The Vancouver Mayors’ Council and the Board of Directors of TransLink, Metro Vancouver's regional transportation authority, have approved a plan for $2 billion in transit and road improvements. The plan will be implemented as Phase One of the 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transit and Transportation.
The Phase One Plan, which will reduce overcrowding on transit, reflects input gathered through public consultation that demonstrated strong support from Metro Vancouver residents and businesses for new transportation investments.
“Confirming Phase One funding is a major milestone in delivering on the Mayors’ Council’s 10-Year Vision that will keep people moving across Metro Vancouver,” stated Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Phase One of the 10-Year Vision delivers the region’s biggest transit expansion in nearly a decade, kick-starting immediate and urgently needed improvements in our transit system while laying the groundwork for the Broadway Subway and Surrey-Langley LRT projects. I look forward to working with all levels of government to make the entire 10-Year Vision a reality.”
Phase One will include a 20 percent increase in rail service following delivery of new rail cars for the Expo Line, Millennium Line and Evergreen Extension, Canada Line, and West Coast Express. It will also include preconstruction and consultation for the Broadway subway and Surrey-Langley light rail.
TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond remarked, “TransLink is ready to deliver the services and investments in the Phase One Plan. Our team has put in months of detailed planning and preparation. Now we are looking forward to putting this preparation into action, and delivering the positive change we heard our customers demand during the public consultation last month.”
Investments included in Phase One extend across the entire region. Metro Vancouver residents will start to see the improvements in January 2017.
Phase One of the 10-Year Vision will be funded by a $370 million contribution from the Federal Government and $246 million from the Provincial Government, with the remaining $1.3 billion of capital and operating costs coming from TransLink’s existing funding sources, cost savings and efficiencies, as well as new regional revenues including property tax and transit fare increases.