Good News: Business backs transit plan

Jen St. Denis’s coverage in Business in Vancouver:

The Surrey Board of Trade has thrown its full support behind a proposed $7.5 billion transit plan, saying that increased investment in transit is needed to grow the region’s economy. …

The Vancouver Board of Trade offered a more muted response to the plan. In a previously released policy statement, VBOT said it hoped to see transportation, and not just transit, addressed in the plan.

“It’s abundantly clear that congestion in the Lower Mainland costs our economy dearly and negatively impacts B.C.’s reputation as Canada’s gateway to the Pacific,” said Iain Black, president and CEO of VBOT.

Black said VBOT does support the plan’s inclusion of a subway line between Commercial Drive and UBC.

“That extension will be a huge benefit for both residents and local businesses, including many of our member organizations,” Black said. “By increasing transit options in North America’s busiest bus corridor, we are making it easier for businesses in the area to attract not just new customers, but also a new pool of potential employees.”

With a few additional remarks from some familiar voices;

Gordon Price, a transit advocate and program director of Simon Fraser University’s city program, said … “I was surprised to see the degree of consensus and ambition in the plan,” Price told Business in Vancouver. …

Todd Stone, B.C.’s Transportation Minister, immediately nixed the idea of reallocating the tax, saying that money destined for provincial coffers was always off-limits.

That reaction is disappointing, Price said.

“It’s certainly continuing a tradition, isn’t it? The province continues to say to the region, you have to do the heavy lifting, the options are open for you — but they’re not and they say that right at the end.”

Sharp criticism of the plan came immediately from Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who said the plan packed too many expensive projects into too short a timeframe.

“We don’t support the plan. We’re thrilled that Minister Stone has ruled out giving [local government] a share of the carbon tax,” he said at a press conference June 12.

Price countered that the cost of the plan is reasonable, especially compared to what the province has already spent on the Port Mann bridge and plans to spend on a new bridge to replace the Massey tunnel.

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UPDATE: Jeff Nagel’s coverage in the Surrey Leader:

Jordan Bateman, the B.C. director of the Candian Taxpayers Federation and a relentless critic of TransLink, predicted it will be easy to rally Metro Vancouver voters to defeat a new carbon tax  … “We’ll go to the people with that any day of the week,” he said. “Let’s take it to the people and find out if TransLink really deserves more of our money.”

Asked whether – apart from the funding sources – he supports the major projects proposed in the plan, Bateman admitted he had not yet studied the details and said it was too early to say. …

SFU City Program director Gordon Price applauded the plan and said Bateman’s determination to kill it without offering an alternative would leave “a second-rate transit system for a second-rate region.”

He said opponents wrongly assume TransLink service will be maintained under the status quo if the plan is defeated, when its declining gas tax take means service cuts would be forced, particularly as the population grows. …

Business groups, including the Surrey and Vancouver boards of trade, picked up that theme.

“Our economy cannot thrive without the efficient, reliable and safe movement of goods and people,” said Vancouver Board of Trade president Iain Black, who applauded the mayors “unprecedented” effort to tackle congestion.

Surrey board CEO Anita Huberman called it a “responsible transportation plan” that is “near perfect” for the region.

But Huberman said it’s “unfortunate” the province quickly ruled out the reallocation of existing carbon tax revenue.

“I have a feeling that we have a long road ahead of us around any transportation improvements,” she said.

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UPDATE: No muted response from the Downtown Vancouver BIA:

Downtown Vancouver BIA Supports Mayors’ Council 30-Year Strategy

Downtown’s Future at Risk if No Investments Made

The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA), which represents 8,000 members, supports the long overdue projects proposed in the new Mayors’ Council 30-Year Transportation Strategy for Metro Vancouver released yesterday. Maintaining and growing downtown Vancouver as the economic hub for the region depends on making major investments that expand the public transit network, reduce congestion and plan for future growth. 

The proposed strategy aligns with the DVBIA’s five-year strategic plan that focuses on supporting the City’s 2040 Transportation plan, encouraging all modes of transportation into and around the core, and increasing walking and public transit use.

Of particular benefit to downtown in the proposed plan are upgrades/expansion to all SkyTrain and Canada Line lines; more SeaBus service; more frequent, reliable bus service including B-line bus service; more night bus service; more WestCoast Express service; and investments in the major road network that will improve/facilitate goods movement.

“We look forward to working with other business organizations, the Mayors, TransLink and the Province in planning for a future transportation model that will improve connectivity between downtown Vancouver and the rest of the region,” says Charles Gauthier, President & CEO, DVBIA.