Quote:
Originally Posted by KelownaResident
I don't think a second crossing is a good idea. For one it sounds impossibly expensive (who pays for it and what gets put on hold?) and secondly it just keeps promoting car dependency and rewarding habits that are mostly unnecessary and are terrible for our environment. If you're wasting so much time crossing from West Kelowna to Kelowna on and everyday basis maybe you should just move to Kelowna, downsize if you have to.
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Well, for starters, we can start by pumping the brakes on the belief that only the lower mainland has traffic issues. Car dependency? Let's face it, getting the groceries on your bicycle ain't making things easier for anyone. Despite the big dreams, Kelowna won't ever see an LRT system that would connect to the west side and the current transit routes are not feasible for folks living halfway up a mountainside. Highly unlikely they would even consider public transit in the first place, after all, the bus is stuck on the bridge too.
The provincial government doesn't seem to have an issue with spending $4 billion on a skytrain extension to service Langley (population 29,000 - region 137,000). Second crossing likely $1.5 billion (West Kelowna, 38,000 - region 222,000). From my viewpoint, apparently the Okanagan just votes wrong so serious consideration to local infrastructure issues are easy to shove to a back burner because it costs the governments voter support base nothing.
The suggestion to just move to the other side? Seriously? Have you looked at housing stock to even attempt a lateral move in comparable price ranges? Sure, you can sell your house for $1million and move into a condo or a tower for slightly less but I doubt the wife, 3 kids, 2 cats, a dog and Fred the budgie will enjoy the downsize to a 2 bedroom unit even though there is a bbq pit, fake grass and an infinity pool. I work with families throughout the Okanagan and despite the glossy lifestyle that the region emits, a significant portion of the population, you know, normal people, are struggling to keep it together. They have value if they own property that was purchased over 10 years ago, but that money is on paper, it's not in the bank so lets get rid of the notion that everyone is a millionaire now simply because they own something. If you move, you still gotta live somewhere and the money trade currently is off balance. You can make it work if you want to commute into Kelowna from Lake Country I guess but you're not saving yourself any time.
Personally, I am moving to live somewhere to get away from the congestion and the so called "sunshine tax" that apparently makes living in the Okanagan wonderful. Oct 10th and I'm out of this province which I will now enjoy perhaps by vacation now and again and that won't be anywhere near the Okanagan region. My new property, acreage and all of that fun stuff, had alot of interest my realtor told me, and all the inquiries were from people living in BC. Guess I'm not alone in being discouraged by where this province is going.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the densification and towers and all of the other developments going on, but the reality of the growth laid against the growing issues that no one seems to want to fix (complaining and studies are easier) just doesn't fit my lifestyle anymore. Its not just about roads anymore. Schools, healthcare, support services and the list goes on. There is failure, in my opinion, happening all around our feet.
I will watch from afar and admire the growth while not having to deal with the ignored dark side of this uncontrolled transformation of the Okanagan.
Good bye Okanagan and best of luck in your future endeavors.
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