Mayors eye valley version of TransLink

[SpongeG]

Black Press
Mar 31 2007


Fraser Valley mayors are looking at a separate transit authority for that region instead of the mega-authority stretching from Pemberton to Hope, as proposed by the B.C. government.

Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames, who is also chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District, said mayors from Abbotsford, Mission, Harrison, Agassiz and Hope met last week to develop a coordinated response to the proposed expansion of TransLink, the transit authority in the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

But the public response to the government's proposal and its tax implications for Fraser Valley residents has been "massive" and "immediate" opposition, the mayor said.

"I have never had so many comments from people fundamentally opposed to this notion" of an expanded transit authority," he said. "It feels like a tax revolt starting to happen. It was massive and immediate."

The mayors fear the FVRD region would be used as a "cash cow" by the mega-authority to raise tax dollars for transportation projects in the GVRD rather than the eastern Fraser Valley. There is also no mention in the government proposal of taking over hospital capital costs in the Fraser Valley, which was done in the GVRD when TransLink was first created.

Hames said a new transit authority in the Fraser Valley would give more local control over transportation priorities than the government proposal, and more control over how much taxpayers will have to pay.

A regional authority would be able to raise funds for local transportation projects like more "inter-region" transit runs between Fraser Valley communities, and bus service for UCFV students commuting between the Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses.

Hames said a "fair share" of the revenue raised through a Fraser Valley fuel tax could also be sent to the GVRD for joint transportation projects that benefit both regions.

"This (mayors') proposal would allow us to do all those things," he said.

Fuel taxes already raise about $1.5 million in Chilliwack alone. Each one-cent tax hike would raise an additional $2 million. The B.C. government estimates a three cents per litre gas tax hike in the mega-authority region would raise $1 billion.

A staff report on a "Fraser Valley version" of TransLink, including a review of taxation options and possible benefits, will be ready to present to B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon by mid-May.

Hames anticipated no conflicts between two regional transit authorities, but noted the FVRD and GVRD are "fundamentally different animals" with different transportation issues like services to sparsely populated rural areas here in the eastern Fraser Valley.

http://www.mapleridgenews.com/portal...d=864614&more=

[The_Henry_Man]

Perhaps it's possible to have two different but equivalent transit authorities each for GVRD and FVRD, and then have commuter rail lines that's built and managed by either the provincial gov't or combined translink/FVRD transit agencies, such as the WCE or even a brand new commuter line from downtown Van via Scott Rd Station all the way to Chiliwack?

[Nutterbug]

What about the Squamish-Lillooet RD? Are they going to want to do their own thing too?

[Bus pass]

Anyone who knows the Fraser Valley knows that the undertext here is, "We don't want no effing transit."

Chilliwack is home to almost 80,000 people and it wasn't too long ago that there were only two meandering lines in the entire city. Now there are around eight which run a few times a day. The Fraser Valley has to be protected from itself.

[twoNeurons]

Including Chilliwack and Hope in a Lower Mainland Transit authority is not a good idea, if you ask me.

It's not about them not WANTING transit, it's about the needs being COMPLETELY different. That 80,000 people is spread out over a HUGE area, with many of them in huge houses on the hill, or in other words, not easy for transit.

[CC420]

Anyone who knows the Fraser Valley knows that the undertext here is, "We don't want no effing transit."

Chilliwack is home to almost 80,000 people and it wasn't too long ago that there were only two meandering lines in the entire city. Now there are around eight which run a few times a day. The Fraser Valley has to be protected from itself.

WTF! The Valley isn't some child that needs Vancouver to parent it. Under the tenure of Translink, the Valley has been mostly ignored. They had 10 plus years of tenure and failed to bring evn 1 B-line to the Valley. Creation of an FVRD transit authority would ensure Valley citizens that their taxes actually go to the city they live in. Instead of it all going north of the Fraser. Despite conventional Vancouver wisdom, busses would work in the Valley if given the chance. I also think this would greatly improve our chances of getting at least one commuter rail line up and running. I remember reading somewhere the majority of commutes in the Valley stay in the Valley. This trend is only growing along with the population, now standing at somewhere in the 600 000 range. Estimates put the population to grow to 1 million plus by 2030 or so. Like it or not, the Fraser Valley is almost it's own region and deserves it's own regioanl board.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by CC420

Under the tenure of Translink, the Valley has been mostly ignored. They had 10 plus years of tenure and failed to bring evn 1 B-line to the Valley.

This is just semantics, but just to be clear... Surrey and Langley are not part of the FVRD... they're in the GVRD. Although it could be argued that a lot of Langley fits better with the Fraser Valley than with Greater Vancouver. And there are 3 b-lines that are definitely needed, one down the Fraser Highway , down King George, and one down 104th Avenue

Creation of an FVRD transit authority would ensure Valley citizens that their taxes actually go to the city they live in. Instead of it all going north of the Fraser.

Totally agree. Chilliwack, Hope and Abbotsford's needs are completely different than Greater Vancouver. Abbotsford is its own centre.

Despite conventional Vancouver wisdom, busses would work in the Valley if given the chance. I also think this would greatly improve our chances of getting at least one commuter rail line up and running. I remember reading somewhere the majority of commutes in the Valley stay in the Valley. This trend is only growing along with the population, now standing at somewhere in the 600 000 range. Estimates put the population to grow to 1 million plus by 2030 or so. Like it or not, the Fraser Valley is almost it's own region and deserves it's own regioanl board.

Not ALMOST, it IS its own region. It's called the Fraser Valley Regional District.

It has its own International Airport, YXX, its own City Hub and US border crossing (Abbotsford), its own resorts (Harrison), its own tourist attractions, its own water supply and sewage processing plants and its own transportation woes.

It should not come under the transit umbrella of the GVRD.

[SpongeG]

eeeks did anyone see the news?

huge snowfall in the valley today

crazy april snow

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by The_Henry_Man

Perhaps it's possible to have two different but equivalent transit authorities each for GVRD and FVRD, and then have commuter rail lines that's built and managed by either the provincial gov't or combined translink/FVRD transit agencies, such as the WCE or even a brand new commuter line from downtown Van via Scott Rd Station all the way to Chiliwack?

Well, Mission's not under translink's jurisdiction even now, so commuter rail isn't a problem anyway. There's also been talk of extending it to Abbotsford. Again, not a problem under the current system.

Kevin Falcon perhaps wants to dilute the power and shift the power base south of the Fraser. This would make the board an advisory panel without any real power. Any such board would put mayors together that have opposite transportation challenges.

Put mayors from Hope and Vancouver in the same room and see how long it takes for them to agree on ANYthing with regards to transportation. The areas have completely different needs. A Lower Mainland Transit authority just doesn't make any sense and would create more division than harmony.