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Originally Posted by jollyburger
Do you think any new Skytrain route say to the North Shore be dependent on densification or would they just keep whatever town centre OCPs as is?
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The North Shore already has some areas designated as a focus for higher density growth, and I would guess that they would keep to those plans due to the challenges posed by the terrain. The proposals for RapidBus and SkyTrain for the North Shore all seem to include areas such as central/lower Lonsdale, Lynn Valley, and Lynnmour/Maplewood as targets for stations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jollyburger
I just wonder how the North Shore NIMBYs will react to that aspect of rapid transit.
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You are correct in that there will be opposition to large-scale densification. However, I do feel that there is an acceptance that there may have to be compromises in order to keep the North Shore "lifestyle" that many value. By that, I mean that residents may accept RapidBus and SeaBus over ALRT if it means the growth is managed. The North Shore has been sheltered to a degree from the extremely rapid growth seen in other municipalities, but it is not entirely due to wealth or NIMBYism. Those are certainly factors, of course, but the terrain and limited access across the inlet also serve to reduce the practical level for population density. Even if we do get SkyTrain onto the North Shore, it is not practical in the near or medium future to extend rapid service across the entire land base compared to what one can do relatively easily in Burnaby or Surrey.