8 — Friday, July 5, 1996 — North Shore News carr Transit woes beset Ni. Shore Dear Editor: Regarding the Second Narrows Bridge | would like to comment on several issues: “1. If an east-west connector along the North Shore were available. this would eliminate many cars that are just tra- versing the North Shore and do not wish to go over either bridge. _2. Transit — again, an east-west transit route, connecting from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay. The present bus system takes almost two hours to travel from Windsor Park (my res- idence) to the fisheries lab in West Vancouver. The ScaBus is _ effective only to go to the downtown area. 3. The “alternates”. proposed by the Ministry of Transportation: (1) travel during non-peak hours (most of us who have to drive are going to work, and although I have adjusted my working hours to 7:a.m, to 3 p.m., most individ- uals cannot do this); (2) carpooling — | have managed to car- pool with one other individual, however it does not seem practical to be able-to find two other persons who work together, or have similar hours, or have day care responsibil- ities; (3) alternate routes — again as noted, there is NO alter- nate route across the North Shore, other than the three routes ” that everyone is taking (Highway 1, Keith, Main). . 4, Has the Ministry of Transportation considered the effect these massive traffic jams are causing for the small business person, e.g. the Crab Shop on Dollarton has lost most of its customers from the western part of the North Shore, plus cus- tomers from Burnaby, etc.” : i+ §, Has the Ministry of Transportation considered the effect ‘on future tourism — the tourists now visiting the North Shore “Will probably NEVER return, if their remembrance is one- to ~, two-hour lineups. > Helen Dye’. |... “North Vancouver | The right to dissent is vital Dear Editor!) .. -~“yersial, on any issue at any Tam writing with respect to. « time’ is. fundamental to free ‘the ‘ongoing debate over your « society regardless of whether that opinion is shared 4 sof. Doug Collins, It frightens mé, when 1 read’ letters which suggest that deci- r freedom of speech oO :voice One Ss: . 110 matter how contro- ss Will Oe ' Ne Sordi eNy lees decision to publish the opin- Gate Dear Editor: ’:,° The Lions Gate Bridge has :.. become the emblem, the land- _mark.for: Vancouver, just: as- by any’ other ‘individual or group -— “majority” or not. _ Perhaps those readers don’t understand why those rights must be guaranteed. I recom- mend’ the works of George Orwell. for those wishing to * better understand the potential consequences otherwise. MaryCue ... “West Vancouver |.’ alt the Golden Gate Bridge is for 2 San Francisco, or the Statue of Liberty. for New York, and there, is ‘no question of its” being torn down. Therefore, any discussion of, a. tunnel connecting the North Shore .to the city — which seems to be Noel . | Wright’s. preference —. is futile and. more than enough ‘time has been wasted over this issue. If a billion dollars could be * found.‘to. build this tunnel, ‘millions would still have to be spent on repairing and main- “taining the bridge and the causeway in its present ridicu- -Jous three-lane conformation. It is really criminal the way the First Narrows cross- ing has not been expanded to meet the greatly increased population, and the greatly increased waffic. Gridiock, which occurs every day, is the . greatest polluter of the air. Politicians have dithered for years over this question; no wonder they have such a low reputation. Perhaps, the new ‘transportation minister, Lois Boone, sought to remedy this by announcing that the Lions Gate. project is a priority, © oh sok fe a etek Batts, cams AANA BOL TTLST SIE AMPA EY NS HE SSN en Do you There's no simple bridge Dear Editor: { have been reading the articles in the North Shore - News on the traffic problems due {o the construction. It’s amazing how every- one has. an opinion on how things should be done, but how they exempt themselves from practising. what they preach. : 1 strongly believe: there’ should be a third bridge, not to encourage more people to ' drive but to encourage’ the safety of the students who have to. ‘cross . Dollarton Highway at-the peak of rush hour. ; ity of drivers in B.C. for some reason become stupid, behind the wheel of a car. They either don’t'see these A 6-lane Lions ernative although she may wriggle out of it be asserting that the high _ spending NDP government can’t find the funds. When = the Lions Gate Bridge was built 60 years ago, West. Vancouver was hot much more than a seaside resort. Now the bridge has become a humiliating bottle- neck not only for a great and growing suburb but ‘for the world-class ski resort of Whistler. West Vancouver- Capilano MIJ.A Jeremy Dalton wants to double-deck the present bridge, if that can be done. ‘ An alternative would be to build a large, six-lane bridge _ beside it which would follow the magnificent lines of the present structure. Either way, it would be the cheapest expansion project and would cost much much less than. a billion dollars. - Peter Stursberg West Vancouver Get liars out Dear Editor: Bingogate, Hydrogate and now Budgetgate. Let’s show these liars the door. ; Denis Mason West Vancouver eg (repuat pcamronee are ree * SS eally think this will be quicker The sad truth is the major- ; \ —— ‘ kids trying to cross at their crosswalks, or they just can't stand the fact they might get stuck at a light. A third bridge could be constructed with maybe bicy- cle lanes, bus lanes or what have you. : It could be a toll bridge and pay for itself. : Realistically cars:are here . ~ Budg British Columbians an percentage point for anyone earning up to $80,000 a year’. - . 1 - In 1997, personal income tax will be, reduced another percentage point. Dear Editor: & Our tomatoes are going te Kansas - Our spuds are turning to rot cae Our letuuce and berrie and all else B.C. carries will soon be available — not As | reach for the last box of Corn Flakes “ I suffer a moment of grief: Empty supermarket. shelves we cun cope with,::: Second Narrows to con- quer? No fear! But just for a moment consider... a What if we ran out of “ beer?! ue Ann Seddon wg senitoma @intergate.be.ca North Vancouver — - oe Narrows? will take nine ‘weeks t to stay. They are fast and con- | plete, but if done on venient and that is why you have so many one-person vehicles. ; oo There are also people who ‘can’t carpool-or take, the, bus. ” due to their shifts, or whatev- er their reason. We all have an excuse don’t we?. ° we 1 also find it completely - bogus that’ this construction K. Timko “North: Vancouy _mtimko@ netcom. et 96 cut : of d the families Effective Monday, July 1st, the persorial income tax rate is reduced one . All individual and family taxes aré frozen until the year 2000 The tax cut, along with a freeze on'BC Hydro, ICBC, and post-secondary tuition fees, will save the average B.C. family up to $500 a year." <° The total savings for taxpayers will be $485 million annually by 1998 99° Budget "96 also contains new initiatives to coritrol debt, cut government ’ spending, protect health care an Tax cuts and a batanced budget. You spoke and the lowest per capita debt of any Canadian province. __: d education, and create thousands of jobs. ” “The budget will allow British Columbia to maintain the highest credit rating = we Rstened. 4 ' ay wot ie fea ce aa . For more information about how Budget ‘96 |”. benefits you and your family, call ‘ 1-800-663-7867, - http://www. fin.gov.be.ca f i BRITISH OLUMBIA