CKNW Editorial
for July 12, 2000

I know something about la crème de la crème feels. For those of you outside the Vancouver area there is an interurban line right-of-way that used to take people, with very few stops, from Richmond to downtown Vancouver. It was an excellent idea and one can only wonder why it was discontinued. Now you should also know that the tracks have a large double laned road alongside it for much of the way. In all events, it has been there for eons and everyone living in the area has lived there in knowledge of it.

Some years ago now the District of North Vancouver, relying upon plans drawn up in the mists of time and never acted upon, drove Montroyal Boulevard through to Lonsdale against the wishes of all of us who lived on the dead end block. But, it was in the interests of the larger public that this extension be done and though we groused and stormed City Hall, it happened. And, to be truthful, though I would wish it back to where it was, it has conferred some conveniences to us.

Now I must say that none of us thought that we were la crème de la crème – we were just ordinary middle class people who, quite naturally, wanted to protect our property values and keep the traffic in front of our houses to near zero. We fought hard … and we got second prize. And we should have.

Now for all those Cremers, the Interurban right-of-way has always been there. And there has always been a vocal part of the community – including me – wondering aloud why they didn’t start the trains up again and finally link Vancouver to its airport … we must have one of the very few major airports in the world that doesn’t have public transit to it.

Now I’ve just been looking at townhouse property all over the Lower Mainland and have had a chance to look in West Vancouver and right up to Lions’ Bay. BC Rail runs right through Caulfeild and Lions Bay and the trains run regularly. And, judging by the prices, especially in Caulfeild, some of those crème de la cremers live there too.

I wouldn’t worry too much for a while if I lived on the interurban tracks because this "based on the west side" city council hasn’t the guts to pass a motion putting rail transit back on the interurban tracks. Councilor George Puil is already putting it about that it wouldn’t work because most of the people who would use it work at Vancouver General Hospital. I’m not sure where George gets his figures from but I daresay that these people would be happy to take a speedy train to Broadway and then hop a bus for the few blocks to Willow and the hospital.

The fact is that the North-east and eastern segments of Greater Vancouver are getting fast transit service be it commuter train or SkyTrain while the southern, western and northern segments get nothing. We on the North Shore daily witness the ridiculous spectacle of millions of dollars going into repairs on a bridge which should be torn down or used as a secondary access only. But I must say even more ridiculous is the interurban right-of-way not being used.

As I say, I truly have sympathy for those homeowners affected but, speaking frankly, I didn’t see any of you in your crème de la crème porsches leaving your martinis and canapes in solidarity with us Montroyal Boulevarders and you can hardly expect us to really feel your pain. Like us, you always knew it was coming. When you bought your houses you had to know about the right-of-way.

And now, as it did to me, progress has caught up to you.