Dear Editor:
Re: One lane bridge possible, Letters, The Record, April 10.
I cannot agree more with Ross Gibson's comments. What Mayor Wayne Wright and council have done to our main streets is a huge disservice to New Westminster, especially 12th Street and the intersection at Sixth Street and Royal Avenue.
With all their "traffic calming measures" they have brought this city's traffic to a snail's pace.
If you're on 12th Street and someone is turning left, no one can get by and it causes a backlog for blocks.
At Sixth Street and Royal Avenue, taking out all the right hand turning lanes - what were you thinking?
Does this mayor and council not realize that an idling vehicle creates far more Co2 and other emissions than a moving one?
This mayor and council are also handing out building permits like candy. I have no problem with growth, (I encourage it) but along with it, we must have a realistic road infrastructure to move vehicles safely and quickly throughout our city.
With all the new highrise projects being built our traffic is only going to get worse.
In most cities, it is my understanding that to get a building permit, the developer must pay a (huge) fee to the city for things like parks, libraries, pools, rec centres, roads, infrastructure, etc.
Is this city charging and/or collecting these fees? If we are, what is the money going to? If we aren't, why not?
I also feel Mr. Gibson's frustration with the Bailey Bridge.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if our mayor played nice with the other mayors and came up with solutions instead of creating more problems?
G. Stuart, New Westminster
