Dear Editor:
New Westminster is fighting for its life.
TransLink's power to impose even heavier traffic through our city must be stopped. The back-to-back trucks polluting our small city and few main roads, have become a nightmare. It seems our city is only viewed as a "truck route." This group of unelected transportation planners has not planned well. To even think of a six-lane new Pattullo Bridge is madness. The shock of realizing these people don't care about the quality of life of our residents, nor the future plans to renew this elegant, historical city, is distressing
The residents of the Oakridge/Cambie area stopped the above-ground SkyTrain to the airport. They won an underground tunnel, and this preserved their area from ugliness, noise and pollution. So, dear residents of New Westminster, the power for clean, safe transportation is in your hands.
We are the "city on the hill," a miniature San Francisco. We are the jewel in the crown, for Canada has few cities with our history and lovely setting. During the last 20 years, our city has seen new life and has been renewed for the future, while still treasuring its past. We have a mayor with vision, who dares to think out of the box and who works tirelessly for all of us. Don't allow TransLink's power and poor planning to destroy this unique "villagelike atmosphere" - this city with a soul.
Everyone needs a transportation system that does not cause more pollution, that is safe, quiet, dependable and wisely planned. For truck traffic, underground tunnels are necessary for you; do not allow truck traffic to destroy a city and the life of its residents.
Sylvia Clarke, New Westminster
