TransLink to proceed with public consultation on proposed supplement

After careful consideration, the TransLink Board in the Vancouver, B.C., area has authorized the organization to move forward with planned public consultation on funding the proposed supplement required to build the Evergreen Line and complete the first phase of the North Fraser Perimeter Road project and, possibly, to proceed with a number of other priority projects, which include key SkyTrain station upgrades, restoring funding to bike and major road network capital programs, additional service throughout the existing bus network and new rapid bus services on King George Boulevard and Highway 1.

"A supplement is the
legal mechanism we have to enable policymakers to make a decision on critical
regional transportation issues. The Mayors’ Council can only make a decision on
our regional commitments to these projects if TransLink prepares a supplement
for them to consider. Before a supplement can be provided to the Mayors’
Council and the Regional Transportation Commissioner, TransLink must consult
the public on how to pay for proposed projects and that consultation must focus
only on funding sources our legislation currently allows us to implement," says
Chair Dale Parker. 
 Decisions on both the Evergreen Line and the North Fraser
Perimeter Road project, which involves an extension of United Boulevard to
remove a major traffic bottleneck, are up against a year-end deadline to have
signed funding agreements in place with the provincial and federal governments
respectively.

There are two program
options for the public to consider. Option A, which includes the Evergreen Line
and Phase One of the North Fraser Perimeter Road, TransLink requires additional
revenues of $39.3 million a year, beginning in 2011. To fund option B, which includes
the Evergreen Line, Phase One of the North Fraser Perimeter Road and the
additional priority projects, TransLink will require additional revenues of $68
million a year, beginning in 2011.

Decisions on
transportation plans and the funding to support them are ultimately the
authority of the Mayors’ Council. TransLink’s role and responsibility as the
region’s transportation provider is to consult with the residents of Metro
Vancouver on all funding options presently available under the current legislation,
which includes property tax and a Transportation Improvement Fee on motor
vehicles registered in Metro Vancouver. Except for transit fares, which
increased last April, rates for all of TransLink’s other sources of revenue are
currently at the maximums allowed by legislation.

TransLink’s supplements
are subject to a review by the Regional Transportation Commissioner and, in
order to gain the Commissioner’s approval, a supplement must identify revenue
sources that can be implemented. Presently, the only revenue source that can be
implemented is property tax. However, a Transportation Improvement Fee could be
applied to vehicles registered in Metro Vancouver, provided there is a
collection mechanism and an administrative process in place.


The Mayors’ Council has
been very clear about their opposition to funding the supplement solely via a
property tax. For that reason, TransLink has included the Transportation
Improvement Fee in the forthcoming consultation.

A decision by the Mayors’
Council will be sought by December 31, 2010, the deadline by which signed
funding agreements must be in place so that the Evergreen Line and North Fraser
Perimeter Road projects can proceed with the support of significant federal
contributions.