Dear Editor:
Re: Bring on the water tax, Letters to the editor, The Record, June 12.
Given the enthusiastic support that Tom Littlewood indicated the mayor, city council and most of the engineers and managers at city hall supported his water taxi connection between Port Royal and the River Market area, I was surprised yesterday that Quayside to Queensborough pedestrian/cyclist crossing options, tabled at city council, didn't include evaluation of his superior option.
We find his option superior as: 1. It provides more direct connectivity to Port Royal residents to the business/transportation and civic amenities the city is trying to support and promote.
2. With the exception of an appropriate landing near the Discovery Center/River Market area, existing infrastructure, including Mr. Littlewood's two water taxis, are in place.
3. The required dock landing could easily be accommodated within the plans for the dock repairs contemplated by the $4-million tranche of DAC funding designated for such purpose. (Recall here that the new city manager has previously indicated these projects are not subject to change under the DAC funding agreement.)
4. Private investment in this project has the support of Aragon Development, many local businesses and a host of citizens on the Queensborough side of the proposed water taxi.
5. One can easily see businesses like the River Market, hotel and restaurants and other businesses at the Quayside Landing area and downtown would likely also prefer this shorter, less costly and more direct connective solution.
6. The water taxi option, so enthusiastically embraced by tourists at Granville Island, would also be an attraction here in New Westminster, allowing a greater draw to the area and its other amenities such as the Anvil Centre, Landmark Cinemas and the Discovery Centre.
7. The water taxi option is also a far better all weather transportation connection to SkyTrain, being shorter, more direct and sheltered.
For all of the above reasons it is clear that during the public consultation process, this exciting option should be resurrected, evaluated and tested in a collaboration with a "3P2Q" focus - public/private partnership of both Queensborough and Quayside interests.
In taking this suggestion, the city would not only be minding its P's and Q's, but also ensuring the best logistical solution evaluation to minimize costs to tax-payers, optimize the use of available DAC funding and incorporate maximum synergies for downtown businesses and civic amenities.
Let's all work together with a robust set of options.
E.C. "Ted" Eddy, via email
