‘Being unified is really important right now’: Mayors’ Council recommits to ten year plan
Posted January 25, 2018 3:16 pm.
Last Updated January 25, 2018 5:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – Don’t worry about plans for the Surrey LRT, SkyTrain extensions and a replacement for the Pattullo Bridge.
The Mayors’ Council has unanimously voted to carry on with the original timeline for their 10-year vision on transportation.
The motion, put forward by Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, was meant to make it crystal clear that mayors weren’t going to let projects languish in limbo. The clarification, however, was supported by other mayors.
“I think that it became clear when you looked at the earlier media reports that there was in fact some confusion going on,” Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner says. “We received for the very first time full 100 per cent unanimous support for not only the mayors’ vision but for the importance of no delay in the vision and moving it forward quickly.”
Chair and Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan supported the motion but called it redundant.
“We can’t move forward unless we have the funding in place because the legislation doesn’t allow us to,” he says. “And if you don’t have the funding in place, then you can’t make promises that things are going to happen. So in many ways by me saying what I said, it called both provincial and federal government into the circle.”
Project schedules came under question last month when Corrigan was elected as the new chair and suggested mayors slow down.
“[The mayors] wanted to reassure the public that we’re pushing forward, and I think the mayors were very satisfied that that’s exactly what I’m doing,” he says about today’s commitment motion.
Others, like Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, believe this vote was needed.
“Being unified is really important right now, as we push for the final funding from the provincial and federal government. It’s really critical that we get Broadway subway, and Surrey Light Rail, and Pattulo bridge confirmed in these coming weeks.”
Robertson worried mayors weren’t being clear about the timeline for projects and also wanted clarification.
“We’ve been really solid on support for the plan over the years, but not unanimous before. So this is a break-through for the mayors around the region.”
