Editor:
Traffic is a big concern in both North Delta and South Delta as gridlock has become a daily grind.
There are no simple solutions and the problem is compounded annually by Delta council allowing more housing, thus increasing population, in turn increasing traffic and gridlock.
There is an ongoing charade by our MLA and civic politicians that a new bridge replacing the George Massey Tunnel is the only solution. It's not. Rather, it will exacerbate congestion in Richmond, turning Highway 99 into a parking lot.
After spending many billions of dollars on a bridge, we will have effectively moved gridlock less than five kilometres to the Steveston Highway interchange.
The problem is simple: While we increase traffic capacity south of the Fraser, traffic capacity over the North Arm of the Fraser will not increase and massive congestion will reign supreme.
Better transit isn't the answer because TransLink is too inept to provide better transit. All TransLink cares about is forcing as many bus riders it can onto the rapid transit lines to pretend they’re doing a good job. TransLink may fool the politicians, but not those dependent on public transit. Transit service in Delta is dismal at best.
The only real solution is a bridge or tunnel crossing the Fraser around 80th Street, then a highway across Lulu Island (interchanging with the connector) and another bridge or tunnel across the North Arm of the Fraser taking traffic to south Vancouver/Burnaby.
This is the plan Delta politicians should demand from the province, Metro Vancouver and TransLink; a sound transportation plan providing real improvement for traffic congestion in both North Delta and South Delta.
As a voter, I will vote only for those politicians who would support this plan and not vote for politicians who want the “back of an envelope” plan of the BC Liberal Party and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority that would replace the perfectly good tunnel with a massive mega bridge that will not bring relief to traffic congestion, only increase it.
D. M. Johnston
