8 — Friday, May 9, 1997 — North Shore News

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Solution to bridge | PUT Fail transit in tunnel

is double-decking

Dear Editor: Furthermore, a double- Recently, the NDP decker causeway through

announced that it was will-

Dear Editor:

Further to the discussion on the Lions Gate Bridge, I have been an almost daily user of the bridge since 1965 and have not read of anyone else commenting on the fact that the lineups are shorter now than they were then.

I feel the bridge must be made safe, but not enlarged, and a

With tains in each direction, rying in to the existing rapid transit, SkyTrain, SeaBus and Coquitlam lines, and possibly furure Richmond line, we would have a good start towards having an integrated transportation system for the Lower Mainland, instead of increasing the traffic in and through downtown Vancouver.

The property development which has taken place along the

ing to put up $70 million to refurbish the existing Lions Gate bridge. Also, that it favored putting the Stanley Park causeway underground (for environmental reasons). However, the NDP is look- ing to the private sector to come up with a proposal to improve or add extra capaci- ty to the crossing.

I would like to know why I have seen no mention recently of my favorite cross- ing proposal: to build a dou- ble-decker crossing, with three lanes going north, and three lanes going south?

The proposal was put forward by the council of the local Indian band, I believe. It had been researched and costed out by an engineering firm.

Apparently, the existing towers and suspension cables would be adequate to support two bridge decks.

MAILBOX POL’

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Stanley Park (underground in one direction, on the sur- face in the other direction) would have no more impact on the park than the present

would be possible to con- struct one level at a ume, allowing us to drive on the other level, at least most of the time. In addition, there could be one lane in each direction dedicated to rapid transit, an inevitable necessi- ty. Also, it would not destroy the famously beaut ful landmark that is the cu rent Lions Gate Bridge. Furthermore, it would allow us to continue to enjoy the view while crossing, which a tunnel would nov.

Margot Leslie

West Vancouver Margot_Leslie@be.sympa- tico.ca

tunnel provided for light rail rapid transit only

A tunnel designed for light electric trains has only to be slight- ly larger in diameter than the trains, and with either vo single lane tunnels, or two lanes in one tunnel, would be much smaller than would be required for cars, trucks and buses. he:

It would need only minimum ventilation, compared with the — i sstem needed to handle the fumes from internal com- bustion engines, so that the cost could be very significantly

ventilation

reduced. If the tunnel surfaced close to the

Shore and travel on the ¢

sting Sky terminal the trains could then continue above ground along the

sting right-of-way, already used by the Coquitlam line, to the Second Narrows, cross the existing rail bridge back to the North ting lines back to First Narrows.

If bus transfer y buses could

n/SeaBus

A, Orr West Vancouver

Buy books over computers

Dear Editor:

Computers are being introduced into schools with two objectives: to assist in the education process and to produce computer-literate graduate

Their strength is the ability co pr. information in mesmerizing, captivating color; their weakness is the essentially passive role of the student. There is no intellectual rapport with a teacher.

Even with the latest interactive sys- tems there is no equivalence to libraries full of good textbooks and dedicated teachers interacting with individual stu- dents. As an audio visual aid they have a limited application in the classroom.

Computer skills can be divided into three broad classes: basic manipulation, professional applications and program creation.

Basic manipulation includes game playing, using a word processor or preparing a spread sheet and surfing the Internet.

Most personal computers are used today for these basic manipulations. The skill required to perform basic manipula- tion can be taught to a junior school stu- dent in a few hours.

From the basic manipulation level there is a quantum leap to professional applications. Examples of professional

indicates another possible advantage No by having a light rail system. ints were located at the new rail stations, ¢ eliminated from the bridge, greatly reduc- g the wear and tear on the roadbed and the bridge structure. We are falling behind other major cities in the world in our lack of'a good rapid transit system and, rather than spend money on a new bridge which would dump more traffic of all kinds in downtown Vancouver, we should Jook at light rail, instead of diese! buses, as the basis of the system.

kyTrain route, with presumably greatly increased tax revenue,

h Vancouver may enjoy

AOrr@hasimons.com

application include complex structural, statistical, hydraulic and dynamic pro- grams used by diverse professions from engineering to medicine.

Our future depends on computer lit- eracys but not at the basic manipulation evel. . We should allocate computers a low priority in the school system and concen- trate on the fiindamentals of math, sci- ence, language, increase the teacher/stu- dent ratio and provide unlimited funds for books.

If there is a choice between purchas- ing computers and buying textbooks and increasing teachers’ salaries then the choice has to be books and teachers. Brian Albinson North Vancouver albinson@unix

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