Frustrations grow over another Evergreen Line delay

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – After the Evergreen Line has hit another delay, TransLink is being given until the end of the year to figure out how it’s going to pay its share of the costs. Metro Vancouver is on the hook for 400 million dollars of the 1.4 billion dollar project.

One idea on how to end this deadlock comes from the BC NDP. The party says the province should put up all the capital needed and redirect the 60-million dollar tax cut to this project to get it moving right away. It says then it’s time to sit down with Metro Vancouver mayors and hammer out how they plan on coming up with the remaining cash.

NDP leader Carole James says several possible solutions are already being floated. “Let’s look at carbon tax revenue as I’ve done with a carbon tax for the corporate tax cut. Vehicle levy, all of the other discussions, let’s put them on the table, let’s look at some creative ideas.”

The feeling is that TransLink is already getting enough money from property taxes. Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini says there are other sustainable funding sources that should be considered. “The property taxation already provides some 28 per cent of the TransLink budget, and there’s a built-in three per cent increase each year.”

Regional Mayors’ Transportation Council chair Peter Fassbender says they are looking at additional gas tax and even road tolling.