TransLink has issued a request for information on putting turnstiles on its rapid-transit system.
TransLink spokesman Peter Louwe said yesterday the move is to get more details -- even though the transportation authority has studied fare gates and smart cards previously.
"We`re looking for some more information to prepare a business case to look at either gated access or controlled access," said Louwe.
Metro waste, sewage projects likely to drive up property taxes
METRO VANCOUVER - A Metro Vancouver report estimates property taxes for the average household in the region could nearly double by 2030, largely because of proposed infrastructure projects.
The staff report projects property taxes could jump from the current average of $4,023 to $5,913 in 2019 and to $7,775 by 2030.
B.C., Prairies are Canada`s new lands of opportunity, author says
British Columbia and its neighbours could be called the land of opportunity, or even the wild west, for the entrepreneurial spirit that has seen people who started with nothing vault themselves, through hard work and sometimes luck, into Canada`s billionaires club.
B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan are "the most entrepreneurial region of the country," writes Diane Francis, a columnist and editor-at-large with the National Post, in her new book Who Owns Canada Now: Old money, new money and the future of Canadian business.
During the last few weeks I have received a number of questions. I picked out a few of these, because I thought they might be of general interest. I have changed them a bit, taken out intros and `Ozzie you are great` (but that was hard) and just give you the nuts and bolts. Here goes:
Punjabi Market to be the site of $3-million India Gate
Premier Gordon Campbell is poised to announce the construction of a special India Gate in Vancouver`s Punjabi Market to be completed before the 2010 Olympics, The Vancouver Sun has learned.
Campbell will make it official at Saturday`s Vaisakhi parade in south Vancouver, near the spot where the gate will go at 50th Avenue and Main Street.
Commodity markets are so hot these days that even yellow is translating into green. Chemical market researchers are reporting an unprecedented spike in the price of sulphur, the most visible commodity on the Metro Vancouver waterfront and until about a year ago, an uninspired laggard in the ongoing global price boom for metals and minerals.
OTTAWA -- Canada`s once-hot housing market is clearly cooling with sales falling and the number of unsold homes on the market hitting record highs in the first quarter of the year.
Despite an uptick in sales in March from a three-year low in February, sales of existing homes were down 7.1 per cent in the first quarter from the final quarter of last year, and 13 per cent from the first quarter of 2007, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported Thursday in its preliminary housing market report for March.
Victoria council made a commitment to industry in its harbour yesterday, voting in favour of creating a bylaw that will see specialized zones for three parcels of land on Harbour Road.
The proposed bylaw will also allow for higher buildings on certain parts of the land on the north side of the Johnson Street Bridge, but also give the city more control over the look of the buildings constructed.
With Nanaimo`s nearly non-existent vacancy rate and escalating home prices, the city must come up with creative ways to ensure people can put an affordable roof over their heads.
The issue of whether to legalize secondary suites in accessory buildings, such as in a detached garage, will soon be put to the public in a series of open houses.
The Nanaimo Port Authority is confident it will have its $18-million cruise-ship terminal built and operating by the fall of 2009.
With $5 million in provincial funding now committed to the project, hopes are high the federal government will soon come through with the $5 million for the project requested by the port authority.
California real estate developer Howard Katkov will have to strike a fine balance as he strives to develop a ski resort in southern British Columbia he hopes will become the "anti-Whistler."
Since he bought the Red Mountain ski resort and its surrounding real estate near the town of Rossland in 2004, the self-described "surfer dude and serial entrepreneur" says he has devoted himself to preserving the unique culture, affordability and unpretentiousness that first drew him to the area.
It`s not often that employees work out a deal that sees them take over a business operation at North America`s top-ranked mountain resort, but three Whistler men have done just that.
Whistler Blackcomb has transferred ownership of one of its mountain bike divisions to the employees, who will now operate it as a new independent company.
West Fraser Timber`s fingerjoint lumber plant in Quesnel is the latest victim of the downturn in the forest sector.
The small plant -- which employs 12 people on one shift -- is expected to shut down at the end of May, said company spokesman Bill Tice.
The downtime will continue for an indefinite period.
As the runway extension nears completion, the airport looks to plug in to the lucrative air cargo market With the runway extension and new refueling apron to be completed this fall, Prince George Airport manager Stieg Hoeg is starting to talk about what will happen next to make the most of the benefits the project is expected to bring.
Developer unveils controversial Jordan River expansion plans
An ambitious vision of Jordan River as a bustling town, with 10,000 residents moving in over the next 20 years, was unveiled yesterday by developer Ender Ilkay in a last-ditch attempt to delay bylaws which could scuttle his plans.
"We have a window to do this now, but that window is closing," Ilkay said.
The City of Richmond is investigating what caused a mysterious mould problem in the roof of the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, and who should pay the estimated $2.2-million remedial cost.
Spokesman Ted Townsend said the $178-million project`s contingency fund will be used to cover the cost, but the city is looking into where the fault may lay and whether the money can be recovered from the contractor or roof manufacturer.
The long-awaited Evergreen Line to the communities northeast of Vancouver will connect Lougheed Town Centre with Coquitlam Town Centre via Port Moody, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon announced Friday.
The route appears to be the same one TransLink picked several years ago. Falcon had recently reopened the possibility it could run on a southeastern route instead, bypassing Port Moody.
Metro eyes New Westminster waterfront for waste plant
Metro Vancouver is trying to expropriate the Canfor Lands in New Westminster for a waste-management facility after failing to negotiate a sale with the property owners.
An expropriation notice was filed Friday with the Land Title Office for the 18.3-hectare parcel, which was listed for sale.
A development would run through it. It is difficult to stand at the mouth of North America`s greatest salmon spawning habitat -- the Adams River, where it empties into the west end of Shuswap Lake -- and envision a 160-slip marina right next door along with 218 condos, townhouses, and residential houses.
On this sunny day, a warm breeze flows off the mountains, soothing waves massage the gravel shoreline, and fish-eating merganser ducks patrol the waters. A northern flicker weaves its way between the old cottonwoods and swallows fill the air like ticker tape.
