Dear Editor:
Re: Brentwood plans raise problems, Letters to the editor, Dec. 18.
I read the letter from G. Bruce Friesen, and I have to respectfully disagree with his opinion, at least in part. He seems to want to blame the mayor for everything that TransLink is doing, but the truth is that heavy-handed TransLink goes about things with no thoughts to how their asinine decisions are affecting the public.
Take a look at the mess they have created at Lougheed Town Centre, where the only way to get to the mall from the SkyTrain at this point, is to either climb two flights of stairs, or walk up two hills to get to the nearest entrance to the mall. As a senior with mobility issues, I am forced to walk with a cane. For me, neither option is acceptable, because of the physical discomfort caused to my hips by either climbing hills or stairs. Because of the mess TransLink has created, I choose to not bother shopping at the Lougheed Mall at all, until it is easier to access.
Let's also look at the nightmare TransLink has now created at Brentwood Town Centre for pedestrians with the closure of the bus loop, especially for those with mobility issues to access the mall proper from wherever the buses are presently stopping.
If TransLink was going to make access so difficult, they should at least have provided shuttle services, to and from the entrance to both the malls, until this construction is completed.
Any attempt to blame the mayor for this is ridiculous, when it is TransLink's poor planning that is responsible. Perhaps if TransLink was under the direct control of the Metro Vancouver board's control, then one could place blame on the local politicians, but presently TransLink seems to answer to nobody, and are a force unto themselves, who should never have been handed the power they have.
The TransLink organization should be disbanded and taken over by the provincial transportation department, with governance chosen by members of the local communities serviced by TransLink
At least if it was part of the provincial government, we could then hold our provincial government responsible, but the way it is operated presently, the Liberals seems to have taken a hands-off approach and just shrug their shoulders, and pretend there is nothing they can do when TransLink once again, comes looking for more and more money to fund raises and bonuses for their executives.
James McQueen, Burnaby
