Metro, feds ready to spend on transit plan

Province wants more info before confirming funds

Metro Vancouver mayors and the federal government say they’re ready to put down the cash for the region’s transit plans, but the province is still waiting to see more detailed numbers.

Katie Robb, director of communications for Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, said Metro’s mayors are confident in the Canadian government’s financial support for the 10-year regional transportation plan, which includes light rail in Surrey, a subway line under Broadway and replacement of the Pattullo Bridge.

“Mayors are looking forward to working with the province as soon as possible” on Phase 2 of the 10year TransLink plan, Robb wrote in an email Thursday.

The clarification comes after an odd exchange during a press conference Tuesday, when North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson and Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Andrew Wilkinson both said they would need a more detailed plan from the mayors before sorting out funding for Phase 2.

Further questioning from reporters prompted Robertson and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner to jump in and say, in unison, “That work is done.”

Robertson said the plans could only move forward with firm commitments from B.C. and Canada.

On Thursday, Wilkinson acknowledged that he could have been clearer in what he meant by a “detailed plan.”

“I think we’re really saying the same thing,” he said of the mayors’ comments.

“The mayors’ council has submitted a plan. We’re currently assessing that in terms of what role the federal government should play from a funding perspective.”

Once the upcoming federal budget outlines exactly how much money will be committed, Wilkinson said that Ottawa will expect to see more particulars about the region’s plans.

But on the provincial end, officials are waiting to see finalized businesses cases before guaranteeing funds.

“We have already committed to one third of the capital costs of the Millennium Line Broadway extension and the Surrey L line rapid transit projects, subject to final business cases that are currently being prepared,” a representative of the ministry responsible for TransLink wrote in an email.

Michael Buda, executive director of the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, said the mayors submitted a proposed funding strategy in April.

That document puts the provincial government’s contribution at 33 per cent of construction costs and the federal government at up to 50 per cent.

“Both governments have gotten regular updates on the business cases for these projects,” Buda said.

“The bottom line is that we’re about where everyone needs to be in terms of the level of detail.”