Dear Editor:

I just read the article “Billion dol- lar road link pushed” in the Oct, 20 North Shore News, and / have isu. gestion thacall the politicians seen to have missed.

Why not create a commuter rail service to the Squamish/Whisther/Pemberton area?

The track already exists and there ire already sore stations, We could Upgrade and improve the track, then build new stations and/or improve existing stations in Burnaby, Lower Lonsdale Qo connect with transit), Pemberton Avente in North Van (which could serve the eastern part of West Van including Park Royal), Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, Furry Creek, Britannia, Squamish, Whistler/Blackcomb, and) perhaps even as far north as Pemberton.

The total distance would be com- parable to that of the West Coast Express, and that project certainly “fit within the province's ability to pay.”

This alternative would have many benefits. Tourists have shown how popula the Royal Hudson route is, and this could act as an expansion of the route. A connection at Horseshoe Bay would help travellers going to and from the Sunshine Coast, Bowen

Ist. aid Vancouver island.

Many skiers and other recreation cothusiasts would ase dhe train to pet to Whistler/Bhickeorib rither hin drive the killer highway.

Commuters who work in Greater Vancouver and live atone the route would have a viable alternative to dri- ving.

Not only would this decrease the strain’ on the Squamish Highway's limited capacity. it world also get a lot of cars off the road completely.

Moving half the commuters to a different highway or increasing the number of fanes wouldn‘t do this.

No new bridge would be needed for this project -—~ at most, the exist- ing bridge at second narrows might need some strengthesing and ext tracks, No watersheds would be threatened. No provincial parks would risk being damaged.

The overall impact on fish) and wildlife would be minimal and may actually decrease with the lower lev- vis of air pollution. Thousands of res- icénts and visitors would be served,

Many permanent jobs would: be created working on the trains and ia the stations,

The economies of the coastal communities would improve as more

NDP criticism unfair

Dear Editor:

1 seldom write to newspapers but your Oct. 18 editorial Oct. 18, made by

bload boil.

fam not amember of the NDP nor do [ support them but your editorial is blatantly unfair and purposely inflammatory. Despite the many and sordid actions of the, previous premier and many of his cabinet ministers, | do not recall ever reading one of your editorials that said, “While various levels of capitalistic chicanery unravel ... the number one issue raised by the whole sor- did affair is trust. Let's remember Mr. Vander Zalm’s disgraceful conduct: the sale of Funtasy Gardens; the underhanded disposal of the Expo lands; and the

idiocy in saddling taxpayers with the most expensive LRT sys'

sm in Nonh

America. By comparison with the duplicity of the previous administration, the NDP involvement with the NCHS is like driving the get-away kiddie car ina

chocolate bar heist. R.L. Sheppard North Vancouver

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Visitors begin travelling: there. ‘The “Maun of maintenance tequired on the Squamish Highway may degrease due to the lawer level of traffic, dius SVEN HAApayers” money or at feast countering some of the cost of the train,

For those people who choose to drive and for commercial vehicles, the coud will still be there. Plus. it shouldi¢ need to qike very long for this project to become operational,

OF couse, as with any major undertaking. there are cons te: this ides. More trains on existing routes would) cause noise and: safety: con- cerns, taking the train may cost com: muters: stightly more than driving, scheduling would be complicated,

But the pros seem to heavily out- weigh these problems.

Also. at related: story was in the North Shore News receutly, ft explained that the old railway station that has been used as a museum for many years may be moving back to Lonsdale, Why not use the original building as part of a new train: sta- tion? Te would make a great heritage site,

I wonder if anyone in government has even considered the train option. The automatic action that peuple always seem to take is building new roads. Maybe its time to look at another alternative,

Bryan Mitten bmitten @direct.ca _ North Vancouver

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