Dear Editor: 1 believe it appalling what TransLink is atternpting to do and have done — raising fares when the service is pathetic. The vehicle levy is outrageous, $29 Ors down ee at ee 1.9% No Limti Purchase Financing up to 24 months Mayors of Surrey and Delta voted against the plan, as they are bitterly opposed to the pro- posed annual vehicle levy. Apparently, this plan has to go betore public discussions before final approval. TransLink has proposed a start date of their new plan by October 2001. We, as motorists, who already pay deeply out of our pockets for insurance, vehicle maintenance, gasoline, ete. should strongly voice our opinion of opposition to this ludicrous ‘TransLink’s. How did the mayor and councillors of North Vancouver vote on this issue? They want more people to take transit, but they do not have any plans in place to get you from one place to another more efficiently. plan of Why would Eiake a bus to Park Royal when it takes more than 45 minutes? Ina vehicle it takes 20 minutes, Why would T take a bus to Vancouver and. pay extra fare for crossing another zone when T can take my vehi- cle and it will not cost me extra money or time? Another thing that encour- aged me to get a vehicle quick- er is most of the time that [ would take a bus with my two children (small at the time) we would have to stand the dura- tion of the ride Some riders do not stand up and offer the courtesy seats up front to elders or adults with babies, or preg- nant woman. Why spend unnecessary money on changing the name from BC Transit to TransLink and changing the colour of the 1 A opeaker ASA/E FAA stereo cassette ° ABS © Drive Select 4x4 © 24-hour roadside assistance ‘adder-box frame ® power steering « power door locks * power windows * power mirrors °455hpe * city: 33.3L/ao0km (z3mpg)* » highway: 9.7L/100 km (29 mpg)* at Customer's Home Call Edveard at: 983-2118 ; AUTO/ HOME/! BUSINESS { North Vancouver 986-1201 BOO Marine Drive ‘caummer Shows ara’ jm. Doss your cir need a frash took? . Announcing The Rew Price Guarantee We guarantee to be the lowest price for all your cooling system needs. * Radiators ¢ Gas Tanks ¢ Healers ¢ Full mechanical + Fast Drive-in Service « Free Estimates Nor-est Radiators Coating System Specialists for 48 Years 1175 West 14th, Horth Vancouver 3 blocks suuth af Masine off Pemberton Mup-Fri 8:30-5:23 984-0374 Sav 8:00-3:00 890 West 15th St. at Marine Drive Korth Vancouver 984-0374 Name: Address: Phone: Po rr ree ee ewes Your choice of auto repair worth 1139 LONSDALE N.Y. Draw: June 30, 2000 fe ee ee ee ce oe om em oe oe oe me buses? There was absolutely nothing, wrong with the previ- ous name and colour, Another thing is the new on-ramp for buses to the Second Narrows bridge. Why putina yield sign when the di- vers feel it does not pertain to them? We have been cut off number of there countless times. We have even contacted ‘TransLink with regards to this problem and all they say is they will talk to the driver than you never hear from them again. It is like they sweep these issues under the carpet for their immaculate drivers. Another thing is the new traffic signals just outside of Phibbs exchange to assist peo- ple in. making the left turn. Well, who has right of way? . The traffic fow who have the green light to make the left turn? Or the traffic flow going straight through at the time? Traffic making the left turn do not have yield signs and neither does the straight-through traf- fic. Many motorists who make the left turn on the green light feel they have the right-of-way and the straight through traflic feels they have the right-of- way. This is another intersec- tion begging for an accident to happen. Mrs. L. Martin North Vancouver Open Road sent’ Mrs. Martin's letter to TransLink for a response. Here it is: Dear Mrs. Martin, When TransLink was creat- ed in replacement of BC Transit, it was required by law to produce a transportation plan for the Greater Vancouver Regional Districe (GVRD), — ee nee ce ce mes Oar cee Om ED om ones ce eee ene cD with a financial plan to pay for those improvements. The plans were taken out for public review, and almost all people who saw the plan said that we needed the improvements: bet- ter transit and better roads. TransLink is allowed to do three things to pay for the plan: increase transit fares, which was done June 1; bring in a vehicle levy, which would have to aver: age $75 per year; and increase property taxes. It can also go to the provincial and federal gav- emnments to get funding from ‘the gas taxes those govern- ments collect in the GVRD. The province already gives TransLink eight cents per litre. Do we need the improve- ments to roads and the transit system badly enough to raise taxes locally? We do have the option of holding off in the hope of aid from Ottawa, but if we decide to go with our own tax-raising scenario, would we ‘rather see it in the form of property tax or a vehicle levy? These are the questions thar” have been asked, and continue to be asked in determining how the GVRD will pay for the quality of transportation the people who live here deserve. Mere public comment is to follow. Options and combina- tions of options for raising these finds must be the fairest possible solution, particularly in not unduly burdening those who benefit the least from the system. However, the vast majority of the population in the Lower Mainland does directly benefit, and these ben- efits include choices, too: the cost of maintaining personal internal combustion vehicles far exceeds that of riding transit. ing Belt jest iw : Clytchs PRE UBT eoesniecee LRaiiotor Flush paxciier...... Save $20 on Brakes Reg $92.95 1600 Mackay Rd North Vancouver {next to Avalon Hotel) Auto Repair AUTO CENTRE} Summer Specials | Lube, Oil & Filter. ate 400) 10. Ot 4 Wheel Brake Fack “ne Stop Awto Repeal’ 1519 Clyde Ave .W.V. 922-6686 Travel times must, of course, be compared, but so must expense, Roads must be main- tained, improved and augment: ed, but so must transit service -- the commuting population continues to grow. TransLink will purchase over 450 new buses for Coast Mountain Bus Company over the next five years (in addition to the 117 purchased in 1999, and coming on-line now) to improve current services and add new ones, including B- Line services in Burnaby, Surrey, Port Moody, Coquitlam and Vancouver. There will also be new Express Bus highway coaches to con- nect Richmond City Centre, MetroTown, Surrey, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and Vancouver. The number of SkyTrain cars will be increased, and West Coast Express will see new rail cars, too. TransLink recommends that the public send their com- ments, including ideas for alternative ways fo fund the Strategic. Transportation -Plan, to the TransLink Board of’ Directors. They can appear at one of the scheduled Committee of ‘the Whole meetings of the .‘TransLink Board of Directors and make a presentation. People can also send their comments to the GVRD Board of Directors. Further, they can contact their Member of Parliament and ask about federal government funding for transportation’ improvements through the return of some of the federal gas tax collected from. the 8 yf pers 8 bor oe SBM : 6 cyl porstibteor nn ADF 8 cyl persebtow.2...........-- 509% e B&B member * Govt inspection Facility 53897 © Ai:Care Certified 89618 © Lifetime Warranties $34 West tst St. N. Van For an appointment call Open: 77 Mon-Fri8-5 "AUTOMOTIVE Zomptete Automotive Reeairs, Maintenance & Service 296 PEMBERTON, NORTH VAN 71525