TRANSLINK GOVERNANCE REVIEW PROVIDES A MODEL FOR THE PROVINCE (2007)

Both the BC Chamber and the Lower Mainland Chambers’ Transportation Panel (LMCTP) made complementary, detailed and constructive submissions to the Panel. The essence of these submissions were:

• An expanded footprint for the authority to ensure that decisions truly were regional;
• A professional board to remove political interference in transportation planning and operation;
• Formal integration between linkage between Translink and provincial transportation planning; and
• The need for adequate, ongoing access to sustainable funding.

The proposed replacement tax, named so as it will replace the parking site tax, is cause for concern to the business community. As it stands the replacement tax, which is meant to cover approximately 17 million dollars, is currently allocated to property classes two to five. The Chamber believes the replacement tax should also apply to class one all property classes. Everyone benefits from transportation infrastructure and the tax should be fairly distributed over all users.

Transportation Minister Falcon, recently released the Panel’s report, which contained many of the LMCTP’s recommendations. The Chamber welcomed the recommendations of the report as providing a regional transportation model that will serve the region and the province now and well into the future.

While The Chamber retains some concern about the Council of Mayors’ ability to continue to block expansion by rejecting the new board’s proposed plans, our members will see this model as one that can move us into a new era where decisions critical to the entire province will rest with a professional board.

While some of the details still need to be worked out, this model looks like an efficient and cost-effective one that could serve as a model for other parts of the province. The Chamber believes it is incumbent on the provincial government to work with other regions where a desire and capacity exists to create regional transportation authorities based on this model while reflecting the unique circumstances of each region.

A strong transportation and transit system is critical to the economic development of our province. Our regional transportation systems are all linked. Fast, easy and reliable transportation modes attract and retain investors while declining transportation infrastructure and poor planning stifles growth. Regional co-ordination of transportation initiatives is critical to the creation of an efficient transportation system. The new Translink model provides a starting point for continued development of the regional transportation model.

The need for regional transportation planning and implementation is not unique to the Vancouver/Squamish/Whistler/Fraser Valley region. Other regions need to have access to a regional transportation model. Such a model will address the body of knowledge and experience in Canada on this subject is critical and demonstrative of the need for the creation of a Regional Transportation Model.

The Translink Governance Review process initiated by the provincial government has provided a good platform to ensure future improvements.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the provincial government:

1. include Chamber’s representation as a key stakeholder in planning and implementing the recommended changes made by the TransLink Review Panel;

2. amend the Regional Transportation Act to include equitable distribution across all property classes as a source of revenue for the replacement tax;

3. utilize the new Translink model as a template for the development of regional transportation authorities where a capacity and need exists; and

4. immediately commit to the implementation of the recommendations of the TransLink Review Panel and provide an expedited timeline for their full implementation.