Dear Editor:
As a longtime New West resident, I have to admit that I am not surprised at all by the travails of the residents suffering from increased traffic on Alberta Street. Regretfully, and for many years, any concept of traffic planning in New West can only be described as an oxymoron. Thankfully, at least so far, we residents haven't had to endure the cost of having two CEO's as TransLink currently does, but I have to admit that I question the value we receive from our past and present "planning" staff.
I am sure that I am not alone in being able to highlight inconsistent practices and, in some cases, sheer ignorance. As a commuting cyclist, I puzzle at the design of the "bike sidewalk" at Sixth Street and Seventh Avenue. Equally silly is the "bike lane" on 20th between Eighth and 10th Avenues. For the cost of what the planners did in those two locations, they might have filled in the potholes along Seventh Avenue, which is a designated bike route. I wonder what the total cost of "traffic calming" in the Woodlands development cost (in fact, why isn't the press asking that question)?
We could go back so far as the building of the Alex Fraser Bridge and the plan to build a proper exchange to facilitate traffic at Stewardson/ 20th. But no, instead we end up with a mishmash of poorly designed ingress/egress with traffic backed up 20th at all times of the day.
Or we could talk about the debacle that is the Bailey bridge, or the proposed plan for Brunette/Braid. Or how about a residential street to nowhere, Mott Crescent. Some years ago the powers that be thought it would be a grand idea to pave the street. Grand indeed, excepting less than four months later a crew showed up to dig up the newly paved crescent to replace a water or sewer line, only to have another crew show up some three months later to again rip up the new pavement, and then some months later, yet another crew dug it up yet another part of the newly paved throughfare.
So what's the point, you might ask? Well, it's about the referendum ballot that will arrive in residents' mailboxes shortly. Despite the encouragement of Mayor Cote and others, I am voting no, and here is why. In addition to the increasing property tax rate, we just received our water, sewer and garbage bill. I seem to recall that this used to be part of the property tax; however, with this year's charge being north of $1,200, I can see why they separated the two. Considering the parking tax, carbon tax, gas tax, property tax, I'm somewhat surprised there isn't a "you're breathing" tax.
And now those in power want another 0.5 per cent increase in sales tax. We here in the Vancouver area are "lucky" enough to have the highest gasoline prices in North America.
Fellow residents, please consider very carefully the amount of transit that serves our humble burg. We are quite well served with numerous SkyTrain stations with decent bus connections. So, what's in it for us? Reduced traffic? No, because the plan is to rebuild the Pattullo Bridge, and anyone who believes in a quaint four-lane bridge is dreaming (as are those who believe that no bridge is an option).
The better question might be whatever happened to the Newcombe Connector? Considering the size of the new Cariboo overpass, any diversion of traffic from Canada Way, Cariboo Road and 10th Avenue seems like a dream.
It is time for a comprehensive traffic management plan for the region. New Westminster has neither be effective in protecting areas from traffic (Alberta Street), nor is it seen as bringing solutions to the region's traffic issues (Bailey bridge). Paying more tax will not do anything to reduce traffic congestion in New West.
Voting No to increasing the sales tax will send a message to politicians at all levels. Residents and taxpayers deserve better. It's time to hold our elected officials responsible and to stand up against poor planning and waste. It's time to demand that politicians at all levels show more respect for us poor taxpayers.
John Mayr, New Westminster
