Taxpayers will be thrilled | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the editor:

Your article about the funicular should have been run a little closer to April Fools’ Day.

Is the council really serious about running a cable car down the hill to the Langley Marina? This vehicle would go from Cascade Avenue and descend to land on the second floor of the four story commercial/residential development which is so desperately needed to obstruct the view?

One thing mentioned was the shortage of parking spaces for boat trailers. How does this project alleviate that problem? By taking up more ground with structure and right-of-way? People who launch boats here when parking spaces for their trailers are unavailable are going to have to secure their boats after launching and move the trailers back up Wharf Street and find a place to park them whether or not the funicular is erected.

There presently exists a way to get to the marina from Cascade Avenue. It is called “walking.” If the hike down Wharf Street’s sidewalk is deemed too onerous for some, a 12-passenger van, easy to turn around, could serve as a shuttle during peak hours during the boating season. I believe this could be operated for considerably less cost than the funicular, but it wouldn’t be as much fun to ride. Crystal Mountain Ski Resort recently installed a gondola. Maybe their old chair lift could be bought.

But why not figure a funicular and a commercial/residential development? The restaurant business in Langley has really been booming lately. And in these times of plenty, I’m certain the taxpayers would be thrilled to finance this project.

ROBERT LOWEY

Langley

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