10-year transit plan gets further support

Metro Vancouver’s mayors sent a clear message to higher levels of government and the public Thursday when they pledged to stay the course with their transit plans for the region.

It was the first time every member of TransLink’s Mayors’ Council voted in favour of a motion related to the their 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation.

“I think it is a statement reaffirming the interests of the Mayors’ Council and I don’t have any difficulty in it going forward,” said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who was elected as chairman of the council in December. “I don’t want any confusion to happen in what we’re attempting to do.”

The vote took place at a TransLink Mayors’ Council meeting, where Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore made a motion that called on the council to support the implementation of Phase 2 of the three-phase transportation plan in early 2018, as planned, and begin preliminary work on the third phase.

The first phase was approved in the fall of 2016 and it is underway.

The second phase includes major projects such as light rail in Surrey, a SkyTrain extension in Vancouver, and replacing the aging Pattullo Bridge.

“I thought it was important that the Mayors’ Council come together and make it crystal clear about our intentions to move forward fully with Phase 2 — the major projects in Phase 2 as well as the other services,” Moore said.

Moore made the motion in light of Corrigan’s election as chair. Corrigan has long been the sole vote against the 10-year plan and has publicly questioned whether TransLink can deliver all of the projects promised. He has suggested the possibility of slowing down some of the major projects.

“I do think there has been some confusion around the messaging of how important this is to the Mayors’ Council as a whole and the timing of it — that it’s critical — and I think this motion does clarify that,” said Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, who praised the work Corrigan has done behind the scenes during the short time he has been chair.

“It is a reaffirmation of the longstanding positions of the Mayors’ Council, but I think actually we’re at an important juncture that we do have to make that strong support toward the Mayors’ 10-year plan,” said New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté.

The critical juncture to which Coté referred is TransLink’s need to confirm funding from the federal and provincial governments, which have each committed to paying for 40 per cent of the cost of major capital projects, as well as how it is going to cover its $60-million to $80-million annual regional funding gap.

Corrigan said after the meeting that he didn’t believe the provincial carbon tax would end up being a source of funding. The mayors suggested in the fall that TransLink should receive a portion of the tax that is actually generated in Metro Vancouver through the transportation sector.

However, Corrigan said negotiations are ongoing and federal and provincial support for the plan is strong. He added he felt confident that the March deadline for funding approval would be met.