TransLink Mayors’ Council pushes for renewed federal funding to keep up with growth | 24CA News

The TransLink Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation is requesting extra funding from the federal authorities with a view to assist its enlargement of public transit throughout Metro Vancouver.

During a gathering final month, the mayors outlined their 10-year plan to maintain up with the inflow of residents to Vancouver and throughout the decrease mainland.

Expected to value $20 billion over the subsequent decade, the plan contains doubling buses by 2035, the extension of the millennium line to UBC, fast transit to the north shore, and the gondola to SFU.

“Public transit is rightly seen by our residents as a basic utility like electricity, drinking water or roads, an essential service that keeps our cities moving, working and successful. Not a nice to have, but a requirement,” mentioned Mayors’ Council chair Brad West.

“Our region is growing faster than ever, and as long as we are stuck in survival mode, our transit system will not be able to keep pace with demand and the essential service it provides.”

The proposal additionally calls on Ottawa for $250 million in emergency reduction funding, to be matched by the province with a view to preserve present providers, West mentioned.

“Looking ahead to population growth, we are calling on the government to speed up the delivery of the permanent transit fund by two years to 2024. This will ensure that we don’t have to delay projects in the 10-year priority plan.”

TransLink warns that customers may probably see raised fares and a lower in providers with out funding.

“Metro Vancouver is expected to grow substantially in the near future, which will bring increased pressures on our public transit services,” mentioned CEO Kevin Quinn.

“TransLink will need sustainable and dependable funding to both maintain our current levels of service and prepare for critically needed expansion.”

In addition, the Mayors’ Council is looking for Ottawa to as soon as once more completely double the Canada Community-Building Fund, and improve its annual escalator to three.5 per cent, to account for building value inflation.

It can also be asking for a nationwide fee with provinces, transit companies and native governments to develop a brand new funding mannequin.

1:51Mayors’ council meets on 10 yr plan

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