= TransLink plan d ‘Front room forums’ gather N. Shore input Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer TALK of TransLink’s Strategic Transportation Plan rolied into kitchens and living. rooms on the North Shore fast week. In an effort to drum up support and gauge public opinion of the controversial five-year, $1.4 billion plan, TransLink is sponsoring meet- ings — dubbed “front room forums” — across the Lower Mainland. Instead of holding the gatherings in auditoriums and meeting, hails throughout the communin, however, TransLink has enlisted area residents to host the sessions in their homes. TransLink provides the bait ~— free food and drinks. On March 14 it was North Vancouver resident Bruce Nelliigan’s turn to open his door to six friends for the lat- est round-table discussion. He weicomed the opportu- nity to debate the advantages and drawbacks of the pian, which has drawn criticism from residents and politicians alike for not providing viable: solutions for North Shore-spe- cific transit concerns. Nelligan, a twice-daily commuter himself, said the intimate format promoted dis- cussion from people that might otherwise not make their voices heard at larger public meetings. “I’ve been to public forums before and the only people whe show up are really vocal,” he said. “Here you get everyday, regular people who take transit and have issues to discuss.” As part of its strategic plan, TransLink is looking to imple- ment. a number of changes designed to improve the schedules; routes and reliabili- ty of its services. The goal is to increase transit ridership by 6% within six years. Currently, public transit "accounts for 11% of peak hour trips in the GVRD. Two 25¢-per-zone transit hikes are planned to help finance the plan. The first is set for June and another is slated for 2003. A. $75-per-vehicle surtax is planned for October 2001 as well as increased park- ing rates for the downtown Vancouver area. TransLink has estimated the average increased cost to the daily commuter to be im News photo Cindy Goodman JODY Gwyer (holding paper) ieads a recent meeting to discuss the impact TransLink's Strategic Transportation Plar. will have for North Shore residents. TransLink is sponsoring small community information sessions throughout the Lower Mainland to garner public input on its billion-doltar ptan. between $100 and $250 per year. Several forum participants took exception to the transit hikes, saying that TransLink should first deal with the num- ber of fare dodgers that take the SeaBus or SkyTrain for free. North Vancouver resident Mark Teasdale said that transit workers need to stop believing in the honour system and start cracking down on non-paying riders. “If they checked the passes more often and were more stringent — then maybe TransLink wouldn't have to be adding more money into other areas,” he said. Nelligan said that he has taken the SeaBus twice daily for two years and has only been asked for his ticket while in transit on one occasion. North Vancouver resident Nina Ferentinos said that an increase in transit fares would only encourage more peuple to evade paying. The group also suggested that TransLink beef up securi- ty on SkyTrain and at bus sta- tons like Phibbs Exchange if they wanted to see ridership increase. Health-care Michele Young agreed. “I won't take the bus or worker ‘SkyTrain at night,” she said. Nelligan was also con- cerned that the TransLink plan made no mention of SeaBus repairs or the possibility of purchasing another vessel for a third run or as a replacement for one of the aging vessels currently in use. “Seeing as this is a five-year plan they should have some- thing in the budget for a new SeaBus,” he said. “They can’t be expected to last. They're 20 years old now.” "iS gi CHANGE Since 1978 CTO. wl ' Lonsdale & t3th, N. Vancouver reserve early to avold disappointment $ 99 1 BZ OFF wots Sonate 1osop 4 a *For most CEUTA ES 983-1050 a | DIO*COEPS (22777 sccm ney 720 Marine Dc, North Van North Shore owned & The group unanimously favoured extending service for the SeaBus later into the evening and adding more fre- quenc, late-night bus routes from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore. “The SeaBus should shut down at three,” said Ferentinos. “The bars down- town all close at two and then you're stuck.” Young said the primary focus should be placed on bet- ter and more frequent bus ser- vice to and fom the North Shore, “If I took transit it takes me an hour and 15 minutes and I have to make four changes,” said Young. “It takes a half-hour by car. Transit just can’t compare to that.” Both Young and Ferefitinos also favoured improved transit service to universities and colleges in the Lower Mainland. “How hard would it be to set up a few buses gach morn- ing and afternoon that went from the different municipali- ties to the institutions like BCIT, SFU or even Cap College?” Young asked. The group agreed that a third crossing of the Burrard Inlet was vital — as long as it remained a route dedicated only to rapid transit and cyclists. Teasdale was also in favour of the plan to install bike racks on all buses and build new bike Jocker facilities at stations like Lonsdale Quay and Phibbs Exchange. The vehicle surtax, howev- er, sparked some debate between the participants. Kitsilano resident Linda Cooper said she was in favour of the levy and thought it was an excellent means of encour- aging people to take transit. “I'm sure there's a lot of people like me who don’t need to take their car but have no disincentive to take it,” she said. She also favoured an increase in downtown parking rates: “It would discourage the people who drive their car downtown and let it sit all day when there’s a perfectly viable alternative.” Cooper's employer cur- rently pays for her parking — a privilege that weild normally cost her upwards of F150 a month. Young suggested compa- nies that cover parking costs . for employees instead offer free bus masses. All the participants were united in the view that the North Shore didn’t seem to be getting an caval portion of the pie when compared to other areas of the Lower Mainland. “They already screwed up ence by net expanding the Lions Gate Bridge,” said Teasdale. “This is just one more kick to the head.” A PRICE YOU CAN FACTORY Entrance in rear iane » SLEEP ON wr God do 267 E Ist. #.¥an Mon. Sat. -Spe Baralay 1-3 pe 984-45 Make your love unique #2-2435 Marine Or, West Yar 922-3014 wwacr tone: 1999 CCMA AWARDS Dr. Csilla Gyovai DENTIST Office Schedule rotates to meet all patients needs Open 2 Saturdays a month « Open 1 evening a week “NEW. PATIENT. 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