The B.C. government announced the commitment Wednesday while Metro Vancouver politicians called on the feds to help out too
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As the B.C. government announced up to $300 million in immediate cash for TransLink’s 2024 service plans, Metro Vancouver politicians had harsh words for the federal government for supporting high levels of immigration without committing immediately to increased transit in the fast-growing region.
B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming made the funding announcement Wednesday in North Vancouver at the northern terminus for the SeaBus, one of the services that will be boosted as part of the provincial commitment.
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The money will be used to extend SeaBus hours by 15 minutes at the start and end of each day; offer better and longer service hours on 60 bus routes across the region, especially south of the Fraser River; buy 185 new buses to ease overcrowding on busy routes; and introduce bus rapid service to new routes across Metro.
The money will flow into TransLink’s coffers right away.
“What this means is that we can announce significant service improvements in fall,” said Fleming.
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Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, chairman of the mayors’ council on regional transportation, took Ottawa to task for its policy of increased immigration, which puts a strain on transit service across the country, without immediate assurances of federal support.
He noted housing was a key pillar of this week’s federal budget, but no new transit commitments are in the plan.
West said the Lower Mainland is dealing with a “massive influx driven by federal policy, without much consultation or support.” He said about 90,000 arrived in Metro last year alone, nearly triple the recent historical averages, with no signs that the influx is going to slow down.
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“It is obvious that so much of the demand being placed on our transit system is due to immigration policy,” said West. “Despite that, the answer from the federal government is to wait until 2026 or 2027” — which is when Ottawa has said it will launch a permanent countrywide transit fund.
He praised the B.C. government for “stepping up” on transit when Ottawa has “stepped back.”
TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn acknowledged the feds have committed $1.3 billion to the new Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, but said the transit agency has structural funding issues that need to be addressed by all levels of government, including Ottawa.
North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan shared West’s concerns, saying Ottawa “cannot be riding back seat on this issue.”
Fleming touted the B.C. government’s commitment to TransLink and regional transit during the COVID-19-driven slowdown, noting the government didn’t reduce transit funding or force layoffs after ridership plummeted in 2020.
He also praised TransLink for recovering ridership faster than any other transit system in North America coming out of the pandemic.
Postmedia News has reached out to B.C. United and the Conservative Party of B.C. for comment.
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