Editor,

As reluctant as we are to wade into the controversy over the Langley Lift, as merchants and property owners in Langley we feel obliged to state our support for some sort of conveyance to bring visitors up from the marina to town.

This ought not turn into a squabble between those trying to make a living in Langley and those who live here and shop elsewhere. We all ought to believe in sensible economic development and it is sensible to find some way to help visitors get up the Wharf Street “Hill of Death”.

For over a decade, we have been active in promoting events in Langley such as Mystery Weekend, Whale watching, Choochokam, the fair; and DjangoFest. Increasing attendance to those events is good for all of us. Now that we have a splendid marina, we could increase attendance at our town events if we found some way to get visitors up that darned hill from the marina.

Some of us recall when the Victoria Clipper brought visitors to our events. What most do not know is that the Victoria Clipper would only come to Langley if we provided shuttle buses to carry their passengers up the hill. In recent years, the Victoria Clipper has refused to schedule stops in Langley, giving as their reason for going on to Coupeville for lunch, the unwillingness of their passengers to walk up our steep hill. Even when the whales they are watching are concentrated around Langley, it is hill-less Coupeville who benefits, not us.

Shuttle buses won’t work. We have been active in the launching of the Langley Main Street Association-run electric shuttle which has been hauling a few folks up the hill for over two years. Our experience is that no matter how cute and useful this limited service might be, it is no substitute for a genuine and permanent system for visitors.

Our view is that there ought to be some design for a lift/funicular/escalator that would fulfill this important economic development need without detracting from our spectacular view along Cascade Avenue. Even a Star Trek teleporter needs a transporter room at both ends. Let’s just make sure the place to which Scotty beams us up is as unobtrusive and attractive as possible.

FRED and SHARON LUNDAHL

Langley