These days it seems that much of Vancouver is under construction.
With the 2010 Olympics now only two years away, new building projects are aplenty. One such project is the Canada Line – a transportation corridor that connects downtown Vancouver with Richmond. The main purpose of this line is to ease traffic congestion. According to the Canada Line website, the average commute time in this region has increased by 36 per cent over the past 10 years.
In the long term, there are many benefits to this line, as it will relieve the burden on the roads as population continues to grow. However, on Cambie Street, one of the main areas under construction, the feeling is not so positive.
Neil McLagen has lived in Vancouver for more 40 years. He has watched the development of Vancouver's infrastructure closely, and has taken an interest in the Canada Line. In particular, he has noticed the negative impact the line construction has had on small businesses on Cambie Street.
"There was an incredible outcry from the businesses and residents," says McLagen. "The merchants were just incensed when they found out the street was going to be dug up. All their businesses would be disrupted for two years. There would be no street parking, traffic would be changed from four to two lanes, and shoppers couldn't get from one side of the street to the other. Merchants mounted a campaign, did everything they could, but all of it was unsuccessful. A lot of the businesses couldn't survive."
Huge construction projects such as the Canada Line are incredibly disruptive to the daily life of the city. McLagen feels that other alternative transport methods must also be emphasized.
"Vancouver is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in North America. The bus service is also efficient and there is a Park n' Ride system in place. The Vancouver City Council is committed to trying to reduce private car transport."
The dependency on Vancouver's roads is growing. The Canada Line is one way to lighten the load, but simpler, less disruptive, less expensive methods must also be encouraged.
Kate Bruce-Lockhart is a Grade 12 student from Victoria.
