The Chilliwack
Progress Tuesday
13
3
28
Life
News
Sports
Martial Art
Bruins
Care
The passion of self defence – for 35 years
Young guns head to Winnipeg
Spiritual care returns to CGH
Your community newspaper • Founded in 1891 • www.theprogress.com • Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Hope fades for missing man
■ C ANDY C ANE H UNT
Robert Freeman The Progress The search for Robert-Jan Planje, missing from his Ashwell Road home for more than a week, continues although a positive outcome is looking unlikely. “We’re still looking for him, but the outcome is looking increasingly bleak, if we haven’t located him by this point,” RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr, spokesman for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said Monday. He confirmed a “person of interest” in the case is being held in custody “on other matters,” but he could not release a name until a charge is formally laid. Planje was reported missing Dec. 12 after police were called to investigate an altercation at the Ashwell Road home. Colleen Crook, a close friend of Planje, said he called her Sunday after getting into an altercation with a man he had taken into his home through his work at the Gypsy Project. Planje, 64, is the secretary of the organization formed to help the homeless. Continued: MISSING/ p5
Riley Douthwright, 8, takes part in the candy cane scavenger hunt at Minter Country Garden on Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of candy canes were hidden throughout one of the store’s greenhouses for children to find. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Study calls for major transit boost The Progress The long-awaited Fraser Valley Transit study quietly appeared online Thursday, with a clear focus on local transit improvements. The study by the province and FVRD with partners BC Transit and TransLink, looked at local, regional and inter-regional transit needs of Fraser Valley communities from Abbotsford to Hope. Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz was relieved the $400,000 transit report was finally released so the community can move forward. “It gives us a long range vision for local transit in each Fraser Valley community, as well as a vision for regional service. “The main part that jumped out
for me was the crucial need for new funding sources to be found,” she said. The study pointed out Chilliwack spends $9 annually per capita on transit through property taxes, which is among the lowest in B.C., compared to other mid-sized communities. Kamloops spends $26 per capita, while Victoria spends $40, as examples. “It’s tough right now,” said Gaetz. “We’re under pressure to keep taxes low, and we know transit is highly subsidized so we have to look if a share of costs can be borne in other areas. It’s about finding a new funding mechanism.” More than tripling local bus service is called for under the study’s vision, going from the current total
of 40 buses to 135 by 2040, and the annual costs would then jump from about $10 million to $80 million, contingent on new revenue sources being found. That’s a 600 per cent projected increase in local bus services for Chilliwack according to the study, and about 450 per cent for Abbotsford to support “primary travel markets” in the valley. Transit advocate Jennifer Bigham, who called herself the Chill-activist, was impressed by the study’s recommendations for major increases to local bus service across the valley. “It’s long overdue. My initial reaction is that it’s going to be good for us,” she said. A new transit governance structure “is exactly what we need” to
FREE
FIRST 10 S ER CUSTOM Y TO BU AL DE A ROYALAGE PACK
MY INVENTO
$1.25
COFFEE MAKER 45690 Yale Road
(across from Chilliwack Ford)
604•393•6666
ROYAL DEAL
any... • Queen or King
Snooze Price
$
amalgamate services from neighbouring communities, Bigham said. “The fact that they’re ready to do anything is good, but it’s going to take a lot just to catch up.” Finding new funding sources and a new structure is key, agreed Gaetz. “No matter what kind of transit service we choose, it underscores that the current model is unsustainable,” said the mayor. “So we’re looking forward to working with BC Transit in the new year to figure out the best options for Chilliwack.” A new governance model, something akin to a Trans Link, might be a good place to start, said Gaetz. But hands-down the biggest priority for all valley communities
999
Mattress • Solid Wood Bed • Set of Sheets • 2 Pillows
is “growing local ridership,” especially since most riders don’t go beyond the city borders, said the mayor. “What the study pointed out was the need to expand our local ridership, to make it grow from one per cent to four per cent” over the next 20 years, said Gaetz. “There are some who have said we could do that by putting in an inter-urban rail line from Chilliwack to Vancouver, but what the report indicates is that it’s highly desirable, but cost prohibitive.” The study estimated the rail option would cost $70 million. So although Gaetz said she agrees with preserving the rail line for future service potential, it’s “too expensive” right now. Continued: RAIL/ p9
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SPECIAL EURO E EU U RO OT TOP OP QUEEN OP QUE UEEN E EN N MATTRESS MAT ATTR TR R ES PLUS LUS MICROFIBRE SPRING BASE...
$
Snooze U Lose .ca www.
z z zz
399
12-10T SUL21
Jennifer Feinberg