Brace yourselves, New West, I have a confession: I'm one of those people. One of those commuters who travels through New Westminster via the Pattullo to get to my office in Burnaby. I'm the person that some of you - probably many of you - would like to see re-routed around the Royal City altogether.
Given the recent letters to the editor, the pointed "tweets" on Twitter, and even the debate around the office here, this is clearly a hot-button issue in the city. I admit I'm almost hesitant to label myself as one of the lowly "bridge-and-tunnel" types, but like any issue worth debating, this one needs voices from all sides.
A little background: when the time came a few years ago to finally get into the home ownership game, we chose North Surrey - our dollars went a whole lot further there, and we were able to get a sizeable lot with a little old house and a whole lot of yard for about what a condo would run you in Vancouver (kind of like New Westminster was 10 or 20 years ago for families who found themselves priced out of the big city.) We also liked the changes we were seeing in that part of the Lower Mainland, and the work by the mayor there to improve the reputation for crime and drugs (kind of like New Westminster's changing rep as the downtown area has been revived.) We felt it was a good investment, a place that was going to continue to improve with new infrastructure, where house prices would continue to rise and where, despite some negative attitudes outside the community, it was in fact a fantastic place to raise a family (also kind of like New Westminster).
It was also central - central to our workplaces, central to our families (who are spread out from Chilliwack to Tsawwassen) and central to the kinds of amenities we visit as a family (now that I think about it, kind of the way New Westminster is central, but more on that in a bit).
The one downside: we have to commute to get to work. We have, at times, carpooled and used transit, but the reality is that our jobs need vehicles and when it comes to juggling child-care pickups and drop-offs, car-pooling or SkyTrain just doesn't cut it.
Long story short, it wasn't a glib decision.
Just as it wasn't for some of the people I know who live in Burnaby or New West and travel over the river to points in Surrey, Delta and beyond - true, not as many head that way, but plenty nonetheless.
The reality is that people are travelling across this region at all times of the night and day for work, to visit friends, for children's activities, to shop, to attend school and more.
Unless you moved here 100 years ago, it can't come as a surprise that New Westminster is at the crossroads of a rapidly growing region.
And that, frankly, has been a blessing for the city, not a tragedy - despite side effects like increased traffic.
But it's all too easy to overlook the positive when the negative has you worked up into an uproar.
New Westminster is a booming community: news articles of late have talked about the new, trendy face of the downtown, the appeal of the city for young families, the re-birth of the Quay.
Douglas College continues to grow and flourish. Business in the city keeps ramping up, with unique ventures setting up shop here, expanding the stereotype beyond the ever-successful bridal row.
All of that is possible by virtue of its location - easily accessible and central so that everyone who wants to study here, shop here, eat here, play here, and spend money here is able to do so.
But the thing about being central is, well, you're central - and that means busy.
I certainly don't claim that the current traffic configurations into and around New West are ideal - they're not. And I applaud the city and residents for taking a closer look at the future of transportation here. You may find a solution that does, in fact, force me to go around the Royal City altogether.
I only ask you to consider the impact before you make such propositions.
I stop on my way home at New Westminster stores to pick up groceries; I invite friends to meet me here for dinner after work hours; I see the Queen's Park notice board listing upcoming events and tell people about them; I pop over on the weekends to shop at Army & Navy or get dinner, and I can't tell you how many bridesmaids dresses I've bought on Columbia Street.
Does the average commuter have as much of an impact on the economy as I do?
Probably not. But put us all together - plus the trickle-down effect as we tell friends and family about our favourite spots - and ultimately it makes a big difference.
You can't be successful without being busy, and you can't be busy without making the city accessible for people who don't live here - even if that means some of them never take advantage of what the city has to offer.
Christina Myers is a longtime reporter with The Record and sister paper, the Burnaby NOW. Follow her on Twitter, @ ChristinaMyersA.
