All aboard the transit-funding train
Mayors’ council on transportation looking for financial commitment from parties
Metro Vancouver’s mayors are asking political parties to pledge legislative support and billions in funding for regional transit improvements as part of their provincial election campaigns.
The TransLink Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation made the request as it launched its Cure Congestion campaign Wednesday, which is intended to make transportation a priority for voters and politicians.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from residents across our region that they’ve had enough of congestion, whether it’s traffic on our roads and bridges or it’s people packed into our transit system,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who chairs the council.
Robertson said the mayors were happy to see the federal government commit $2.2 billion to Metro Vancouver transit projects in last month’s budget, which was matched Friday by the provincial government.
However, that money will be used primarily for two major projects in the second phase of the 10-year plan: The Broadway subway line and Surrey light rail.
“We need to take it to the next level,” said Robertson. “We need to fund our entire 10-year plan, which means going beyond the major projects here in Vancouver and Surrey.”
In addition to having provincial parties follow through on the province’s promise to match the $2.2 billion in federal funding, the mayors are asking for $360 million for upgrades to the existing SkyTrain network, including more rail cars and station renovations.
They would also like the parties to follow through on the existing provincial commitment to fund onethird of the capital costs of replacing the aging Pattullo Bridge and help TransLink to secure federal funding. The replacement bridge connecting New Westminster and Surrey is expected to cost more than $1 billion — that was the estimate in 2014 — with approximately half of the cost covered by tolls.
HandyDart is another priority. The mayors want financial support for the door-to-door shared ride service for people with disabilities, because 67 per cent of HandyDart trips are used to access health-care services. This includes improving service beyond the 30-per-cent increase proposed in the 10-year plan.
“What we’re looking for is the parties to endorse the whole plan that the mayors have come up with and be prepared to work as partners in executing that vision,” said Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, vice-chair of the mayors’ council.
Also included in the second and third phases are further expansion of bus service, along with road, cycling and pedestrian network improvements. The mayors want the province to work with them to ensure the remaining capital and operating costs of the plan are fully funded.
The total bill for the province would be upward of $3 billion.
The first phase of the plan is already funded and rollout began in January, but the council is asking the parties to commit to authorizing the development cost charge in the fall legislative session so the plan stays on track.
TransLink has not specified how much the rest of the plan will cost and how much funding will have to come from regional sources. It’s also unclear how the regional money will be raised, though mobility pricing is also being explored to fund the final phase of the plan.