Transit advocates suggest regional sales tax for projects

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Would you be willing to pay 35 cents a day if it meant major transit expansion?

The latest pitch for a 0.5 per cent regional sales tax comes from a couple of transit advocates.

Report co-author Paul Hillsdon says the money could help fund a long wish list of projects. “You get the UBC SkyTrain, two light rail lines in Surrey, seven new B-Lines, double the capacity on the Expo Line, and the Burnaby Mountain gondola.”

Hillsdon says the tax would pay for the region’s share of capital and operating costs and allow all of the projects to be built by 2020. He argues it would be the fairest, most comprehensive and realistic solution.

“With a sales tax, most… people are paying into it and the benefits are shared equally across the region across this plan,” he says.

Mayors Council Vice Chair Wayne Wright isn’t sure it’s as simple as that, but agrees the money has to come from somewhere. “The needs that we have are so great, we have to come up with some type of funding.”

Talks between local mayors and the province on a planned referendum continue.

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