Editor:
Re: Tube needs an army of supporters, Murphy's
Law, March 23
Ted Murphy's column certainly strikes home.
My wife and I travel through the George Massey Tunnel several days a week. There is no doubt that an army of supporters is needed to be heard in Victoria. My concern is what these voices would say.
Don Halward, in his letter of April 6, made some good observations and I concur with them. I would add that simply increasing the tunnel from four lanes to six will, at best, only provide a temporary solution and commuters will be back to square one.
The tunnel was constructed at a cost of about $25 million back in 1959. Replacing the tunnel or complementing it with a six-or eight-lane bridge would be in the billions of dollars and it too, in my opinion, would become a relic that many believe the tunnel has become today.
The only viable solution to the quagmire that commuters have found themselves in is to re-think their commuting habits. One just needs to be in the HOV lane travelling towards the tunnel at a clip of 80 km/h while the lanes of traffic on the right remain bumper-tobumper with lone occupant vehicles.
Enhanced public transit is the only solution in my opinion. I've personally taken public transit from Tsawwassen many mornings and have found it very fast, efficient and stress free. Not only that, it is very reasonably priced.
I've been able to get work done on the laptop, read the newspaper or relax while listening to my iPod.
Certainly there are those who have absolutely no choice but to drive, but I believe these are the exceptions and their numbers pale in comparison to those who simply do not wish to be "inconvenienced."
The mindset we have towards commuting simply needs to change. I'm not suggesting we give up our vehicles, but like anything, use them in moderation.
Yes, an army of supporters is needed as Murphy expounds and hopefully the result will be the emergence of a small and dedicated army of designers and planners who have the vision to see that another bridge or an expanded tunnel will not be worth the billions spent.
A public transit system that is fast, efficient and attractive to use along with a commuting population that is willing to give up its love affair with the vehicle may just be the answer.
David F. Horvath
