To the editor:
Re: "Point Grey Village BIA talks transit with candidates," April 26.
Michael McBride, president of the Point Grey Village BIA, seems to think a bored subway to UBC would be the least disruptive choice for improved transit. He fails to understand that the extra $1.5 billion cost would have to be justified with massive upzoning and redevelopment along the route which would be far more disruptive than LRT. Note the 30 to 45 storey towers proposed for Oakridge. The pressure for large highrise development increases even further with the $30 million cost of a single subway station. An LRT station can be built for about a million, making it possible to have more than one in the village - enticing tens of thousands of transit riders to stop and shop.
McBride laments the possible loss of some parking with LRT but fails to see the loss of all those commuters who would no longer be aware of the businesses above them as they whisk by underground. The Canada Line has done nothing to help those businesses so devastated by its construction in the Cambie Village. Subways have their place. It is not in low density neighbourhoods that want to avoid huge pressure to radically increase density.
Ron van der Eerden, Vancouver
