SFU: Mayors supporting gas tax the right call
Posted October 5, 2011 3:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The seven local mayors supporting TransLink’s gas tax are taking a risk, but it might pay off. The head of SFU’s City Program says the need for transit expansion is ‘critical.’
While new taxes carry a risk, Gordon Price says not moving forward with the Evergreen Line and TransLink’s other expansion plans will also anger voters.
“To snatch that out of the jaws of victory, so close to moving aheadon it, I think there would be a real political penalty to pay there.”
The seven mayors represent nearly three quarters of the Metro population, including Vancouver and Surrey. There votes at a meeting on Friday should secure the gas tax, and the Evergreen Line. Civic elections are coming up in November.
TransLink plans to raise $40 million annually through the two-cent gas tax hike. They also hope to grab another $30 million through user-pay measures, such as tolls and road congestion charges.
Coquitlam councillor Lou Sekora is not happy that his mayor is supporting the gas tax.”He should have come to council so they can voice their concerns. But why wouldn’t he support the two-cents a litre tax? He gets $750 a month of tax payers money for his gas allowance.”
He says the mayor shouldn’t act independently when he and council are paid by the same taxpayers.
Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson feels the boost is needed. “We simply must invest in a more robust transit system”.
Surrey mayor Dianne Watts says she somewhat reluctantly voted in favour of the tax. “It wasn’t easy to advocate for any kind of tax increase for transit expansion, but the group felt it had to start planning for the future.”
One driver tells us sometimes, leaders have to make hard choice. “I just think we have so much tax on gas in the first place; it’s just ridiculous. But I do understand that we have to have some rapid transit in the Lower Mainland and in the end, it will probably be a good thing for people.”
The seven mayors that are ready to approve the tax represent 70 per cent of Metro Vancouver‘s 2.5 million residents. So, even if the region’s 22 other cities object, the vote will go through if those seven mayors proceed with their “Yes” vote on Friday.
By 2040, TransLink hopes to have 51 percent of daily commuters in the region going to work using public transit, bikes or on foot.
