-effective solution, we must now develop effective regional leadership equipped with region- al attitudes and regional vision. Unless we learn from the inadequacy of the original crossing design, the costs of 1930s short- sightedness will pale in comparison with the long-term costs of mistakes we seem abou to make. We have recently found the regional vision and financial wherewithal to build and pay for a $1.2 billion Island Highway for the benefit of thousands. The system we wil! inevitably construct to replace or supplement Lions Gate Bridge will affect the quality of life of mil- lions regionally and will be a significant determinant in our condnuing ability to attract visitors for decades to come. Ron Tanguay West Vancouver EK’S/BEST BUYS = Reg. 8.99 MASTER GARDENER CLINICS SAT. & SUN., SEPT. 20 & 21, 11AM-5PM 4 Join us for our Free Master Gardener Clinics “& with experts on hand from Van Dusen Gardens Rain or shine! , Restrictions rued Dear Editor: I have just reviewed the NDP government’s “Requests for Proposals” for the Lions Gate project, for any private sec- tor companies wishing to construct a four-lane bridge over the First Narrows. It is frighterang to sce that the restrictive concessions required by government are meant to discour- age the private sector. Let’s be clear, we are headed for cither a new parallel four-lane bridge through aboriginal reserve land on the North Shore or a rehabilitation of the existing three-lane bridge. There will be no other proposals entertained. L have talked to proponents and they are already backing off from the bridge project. There are so many impediments to that agreement that cost-effectiseness is out of the question, It appears that the attitude of the government is that if costs are grossly out of line, they will simply “apply it to the tolls.” Thirty years of tolls are facing North Shore commuters with no mechanisms for applying best costs, creative think- ing, traffic concerns or transit concerns. There is only a com- mutment to the NDP’s so-called B.C. jcb strategy. ; The major requirement by the propanents is compliance to the NDP's job strategy plan and all construction labor will be through the gevernment and the responsibility of the Highway Contractors Ltd. (HCL), a company wholly owned by B.C. Transportation Finance Authonty (BCFTA), with no control by the censtruction company over Jabor costs. North Shore taxpayers will pay millions: of dollars through tolls without consideration as to what is best for the North Shore. Daniel M. Jarvis, MLA North Vancouver-Seymour ay a I LEVOLOR‘# . 4 sth 4° hte 4:41 4 Tiger ¥ Justin t2onard & the final round "Space Is.very limited’ond last at these price Drain! 200 - m0" H Pendenst