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.