TransLink receives $300 million injection for buses and service improvements

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When the British Columbia government announced up to $300 million in immediate cash for TransLink service plans by 2024, Metro Vancouver politicians had harsh words for the federal government for supporting high levels of immigration without immediately committing to increasing transit on the fast growing region.

British Columbia Transportation Minister Rob Fleming made the funding announcement Wednesday in North Vancouver at the northern terminus of 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 schedules on 60 bus routes across the region, especially south of the Fraser River; buy 185 new buses to relieve overcrowding on busy routes; and introduce rapid bus service on new Metro routes.

The money will flow into TransLink’s coffers immediately.

“What this means is that we can announce significant service improvements in the fall,” Fleming said.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, chair of the mayors’ council on regional transportation, criticized Ottawa for its policy of increased immigration, which puts pressure on transit service across the country, without immediate guarantees of federal support.

He noted that housing was a key pillar of this week’s federal budget, but there are no new transit commitments 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 people came to Metro last year alone, nearly triple recent historical averages, with no signs of the influx slowing down.

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“It’s obvious that much of the demand placed on our transit system is due to immigration policy,” West said. “Despite that, the federal government’s response is to wait until 2026 or 2027,” which is when Ottawa has said it will launch a permanent transit fund across the country.

He praised the British Columbia government for “stepping up” transit when Ottawa “has taken a step back.”

TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn acknowledged that 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 take a back seat on this issue.”

Fleming touted the BC government’s commitment to TransLink and regional transit during the COVID-19-driven slowdown, noting that the government did not 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 after the pandemic.

Postmedia News has reached out to BC United and the BC Conservative Party for comment.

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