TransLink says it can’t save Metro Vancouver’s transit services without the help of the incoming provincial government, and those needs come with a very large price tag.
The region’s transit authority is asking for an annual $2.9 billion from senior levels of government to go into a fund to be used for capital spending.
TransLink’s Mayors’ Council will be discussing the results of its “Save Transit” provincial campaign at its Oct. 31 meeting, along with how it should proceed with the incoming NDP government.
“We look forward to getting to work immediately on Day 1 with the next government to fix TransLink’s broken funding model,” said Mayors’ Council Chair Brad West.
That work includes a proposed $3.4 billion per year Access for Everyone Fund which would include $500 million per year in new operating revenues as well $2.9 billion per year in senior government contributions to capital projects.
In an open letter written in July, West said the $2.9 billion request reflects what is necessary to continue delivering the transit services the region needs and avoid severe overcrowding amidst surging population growth.
“This amount is realistic and consistent with the level of investment by other provincial governments into their public transit systems and by the B.C. government into other essential services such as hydro-electricity and health care,” West wrote.
“Here in B.C., the Provincial government recently announced $36 billion over ten years for BC Hydro, $2.3 billion for the Highway 1 expansion project, and $13 billion in infrastructure funding for healthcare projects such as the new cancer care centre in Surrey and the redevelopment of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.
“Public transit is an essential public utility that must expand, similar to other provincial services, as our population surges,” he added.
West argues TransLink can’t meet the needs of the region without the help of the next provincial government.
A report going before the Mayors’ Council Thursday morning says that “this work will need to begin as soon as a new government forms to ensure there is sufficient time for TransLink’s Investment Plan approval process to complete by the end of April 2025 so that potential transit service cuts starting in 2026 can be avoided.”
Earlier this year, TransLink warned of the potentially drastic cuts unless it could find solutions to a looming $600 million annual funding shortfall.