Province needs to tell voters how TransLink will be accountable: SBOT
Posted February 5, 2015 4:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Surrey’s Board of Trade says the province has to step up and tell people how TransLink will be held accountable if given money from a potential congestion tax.
The group is still hoping the “yes” side wins in the upcoming vote to fund transportation. But it wants the province to make sure this vote on a 0.5 per cent congestion tax doesn’t happen again.
“We elect them for a reason, they’re leaders and we’re spending way too much time and money on economic needs such as transportation infrastructure,” says Anita Huberman with the SBOT. “I think if at least they can start engaging in that dialogue I think that would be useful to the public. I think the province needs to take leadership in terms of ensuring a yes vote. They are the ones that told the mayors to come up with this plan.”
Even if the plebiscite is passed, it won’t be enough money for major projects like light rail in Surrey so Huberman wants formal commitments from BC and the federal government.
“For their contributions of approximately three billion over the next decade.”
She says they’ll also be looking at private sector funding options.
