Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
National

Metro Vancouver Mayors Announce Funding For Broadway Skytrain, Surrey Light Rail

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Mar, 2018 07:23 PM

    VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has come to an agreement with Metro Vancouver mayors to move ahead on a $7 billion transit expansion for the region.

     

    The provincial and federal governments have previously promised to cover 80 per cent of a 10-year transit plan, but the remaining gap was the responsibility of municipalities to fill.

     

    Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who is chair of the Mayors' Council for the region, said reaching a unanimous agreement between varying municipal interests involved everyone "sucking it up" to come up with the funding options.

     

    "When you've got the kind of money we had on the table from the provincial government, the kind of money that the federal government is bringing to the table, it would be foolish for us not to be prepared to make the necessary compromises to get that money into the Lower Mainland," he said.

     
     

    It represents the largest funding announcement for transit in the province's history, Corrigan said.

     
     
     
     

    "We achieved what seemed almost impossible," he said.

     
     

    The second phase of transit expansion includes the addition of 900,000 hours of bus service per year, Corrigan said. It will also see the expansion of a SkyTrain line for the Broadway corridor in Vancouver and the completion of the first 10 kilometres of light rail in Surrey.

     

    To raise $40 million needed for the projects, Corrigan said there will be "moderate and balanced" increases to transit fares, development fees, parking fees and property taxes.

     
     
     
     

    Transit fares are expected to go up by two per cent over two years beginning in 2020, which would result in a five- to 15-cent hike for single tickets while monthly passes could increase between $1 and $3.

     

    A development levy would hit builders with a $300 to $600 charge per unit, depending on the type of residential dwelling being constructed.

     

    Property taxes would increase on average by $5.50 per home annually, beginning in 2019.

     

    The final amounts won't be approved until after public consultations are completed this spring.

     
     
     
     

    Municipal Affairs Minister Selina Robinson said the province is giving the region's mayors more control over revenue sources to close a funding gap that was prohibiting projects from going ahead. It will also remove a requirement for the region to hold referendums on new revenue sources to speed up the approval process.

     

    "There will be no more delays and the region can finally put shovels in the ground on important phase two projects," she said.

     

    A 2015 referendum to increase sales tax in the region to support the 10-year plan failed, leaving municipalities to start from scratch in search of funding alternatives.

     
     
     
     

    The province is also relieving Translink from new financial burdens by kicking in an additional $30 million. But Robinson said details of how that relief will be provided is still under discussion with the transit operator.

     

    Translink CEO Kevin Desmond said the region's population is expected to increase by one million people over the next 30 years and the projects needed now must be completed to keep up with the demand.

     
     

    "We need to continue to be thinking about what happens in the next 10 years and the following 10 years to maintain the liveability and prosperity of this region," he said.

     

    If consultations and approvals go as planned, Desmond said the rapid transit projects in Vancouver and Surrey could be completed by 2025.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Conservative Party Puts Off Khalistan And United India Motion After 'Racism' Uproar

    Conservative Party Puts Off Khalistan And United India Motion After 'Racism' Uproar
    Alberta MP Deepak Obhrai had emailed on Wednesday that the following motion was to be debated in Parliament on Thursday.

    Conservative Party Puts Off Khalistan And United India Motion After 'Racism' Uproar

    Federal Budget On Same Page As B.C. On Issues Of Equity, Reconciliation, Opioids

    Federal Budget On Same Page As B.C. On Issues Of Equity, Reconciliation, Opioids
    VICTORIA — British Columbia's finance minister says she's pleased with the direction of the federal government's budget, but concerned with the slow pace of some of its initiatives.

    Federal Budget On Same Page As B.C. On Issues Of Equity, Reconciliation, Opioids

    Canadian Program Providing Alcohol To Heavy Drinkers Envied By Scotland

    Canadian Program Providing Alcohol To Heavy Drinkers Envied By Scotland
    VANCOUVER — A radical treatment that provides daily doses of alcohol to people struggling with problem drinking in several Canadian cities is getting attention from other countries wanting to emulate its success.

    Canadian Program Providing Alcohol To Heavy Drinkers Envied By Scotland

    B.C. College Of Midwives Takes Court Action To Ban Use Of Term 'Death Midwife'

    The college has filed legal action in B.C. Supreme Court in an attempt to halt Pashta Marymoon and Patricia Keith from calling themselves "death midwives" while providing services to the dying and their families.

    B.C. College Of Midwives Takes Court Action To Ban Use Of Term 'Death Midwife'

    Thirty-One Instant Millionaires: N.L. Co-Workers Presented With $60M Cheque

    Thirty-One Instant Millionaires: N.L. Co-Workers Presented With $60M Cheque
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — More than 30 Newfoundland construction workers became instant millionaires today when the Atlantic Lottery Corp. handed them a cheque worth a whopping $60 million.

    Thirty-One Instant Millionaires: N.L. Co-Workers Presented With $60M Cheque

    Manitoba NDP Appoints 2 Women To Lead Probe Into Sex Harassment, Misconduct

    Manitoba NDP Appoints 2 Women To Lead Probe Into Sex Harassment, Misconduct
    The Manitoba NDP has appointed two women as commissioners to investigate reports of sexual harassment and misconduct from staff and elected officials.

    Manitoba NDP Appoints 2 Women To Lead Probe Into Sex Harassment, Misconduct