On July 25, 2024, TransLink unveiled a new report detailing the potential cuts to transit service that will be necessary in order to address the transit agency’s current financial crisis.
Despite implementing $90 million in corporate cost-efficiency and revenue measures, and with no new provincial or federal funding for transit available until 2026, TransLink will have to cut services by half starting as soon as 2025 – severely impacting commuters, businesses, and the overall livability of our communities.
These cuts would include a 50% reduction in bus services (including all NightBus routes), cutting SkyTrain and SeaBus trips by up to one-third, reducing HandyDART services, and potentially eliminating the West Coast Express service altogether.
In response, the Mayors’ Council is urging immediate action from the next provincial government to prevent these drastic service reductions and secure a sustainable future for our transit system.
In an open letter to B.C.’s political party leaders, we are highlighting the impacts of potential cuts and asking for their commitment to working with the Mayors’ Council and TransLink on solutions immediately following the October 2024 BC Election.
These solutions include creating a $3.4 billion per year Access for Everyone Fund indexed to population growth and inflation, including identifying $500 million in new sustainable operating revenues, and investing $2.9 billion per year in senior government contributions to the capital projects in the Access for Everyone plan.
We are also asking all the political parties to commit to creating a provincial program to provide transit fare discounts or exemptions for low-income youth, adults and seniors, and reviewing TransLink’s governance structure to ensure local accountability.
Read our statement and the letter to party leaders here.