The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation is calling on the provincial and federal governments to commit new funding for public transit expansion to keep up with population growth and surging ridership in Metro Vancouver. The Access for Everyone plan requires a total investment of $21 billion dollars over the next decade. The region’s residents can’t afford to take on the cost of updating our transportation network alone.
The Future of Transit Funding
It is critical that the provincial and federal governments collaborate with local governments and transit agencies to invest in expanding public transit.
Time is running out. Metro Vancouver’s population is growing at a record pace while our transit system is already struggling to meet demand. We know that without expanding transit, we will not be able to reach the targets our governments are setting for issues like affordable housing and climate action.
We need the provincial and federal governments to act now and commit to new funding for TransLink’s Access for Everyone plan. The plan will need funding commitments no later than June 2024 to stay on track to begin expanding transit service in late 2024 in line with population growth and to support new housing targets.
Renewing Our Partnership
We have seen the transformative power of our three levels of government working together to fund public transit. This partnership has enabled TransLink to expand services through projects like the Canada Line, Evergreen Line and the new Broadway Skytrain extension currently under construction. It’s time for governments to take the next step in securing the future of Metro Vancouver's transportation network so we can keep our region moving.