Mayors consider multiple tolls to avoid property tax hikes
Revenue- generating options examined to fund future transit projects
Metro Vancouver politicians will push the B. C. government to introduce legislation for everything from a regional carbon tax to a vehicle levy by this spring in hopes of avoiding a potential property tax increase in 2013.
Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender, vice- chairman of the mayors’ council on regional transportation, said the mayors must find new short- term funding by this fall — if it’s to be approved as part of TransLink’s funding plan — or they will be forced to hike property taxes by an average $ 23 per homeowner on Jan. 1, 2013.
Mayors are slated to meet with Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom on March 7.
“We’ve given [ Lekstrom] a list of things that could be added tools ...,” Fassbender said. “Once it’s in the legislation then it’s up to the mayors in the region to work with what’s in the legislation to find something in the short term.”
The mayors’ council, TransLink and the province are trying to find alternative sources of funding to generate $ 70 million annually for future transit projects, including the Evergreen Line and express bus service in Surrey and along Highway 1 to Langley. About $ 40 million of that funding will come from a two- cents- a- litre boost to the gas tax, but mayors hope to raise the other $ 30 million without raising property taxes — although they have that option.
A 12.5- per- cent increase in transit fares is also proposed for 2013.
Lekstrom said Friday he believes there are short- term “opportunities” available, but wouldn’t elaborate, saying it’s up to the mayors to come up with a “palatable” solution. “This is about the mayors’ council,” he said. “They’re going to have to talk to the people they represent.”
Fassbender said the mayors’ council hopes to have a range of legislation for short- term funding available so they can continue to finance projects while researching longer term options such as road pricing, which could see tolling major water crossings, tolling entry and exit points to defined areas of Metro Vancouver — possibly varying by time of day — or by tracking and charging for total kilometres driven.
A confidential report, Evaluation of Revenue Sources to Support Transportation Improvements in Metro Vancouver, obtained by The Vancouver Sun, estimates a toll of $ 1.60 per trip at major bridges and tunnels — which are not named — could raise $ 100 million a year. Another table suggests toll revenue could total between $ 100 million and $ 200 million a year.
Fassbender said regionwide tolls would be equitable for all residents in Metro and generate significant revenue. Translink has tolls on the Golden Ears Bridge, and is likely to slap tolls on the new Pattullo Bridge. The province also plans to toll the new Port Mann, which means those living south of the Fraser will bear the brunt of the costs of those projects.
“If we do it on the North Shore bridges, south of the Fraser bridges and northeast sector bridges then nobody can say ‘ We’re the only ones paying,’ ” he said.
Robin Lindsay, a professor of operations and logistics at the University of B. C.’ s Sauder School of Business, said regionwide tolls would also be lower. Vehicles crossing the new Port Mann Bridge will be charged $ 3 each time, while unregistered users of the Golden Ears Bridge pay $ 4.10 per trip.
“As a means of generating revenue it is effective if it’s done comprehensively; if you just toll the Golden Ears Bridge you’re not going to collect a lot of money,” Lindsay said. “If you charge for all tolls, which admittedly is a big step, on all the bridges and tunnels, then you’re going to collect for all the trips. You can also argue it’s fair; people are contributing equally.”
Lekstrom said he was surprised to hear tolls were being considered for all bridges, tunnels and even the Sea to Sky Highway. “Right now the government is not looking at putting tolls on the Sea to Sky.”