Let fools rush in
Metro Mayors are drooling at the prospect of running TransLink, as most think they are transit geniuses. Problem is, most are fiscally irresponsible and only want election winning transit options in their cities and towns.
The Broadway SkyTrain subway is a very good example. The Broadway subway touted by Vancouver’s mayor is a minimum $4 billion project that will not provide the transit improvement that the public wants, instead providing university students, using the deep discounted U-pass a somewhat faster service to UBC. The massive construction, operating and maintenance costs of a Broadway subway will effectively neuter any other regional transitAi?? project, because not only will the public need to ante up over $4 billion for the subway, they need to ante up an additional $3 billion or so to refit and update the present SkyTrain mini-metro system.
At a time where strong leadership is needed, the public get mostly country bumpkins, who are acting like rubes at the annual fair. The public, like always in Metro Vancouver, get weak leadership; political pork; and ignorant politicians who owe massive political favours for those who bought their elections. This a recipe for a transitAi?? financial meltdown.
B.C. tables legislation on transit referendum and TransLink governance
The B.C. government has tabled legislation that will allow Metro Vancouver mayors to determine the timing of a controversial referendum on how to fund transit expansion in the region.
Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, Vancouver Sun
VICTORIA – The B.C. government has tabled legislation that will allow Metro Vancouver mayors to determine the timing of a controversial referendum on how to fund transit expansion in the region.
A referendum was to be held in November, during municipal, but Transportation Minister Todd Stone says the vote can take place at another time if local governments can come up with a plan by June.
Stone has also introduced a bill that would give local more control over the TransLink system’s regional
strategies and investment plans.
The bill would allow regional mayors to approve policy decisions as fare increases as well as oversee executive and board of compensation.
The mayors, who represent Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and 15 other, have complained they have no say in a transit system operated by an unelected and unaccountable board.
A transit funding referendum was promised by Premier Christy during her election campaign last year.
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