10 — Sunday, March 29, 1998 — North Shore News north shore news MAIL B OX Consider these rail realities in Whistler link Dear Editor: T really don’t like to rain an Andrew McCredie’s arade — and I certainly agree that there’s no better way of moving large bodies of people benveen nwo points than a fast, cfti- cient and economical passenger rail system. (Try to imagine a high-speed rail link March 18 News.) T can say too, that both he and his colleague Martin Millerchip accurate- ly quoted my reply in an earlier issue on the same topic, when I was asked if, in the light of che recently announced bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, BC Rail had given any thought to improving passenger rail service berween North Vancoun er and Whistler. It’s a great idea, gentlemen —and as someone born and bred beside the rail tracks in Britain, I'd love to see it happen. Bur I think we should con- sider a few realities before getting too excited abou. the prospect of high- speed trains hurtling up and down Howe Sound, or through Capilano Valley or Indian Arm. As a rough indication of how mutch such a line might cost, BC Rail spent S600 million between 198] and 1984 — in 1984 dollars — to build an 81-mile freight line in north- eastern B.C. I'm no engineer but I'd venture to suggest that given the terrain, today's costs for a high-speed link over any of the three routes The News suggests would be closer to $2 billion. Frankly, I can’t see the investment community lining up to build s rail- way, which admittedly, might prove popular for a couple of weeks during The Olympies but which, at the end of it all, would be left to serve at best a population of less than 100,000. That leaves taxpayer funding — and frankly, as one who alrcady sees close to 50% of his income disappearing in one form of taxation or another, I really don’t think I can afford any more, It’s all very well to draw compar- isons with Munich and Nagano and it’s true that Munich has a first class, integrated transit system as a legacy of the 1972 Olympics, and I’ve used it many times. The difference is that it was designed to serve a conurbation of nearly three million people, most of whom were already committed or willing transit users. In| Andrew McCredie’s Nagano example, the area served, I'd conservatively guess, is 10 million or more. For all that, both systems involved huge public subsidies for construction and contin- ue to do so to cover their operating costs. Let’s not forget thar we're still paving for SkyTrain and still heavily subsidizing every commuter who takes both it and the West Coast Express over the Mission-Vancouver route. To the best of my knowledge, transit systems don’t pay their way anywhere in the world and never will They're a chosen alternative to high- ways and funded as such — a concept we abandoned in the 1950s as we abandoned passenger trains in favor of the family car. A few other practical considera- tions: B the effect that any of the News" proposed routes might have on the environment. [ simply don’t see the environmental protection community standing idiy by while we plan and build a railway through the pristine wilderness proposed, however envi- ronmentally-triendly railways may rel- atively be; B the existing BC Rail line was built to heavy-haul freight, not high-speed passenger train standar ds The railway derives more than 98% of its revenue irom treight, which is largely respon- sible for BCR Group's profirabilicy for 17 of the past 18 vears. Any increase in passenger traffic over the Howe Sound route would obviously impede treight movements and make itever. more difficult to serve interior customers and compete with highway trucks: FAMILY SERVICES | of the NORTH SHORE Help! There's a teen in my houses Massuming most of the intended pas- senger trathe will come from the south side of Burrard Inlet, how would Olympics-bound passengers get to the North Vancouver railway terminal? The bridges we have are already quite inadequate for the traf- fie we have and with decision-making on an additional crossing moving at the speed of molten lava, I'll be amazed if we see any improvement in time for the next millennium, ler alone the 2010 Olympics. Finally, the Whistler Olympics bid is still little more than a pipe dream. If I'm around long cnough after I retire I'll be delighted to see it and (m right behind those who are investing their time and money to try and make it happen. : But I think it’s a fitde premature for the News to be planning a $2 bil- lion railway from) Nowhere to Nowhere —for the second time in B.C.’s history. Barrie Wall West Vancouver AS our children enter their | teen years it becomes a learning experience for the whole family . You will fearn —fots: OPEN HOUSE INVITATION THAIN ‘CREEK CULVERT REPLACEMENT DESIGN ALTERNATIVES ’ ..March 31; 1998, between 7:00pm - 9:00pm William Griffin recCentre, Pelican Room, 851 West Queens Road _ Drop In Anytime! The. deteriorating 2.1 metre diameter wood stave culvert must be replaced in the summer of 1998. Design options range from replacement with a concrete box culvert to the creation of an open channel. Issues to be considered include public safety, protection of private property, fisheries enhancement and surface landscaping. EXISTING 2100men. diameter stave culvert. REPLACE WITH CONCRETE BOX OR OPEN CHANNEL. Restore Fish Passage. For additional information call: Tony Barber, Assistant City Engineer (604)985-7761 local 338. f North Vancouver: 141: West! 14th Street: Phone: 985-7761 Pax: 985-9417 Web sileiwwiwec cnv.org , lancouver BC v7M THO.” This isn’t actually a true cali for help, it’s a course for parents of teens and pre-teens. In this one evening workshop you will learn what's up and what's to be expected with this interesting age group. Course facilitator Rosemary Hundal says “There really are two main areas discussed; how to recognize the transition from child to teen and the need for independence.” The need for independence is one area that is just as hard for teens as it is for parents. Each of us has our own comfort level when it comes to allowing more independence and _ the responsibility that goes along with it. Making sure your teen knows how to be safe, such as, taking the bus with a friend rather than alone, should be stressed. Also try letting your teen know that you trust them but are not so sure about - the other kids. of great tips during this one evening. course that will help | your whole family | function in a more | light-hearted fashion. [| * Give kids choices on how to dress and do their hair - these choices : are not life threatening : : * Home needs to be a safe place where kids can have down time too. . * Don’t make a big deal about a clean room, often the mess is just an exten- sion of your teen making their own . choices. : a * Choices come with repercussions, such as dirty jeans left on the floor . aren’t clean to wear, : © Curfew is a safety issue not a contr . issue; so, be consistent and feel : comfortable with your rules and a Family Services of the North Shore is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching and strengthening family life on the North Shore. #101 - 255 West Ist Street, North Vancouver 7° register for courses or for further information 1410 Clyde Avenue, West Vancouver Call 988-5281 Fax 988-3961