New Westminster seniors seem to be leaning to the Yes side in the Metro Vancouver transit plebiscite.
Seniors Planning and Action Network, the local seniors’ planning table, did not take an official position on the issue, but spokesperson Bill Zander explained the membership would likely be voting in favour of the 0.5 per cent tax increase.
“We didn’t take a vote on it, but I’m sure we would have had a positive vote,” he told the Record.
According to Zander, transit is a major concern for seniors, who often don’t drive anymore and rely on public buses, SkyTrain and HandyDART to get around.
“The improved system is much needed, but particularly HandyDART, the improvements to Handy Dart (are) much-needed to seniors.”
Many seniors and people with disabilities rely on HandyDART’s door-to-door service, which is specifically for people who need help using public transit.
“The service has fallen behind over the years, and seniors have been stuck waiting long times for HandyDART,” Zander said. “I understand last year there were thousands of rides that were missed that HandyDART couldn’t accomplish, … so that improvement to the transit system is a really important one.”
According to a Freedom of Information request filed by transit planner Eric Doherty, denied HandyDART requests have been on the rise from 4,900 in 2008, to 13,400 in 2010 and 37,700 in 2012. There were 1.2 million HandyDART trips in 2012, so the number of denials reflects about three per cent of overall trips.
The 10-year transit plan, put forth by the Mayors’ Council, includes an additional 190,000 annual hours to the service, which reflects a 30 per cent increase to existing levels.
The Mayors’ Council also proposed splitting HandyDART costs with the provincial government, given the majority of trips are related to health care and social services.
The 10-year transit plan would cost $7.5 billion, and additional work would bring the final total to $7.7 billion over 15 years.
Zander, however, expressed concerns about the proposed 0.5 per cent increase to the PST.
“I don’t think anyone personally agrees with the taxation. It’s a regressive tax, but the question is: Do you cut off your nose to spite your face?” Zander said. “Seniors don’t have a lot of money to throw around, the majority of them.”
New West resident Lorraine Logan, president of the Council of Seniors Citizens’ Organizations of B.C., said her organization’s delegates voted to recommend their members support the Yes side.
“We’re recommending that we support the referendum, and basically it’s because we have to get away from being mad at the government of the day, for bad government and poor leadership,” Logan said. “But we can’t be mad at the TransLink board. That’s a political animal, and we have to look at our needs.”
COSCO represents 110,000 seniors across B.C., but only residents in the Metro Vancouver area are eligible to vote in the plebiscite.
According to Logan, seniors rely on transit to get around, often on a limited income, and some “ride the rails” without paying.
The Mayors’ Council plan also includes building a new Broadway subway line, adding more B-line bus routes and replacing the Pattullo Bridge. Elections B.C. will mail out voting packages to eligible voters between March 16 and 27. People have until May 29 to return the ballots.
– By Jennifer Moreau with files from The Vancouver Sun’s Kelly Sinoski and Matthew Robinson.
