Transit plan could become an election issue: Vancouver mayor
Posted November 23, 2016 3:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – Now that Phase 1 of Metro Vancouver’s 10-year transit plan has been approved, mayors in the region say their next move is to put pressure on the provincial and federal governments.
Following the unanimous vote of approval by the Mayors’ Council and the TransLink Board of Directors today, Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner points out that just preparing to construct the plan’s larger capital projects will cost $60 million.
“The enormity of knowing how we’re going to fund Phase 2 and the next stage of the investment plan has got to be recognized,” she says.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is pushing for a federal government funding commitment before their next budget is tabled.
He is also pressuring the provincial government to approve development cost charges before the May 9 election.
“If we don’t see that commitment, obviously it becomes an election issue of what the parties will do to deliver on the Phase 2 commitments,” Robertson says.
“Hopefully it is not an election issue, and hopefully we will get an early blessing,” Hepner adds.
Phase 2 of the plan go into public consultations next year.
