north shore news __MAIL B OX Friday, April 23, 1999 — North Shore News - 9 Cheers and fears over Whistler raii Dear Editor: Hooray, someone has final- ly seen economic sense to for- get about wasting valuable tax dollars on the Sea to Sky high- way for mass public transit! _ Arthur Griffiths has_ real- ized that the cost of upgrading the road to Whistler (to a four- lane highway) will be so high as to be totally uneconomic and disruptive, especially as it would stop at Whistler and not continue to the northern inte- rior, as BC Rail does! The rail right-of-way is already in place and can be upgraded to “double track” and overhead electric power for a fraction of the cost of the proposed highway upgrade! Do we wantna r at of the $1.5 billion Island Highway debacle? The only arca where there will be logistic problems to deal with is the BC Rail track passing through West Vancouver, especially in Ambleside, where rail cross- ings to access the sea wall will have to be eliminated for safe- ty reasons, requiring the con- struction of pedestrian bridges or tunnels, not forgetting the fast trains passing at the back of “high-priced” back yards of Ambleside, Dundarave and Cauifeild! Is Mr. Griffiths thinking about a rai] cunne! from West Van, under Burrard Inlet, direct to Waterfront Station to deal with the problem of access to the North Shore? Insights on Dear Editor: I'm so pleased that the Mounties seized the stock of Colors magazine from McNews in time to save me the embarrassment of a porno- graphic picture showing a baby urinating from its little pechole. How disgusting! I wish I knew the name (you failed to identify) of the man who complained to the staff at McNews about the hoto. | would like to thank im for looking after my morals and saving me from such a dirty image, God forbid I should gaze on such muck. It is possibly the same per- This would be the most logical and economic route (under Stanley Park) to tink up with downtown Vancouver rail and transit, connections, most especially with the new con- vention hotel duc to be built within 300 metres of Waterfront station and also be in seven minutes walking dis- tance from at east three other major hotels in the immediate area! This -ail link is the most economically and environ: mentally fogical method of mass transit compared to extremely costly highways and attendant ever increasing exhaust pollution! The Lower Mainland is physically and geographically restricted in its transportation options. The potential huge numbers of people expected to visit Whistler for the 2010 Winter Olympics warrants major mass transit from Vancouver. Only BC Rail has the capability to provide such mass public transportation safely and quickly without incurring incredible gridlock as well as substantially increas- ing the number of accidents on Route 99! Providing an electric-powered high-speed rail system for a comfortable 80-minute trip will be icing on the cake, so long as there is ultimate fast service to Prinec George and the B.C. interior! Bob Tarplett North Vancouver Dear Editor: I read with dismay your April 14 article “Whistler fast rail link pushed.” This article alarmed me for two reasons: 1. That anyone in’ their right mind is even giving seri- ous consideration to the con- struction of a high-speed link from North Vancouver to Whistler given the minimum cost is pegged by BC Rail in the $2 billion price range. This expenditure by all British Columbians to facilitate the winning of the 2010 Olympics, a two-week extrava- ganza for the enjoyment of the wealthy few. After the revelations of the sleaze tactics of the Olympic movement do we really want to beg for the 2010 Games. Maybe by 2003 when the time comes to find a location — the Olympic Committee will have to pay cities to be its host. 2. Secondly, why has Arthur Griffiths been asked by the NDP government to chair a Transit Advisory Committee? What are his cre- dentials to chair such a com- mittee and why, given the exis- tence of Translink (the GVTA operating arm), do we even require yet another advisory committee? With all due respect to Mr. Griffiths, we can ill-afford to waste our scarce resources on constructing this rail-link to Whistler even assuming there NV magazine seizure son or persons who managed to save us all from the embar- rassment a few years ago of looking down to the water- front and secing — dare I say i? The big sign reading “Erection Shop” in the ship- building yard, now reads “Assembly Shop.” Thank you whoever you are. Keep up the good work. Alan J. Lofthouse North Vancouver Dear Sditor: Re: RCMP seizes magazine (Colors), Aprii 14 News. Stated was: “Ironically the store also has in stock ... the German news magazine Der Spiegel, which features an image of a naked boy smiling and pecing.” The image is the world-famous little bronze statue called “Manncken Pis,” part of a lovely fountain in the heart of Brussels, Belgium. Since Brussels is the official bureaucratic centre of the European Union, “Manneken Pis” was pictured only symbol- ically. This for the enlighten- ment of the reader. (Apropos “fst Europa noch zu retten” means “Can Europe still be salvaged?”) Gunda Fernandes North Vancouver *Anaiable on one year plan from Cance!* AAT. with a monthly service fea of $20 or greater. ** Purchase ay new phone and activate i on a one year plen with Cancel ATAT. Limited ume offer. See in-store for detaits, @Rogers Carat Inc. “ATAT Corp. Used Under License. Park Royal Shopping Centre South Tel. 913-0335 Your PCS & Cellular Store-12 locations to serve you Burnaby Chrwack Kelowna (Wey OL (6s) MAE we con naa Penticton Salmon Arm = Yanc ¥ Tieton jay (8m eee an ss 55 O01 Previa (sh Soa GSH aD West Van. - (a 10-035 is a need, and FE need some substantiation of Mr. Griffiths’ statement to this effect. The “need” must be weighed against all the other “needs” of our society at this time. Most of which are far more pressing and critical than) a) “rich man’s” fantasy-rail project to Whistler. Alan Nixon North Vancouver Where can you get the best | GM deal on the FINANCI NG & LEASE RATES 99 Grand AN S Drive it away! 4 down, autw, air conditioning, rear spoiler 99 Buick Century Drive it away! 4 dr. V6, loaded Be) Drive it away! 3.4 lire, V6, Power Mirrurs ABS Brakes & Mote se 94,698 aa per month S9 GMC Sierra Ext Cab Drive it away! 4.8 litre, V8, 255 HP, auto, air cond. AR payments olus taxes, OAC. Loase dis $20,888 $21,988 $19,998 $12,995 $19,995 99 Grand AM 98 Camry CE 98 Trans Sport 98 Suntire 97 Cutlass Sup. 97 Cavalier A/C $10,888 97 Cadillac STS $47,995 95 Cadillac Fleetwood *°*°36 ma. $4265 DP, LP. $12,833. “36 m0. $3363 D.P, TP.$11,931 °*°35 mo, $3529 D.P., TP $13,657 36 mo. $2775 OP, TP $16.68 92 Crown Victoria $4,995 92 Cavalier Z24 $9,999 91 Cadillac Deville $11,995 87 Reliant Wagon $3,995 85 VW Cabriolet $6,995 98 Malibu V6 $15,995 98 Century $18,995 . OL. 07908 95 Grand Cherokee Ltd, va $26,995 94 Grand AM SE,V6 $11,995 94 Pontiac Trans Sport $12,995 94 Grand Prix $11,995 93 Pontiac Trans $10,995