Given the potential costs involved in the construction of a new First Narrows crossing, which in some cases rival the projected costs of the proposed LRT lines which are anticipated to serve 2 to 4 times the traffic carried by the bridge, it would seem reasonable that quite apart from providing the required transportation link., this project can, and should, be used to explore and demonstrate a possible direction for one of the many development options necessary for the future evolution of the Lower Mainland as a "Livable Region".
In particular, this proposal is intended to explore a possible model of sustainable development using the opportunities created by the new First Narrows crossing.
In general "sustainability" tends to conjure up images of small scale Arcadian tranquillity, however a perfectly valid alternative to such eco-sprawl can be found in the creation of high density communities closely integrated with the urban infrastructure and the range of amenities existing in any city, thus minimizing the servicing costs, transit loads, and loss of habitat inherent in traditional development patterns, even given the GVRD's compact model.
This proposal is accordingly intended to illustrate
The creation of a viable transit-oriented community of approximately 10,000 residents, with minimal impact on greenspace and existing communities
During the course of this investigation it is also intended to explore