48 — Friday, December 20, 1996 — North Shore News

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“AHHH Christmas. A

time of wishing and hoping, giving and per- haps getting what we think we deserve,

For years many North Shorians have been longing for a third crossing over the Burrard inlet. It has become quite apparent that our(?) Provincial government is not as benevolent as oi” Saint Nick, in fact, quite the oppo- site is true. Ironically, this may be fortuitous, for as the old saying goes, “be careful what you wish for, for you just might get it.”

While a third crossing would certainly benefit com- muters and ease the exasper- ating pickle of rush hour traf- ’ fic around the beloved Lions ~~Gate Bridge and its sister, the

reliable Second Narrows, no one ever seems to take into account the whys and where- fores of this daily drudgery. When the Lions Gate Bridge was first being built it was considered a fool's errand that would never pay for itself, As time tells it, the stressed structure is over- worked, under-repaired and quite literally on its last leg. Why? There are too many people living on the North Shore. This “bedroom com- munity” of ours is harboring clandestine Vancouverites who escape to the north when the day’s work is done. Fine, I don’t blame them. This is a great place to live. But isn’t it obvious that a othird crossing will only make it easier for the masses to infiltrate our quaint, quiet community to the point that it is no longer quaint and quiet? Doesn’t anyone won- ler why monster homes are sprouting out of every vacant piece of North Shore earth?

Doesn't anyone understand why HOV lanes have become a necessity?

Without going on about our perverse infatuation with the automobile and our lack of interest in reworking our inefficiently sinder-utihzed transit syster) — these are “givens” — jet’s take a laok at what will happen should the NDP have a sudden atrack of Santa Clausitis.

North Van Traffic Technologist Len Mericux recently ran a transportation computer model for the Greater Vancouver Regional District which focused on the North Shore traffic problem and introduced a variety of possible solutions. The results of this computer sim- ulation on EMME/2 (pro- nounced “emmtoo”) are fas- cinating:

Emmtoo shows that if'a third crossing connecting the North Shore to Vancouver —~ at any location — is built, traffic volume would be dra- matically reduced on the hwo existing bridges. Duh.

However, within 10 to 20 years the volume on both the Lions Gate and the Second Narrows will be exactly the same as it is today! Further, traffic volume on this hypo- thetical third crossing will reach maximum capacity and there will be an undeniable demand for a fourth cross- ing.

This means, of course, that the North Shore’s popu- lation will have swelled to the point that our beautiful green mountains will be bespeckled with monsters and the term “scenic drive” will be an oxymoron.

Emmton also took a peck at a future which only involved our two bridges plus a rapid transit link. Same

spurt nee mei

jon’t unwrap third crossing

deal. Population explosion.

“If vou build it, they will come,” says the voice in the movie Field of Dreams.

“Bridges control popula- tion growth,” states Len Mericux.

Then Len and Emmtoo took a look at the North Shore in a future where no additional inlet-crossings are built. The results shows the same North Shore we live on today — same traffic prob- lems, but not greater ones.

4% This ‘bedroom community’ of ours is narboring clandestine Vancouverites who escape to the north when the day’s work is done. 99

No population explosion either,

It seems that the North Shore has pretty much “maxed-out.” Of course, PH avoid mentioning what hap- pens to Lions Bay, Squamish and the Sunshine Coast.

The most curios simula- tion Len ran on Emmrco involved removing the exist- ing crossings and replacing them with ... absolutely nothing! Result? No traffic problems and a smaller popu- lation. Duh, again.

However, the remaining people would live and work

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right here in a utopian com- munity, calmly and produc- tively and be the envy of the world (Seabuses would over- load, mind you). Cool!

As everybody knows, progress is a doubled-edged sword, Just think before you wish.

But what do I know. If I had my wish we'd sill being buying produce up at Stoker’s Farm (now a condo at 29th ard Lonsdale) and singing Christmas carols around a big tree in the rown square, if we had a town square.

Heck, Pd be out hunting mammoth with Ug the Caveman while my woman sat near our hut at the foot of Mosquito Creek rubbing sticks together to keep the home fire burning — bur that’s just me, I guess (Actention letter writers, Pm kidding).

Have a merry and safe holiday season.

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