Re: Letter to the editor, “Put tracks on the trail,” April 10.
Far from being “an awful blemish on our landscape” as Mr. Finken suggests, the Arbutus Line has been a deliberately ignored opportunity for better north/south public transport under the NPA and
Vision for political reasons. An occasional train or two moving down the Arbutus corridor would add to Vancouver’s stayed personality and prepare us for the next needed step.
I was delighted last week to chat for a minute with two young railway workers operating the tie-replacement machine at the 41st Avenue intersection. It was great to see young men working at good jobs, the kind that could support a family. The bonus, Kerrisdale kids have something interesting to watch against the backdrop of endless BMWs, Range Rovers and Maseratis.
At long last this wonderful thoroughfare might have a chance at rebirth — a chance to add a measure of practicality to the community environment. The thought of a few boxcars and flatcars occasionally (very efficiently) delivering goods to the False Creek area is inspiring.
The city, in its wisdom, has been systematically making our streets more and more impassable for traffic, especially trucks, by wasting millions on stupid mid-intersection traffic circles and block-end curb bulges. A functional rail spur could offset these absurd “traffic quieting” impediments which introduce new dangers for pedestrians and cyclists. Is it possible CP Rail’s move will actually trigger some logical changes along Arbutus?
Imagine a small fleet of electric trams, the most efficient way to transport people in a city like ours, running from Marpole to Chinatown — at least partly reminiscent of the wonderful line I rode as a young lad in the early ’50s — now that would be progressive.
Mr. Robertson and his visionaries should pay CP Rail its price and reinstate the tram link across this town asap. And also, there’s still room along the corridor for the TransCanada Trail and a bike lane.
What is city hall waiting for? In the meantime, while our leaders dither, I will enjoy seeing those little locomotives moving along the line.
Paul Baumann, Vancouver
