Sadie DeCoste is urging the powers that be to keep fighting for improved transit improvements in Metro Vancouver.
While the New West teen was too young to vote in the transpiration referendum, she worked hard at trying to convince her elders to vote Yes. A member of the environmental club at New Westminster Secondary School prior to her graduation in June, DeCoste was part of the Vote Yes New West Coalition.
“Obviously it is a disappointment,” she said of the referendum results. “I think these are improvements that we really need in our region.”
During the campaign, DeCoste appealed to voters to consider the needs of today’s youth, who will be inheriting today’s transportation infrastructure. She also said society needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels in order to combat climate change.
“I would say that the referendum decision is not an excuse to ignore the infrastructure that we need,” she said. “These are the tangible services that we are going to need. I just hope that they work harder to make sure that we do get the improvements that we need.”
The Mayors’ Council on regional transportation proposed a congestion improvement tax that would be used to fund upgrades to the major road network, increased capacity of Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines, increased bus service, additional HandyDART services, cycling and pedestrian improvements, light rail in Surrey and an extension of the Millennium Line along the Broadway corridor in Vancouver. The funds would have been collected through a 0.5 per cent increase to the provincial sales tax.
“I think quite honestly the referendum was a poor public policy decision to have it in the first place,” DeCoste said. “I guess it’s back to the drawing table.”
While she believes TransLink uses its funds wisely, DeCoste said issues related to the handling of the Compass Card and TransLink CEO’s pay negatively affected its public image.
“I do feel optimistic that we can work toward building sustainable systems of infrastructure. I think in general people do support that. I don’t think it was people voting to say, ‘I hate transit’.” It’s hard to change public opinion when there’s a lack of trust, and part of that comes from them having an unelected board.”
Mayor Jonathan Cote said he spent a lot of time in the referendum campaign talking about the mayors’ plan but heard time and time again, from road users and transit users, that people supported the plan and understood the reasons for improving public transit in the region, but they couldn’t vote Yes because of frustration with the TransLink organization.
“The referendum highlights that not only do we have a funding gap with public transit in our region, but we also have an accountability gap. I think we need to be advocating for both of these gaps to be addressed,” Cote told the Record. “We need to address the transparency and accountability, and really the public confidence in the transit organization. At the same time, I think we need to continue to advocate for a funding solution for public transit. As our region grows, I don’t think we can afford to let our infrastructure fall apart and not invest in our transportation system. I think the region is going to be worse off in that scenario.”
The plebiscite results were about voters rejecting a tax increase, not about the public perception of TransLink, according to Doug Allen, TransLink’s interim CEO.
“I know some of you will say this is about TransLink,” he said at a press conference on Thursday. “No, it is not.”
Allen said the system is recognized by experts for its efficiency and the issue came down to the increased cost. He said TransLink will work with the provincial government and the Mayors’ Council on a funding solution. The Mayors’ Council has said it is prepared to work with the province until the end of the year to address the funding and the accountability gap that exists with TransLink.
With files from Janaya Fuller-Evans/BURNABY NOW
