Cuts to public transit would cost every household in Metro Vancouver $1000 per year: report
September 26, 2024
Mayors’ Council renews call for provincial parties to commit to Save Transit
New Westminster – Today the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation received new data showing the severe impact on Metro Vancouver residents, businesses and environment if the next provincial government doesn’t address TransLink’s financial crisis.
The report by InterVISTAS Consulting Inc. calculates a total cost of $1 billion every year for the region – $1,000 per household – if TransLink’s $600 million annual funding gap is not addressed. This would have widespread impacts on the cost of living, housing affordability, access to jobs and traffic congestion. In July, TransLink released details of the reductions in transit services that would be necessary without new funding.
“The impacts to our communities from losing transit service is shocking, and anyone who is running to be the Premier of this province needs to be paying attention,” said Mayor Brad West, Chair of the Mayors’ Council. “It is absolutely clear that reducing transit services is unacceptable, especially at a time when so many people are facing higher costs of living, longer commutes due to traffic congestion and challenges finding affordable housing. Voters in Metro Vancouver deserve to know what the provincial political parties will do to avoid these impacts.”
Today’s report shows how cuts to transit services would increase traffic congestion by up to 20% with over 200 million hours of automobile and truck congestion added to the region. This would impact people and businesses, as well as the region’s first responders, causing further delays to their live saving services.
InterVISTAS estimates the transit cuts would cost residents more than $55 million in vehicle operating and maintenance costs each year due to increased usage of private automobiles. The reduction in transit services would also affect housing affordability, as residents may need to spend more on housing to reduce the need for travel, or conversely, need to spend more on travel as the higher cost of housing is unattainable.
Without provincial government action, more than half a million people (between 500,000 to 675,000) would no longer be within walking distance of a transit stop.
Metro Vancouver residents can visit accessforeveryone.ca/call-to-action to send letters directly to local candidates and provincial party leaders, urging them to invest in public transit and avoid cuts to services.
Today’s report details how the impact of service cuts would disproportionally affect low-wage earners, students, and newcomers to the region: “Ultimately, it is the individuals who are least likely to be financially able to access other means of transportation who would be most impacted by TransLink service cuts,” the report states.
The region’s economy would also suffer: “Rising unemployment, aggregate wage declines, and reductions in GDP are all likely consequences of transit services being reduced. Moreover, Metro Vancouver would face challenges attracting and retaining businesses and skilled labour within the region. This will compromise Metro Vancouver’s current and future growth trajectories, limiting economic prosperity and driving greater inequity,” according to InterVISTAS.
Recently, the Mayors’ Council sent an open letter to B.C. political party leaders calling for them to commit to immediate funding for TransLink post-election, in order to close TransLink’s funding gap and roll out the first phase of the Access for Everyone transit expansion plan starting in April 2025.
The Access for Everyone plan includes doubling bus service over the next decade, building nine new Bus Rapid Transit lines, investing in vital new projects such as extending SkyTrain to UBC, and improving the region’s major road network.
TransLink has already begun the process of seeking additional revenues and identifying cost saving measures. In June 2024, TransLink initiated a series of efficiency measures to generate approximately $91 million per year by both reducing $75 million in costs and generating $16 million in new revenues.
Organizations from around the region have joined the Mayors’ Council’s Save Transit campaign.
About the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation
The Mayors’ Council is the collective voice of Metro Vancouver residents on transit and transportation. Our members include representatives from each of the 21 municipalities in TransLink’s service area, as well as Electoral Area ‘A’ and the Tsawwassen First Nation. It is responsible for approving TransLink’s transportation plans, identifying local funding and negotiating with other levels of government to make those plans a reality.
Media Contacts:
Giulia Turco giulia@earnscliffe.ca 236-889-1704
Anna Lilly anna@earnscliffe.ca 604-505-9048