week’s long-awaited announcement from the provincial govern- ment, it’s now possible to calculate when we Can expect a new cross- ing of the First Narrows. Never. That's right. Never. At least, if we wait for the NDP to act, it’s now abun- dantly clear that nothing is ever going to happen to fix the unnecessary traffic bottle- neck of the aging Lions Gate Bridge. The issue simply doesn’t register on the politi- cal radar screen of Glen Clark’s administration. Highways Minister Lois Boone confirmed this fact last week when she announced the result of four years of focus groups, forums, dis- plays, meetings and studies. And what’s the net effect of all this costly, time-consum- ing, public consultation? The provincial govern- ment can’t afford to spend more than $70 million on any new transportation route connecting the North Shore to Vancouver. Where does that number come from? That’s the cost of placing a new deck on the Lions Gate Bridge and reha- bilirating the existing struc- ture. Considering we've known for some time that a new crossing will cost at least four or five times that amount, why didn’t Victoria tell us a long time ago that it simp isn’t willing to pick up the tab for any significant improvement to our transit woes? It would have spared us from the false hope and expectations created by the phony process of public involvement. Lois Boone’s announce- ment was laced with condi- tional language: “probably,” “likely,” “could,” and “would.” In other words, the government still doesn’t know what it’s doing when it comes to a new crossing. The only certainty is that it won’r spend very much doing it. However, the minister did set clear conditions for any replacement for the Lions Gate Bridge. It must be a four-lane crossing; it must reduce or eliminate traffic through Stanley Park; there must be no detrimental effect on Stanley Park; it must reduce traffic impact in Vancouver's West End; it must protect the environ- ment; it must be financed by the private sector. Given these constraints, it’s obvious that under the NDP there will never be a new First Narrows Crossing. And this lack of vision is truly disturbing. The government’s own studies clearly state that there must be a doubling of the current three-lanes provided by the Lions Gate Bridge in order to accommodate the current volume of traffic crossing over Burrard Inlet each and every day of the year. The idea of adding a single lane can only be seen as a stop-gap measure, irre- sponsibly passing the problem on to the next generation. Would we have fared any better if the Liberals had won the last provincial election? Probably not. Remember, it was the opposition Liberals who promised to get much, much tougher on holding back public expenditures and reducing provincial debt. In the final analysis, North Shore residents simply can’t count on politicians or bureaucrats in Victoria to have the boldness or imagina- tion to resolve this longstand- ing issue. Therefore, it’s real- ly up to us. 3 Fresh New § styles For Spring Toma Sofa $1099 Tami Sofa $1099 All 3 models also available as loveseats, chairs and with ornaments. The “Toma” also available as apartment sofa, queen bed, double bed & single bed. “Many more... instore: . 4 “LINEN LOOKS - South Pacifc & Fairview, Varied contents. Reg. to $10: 98m . JUTOPIA RAYON CHALLIS] >. 100% Rayon Prints 45"/115cem Reg. $9.,98m Glen Clark and Lois Boone say that a new cross- ing must be built and financed by a public-private partnership. Does the provin- cial government need to be one of the partners? Or could we do it Gurselves? Why not take the $70 mil- lion offered by Victoria and use it to upgrade and refur- bish the existing Lions Gate Bridge? Then let’s direct our municipal governments, pos- sibly through the GVRD, to tablish a new local authority to oversee the construction and operation of a major new Burrard Inlet tunnel crossing. That’s how public-private partnerships are often struc- tured in other jurisdictions: they’re the creatures of local government. There’s no compelling need for the province to be involved. Once the new tunnel is completed, the Lions Gate Bridge can be maintained as a proud heritage structure, used exclusively by public transit, bicycles, pedestrians and emergency vehicles. Of course, all of this this This may be the number you've been iooking for. 1 & 2 Bedroom Condominium Residences For information about these exciting new Residences call this number 988-2500 DECORATOR TEXTURES WIDE WIDTH SHEERS: DREAMTANDE BABY TANTS Varied contents 48‘Reég. Be 98m 60" COR $14 98m Allin store stock! Varied styles, cdntents GAwidths ° : 30% OFF: price, ~Fo0% Cotton panels 45"/115cm Reg. 98 patel $4. 29 panel Friday, April 25, 1997 — North Shore News — 7 ssing would take some extraordi- nary leadership and coopera- tion from our municipal politicians. But isn’t it time that local government started to assert itself, rather than passively waiting and hoping for imaginary sugar-daddies in Victoria to notice our problems? — The North Shore News believes strongly in freedom of speech and oh right of all sides in a debate to be heard. The coluninists published in the News present differing points of view, but those views are not necessarily those of the newspa- per itself. 7AYLORM Orie BRAKE SPECIALISTS SERVICE LTD. B.C.A.A. - A.R.A. - APPROVED BRAKES — LIFETIME WARRANTY (on shoes or pads) + CONSULTATION &.,175 PEMBERTON AVE. 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