When GVRD creates a "Livable Region" then they can skimp on Transport

In times past I've driven virtually every road between Point Grey and Hope. Then, it was done for pleasure and the thrill of discovery.

Today, with minor exception when I'm out on my motorcycle for a bit of R+R (still thrilling and discovering), I'd rather virtually travel the roads via something like Google Earth than actually travel them during office hours.

The traffic in the Lower Mainland is now at the point where it impedes the commerce that pays much (most) of the taxes here in the region.
Today there was an article in the Province on whether or not twinning the Port Mann bridge fits within the "Livable Region Plan".

Due to the November 19 municipal elections, we have a new GVRD board (made up of appointees from those elected in the various municipalities around the area) and with the new people come new ideas. The problem is that the problems are OLD! Their solutions are not things that can be "desired" or "hoped for" or "approached" - they are real and they are stifling productivity, causing people to spend too much time in their cars, contributing to global warming and causing a bunch of other nasty consequences (how about road rage?)

The problems are the result of decades of "head in the sand" decisions by the GVRD and the senior governments based on the biases brought to their table by the most powerful of the constituents, Vancouver and Burnaby, along with self-serving decisions by the outlying municipalities who saw a way to make ends meet by encouraging development in their backyards - despite the concept of "livable region" that the GVRD might try to espouse.

The provincial government has finally noticed that there is a problem, and even noticed that there are local governmental problems that have precluded a reasonable solution, and they've decided to fix the problem by mandate. I love it!

As for the GVRD - Lead, Follow, or get out of the way. There are no other options - and we, the voters, are going to get ugly if you don't get your heads out of the sand and start making things run better. If you want to put a real livable region practice in place (not plan), complete with the transit facilities, local parks, reasonably close shopping, cost effective infrastructure and pleasant surroundings, we'll live and work there - and love you for it.

In the mean time - you work for us, and I for one am singularly unimpressed with your grasp of the fact that traffic tie ups severely annoy the electorate and slow commerce - and cost big money! Fix the problems, don't ignore them. If you want to espouse better design in the future then fine - but fix the past's mistakes NOW!