Metro Vancouver mayors unanimously approve TransLink’s Transport 2050 plan

TransLink’s plan to make transit across Metro Vancouver more reliable, more accessible, more affordable, and greener over the long term, has been unanimously approved by the region’s mayors.

On Thursday, local mayors gathered virtually with the TransLink Board to vote on the Transport 2050 plan, which maps out the next three decades for the transportation authority.

While the plan heavily involves TransLink, the strategy also includes solutions to greater transportation issues and climate strategies over several areas.

The Regional Transportation Strategy for 2050 hopes to have more than half of the transportation trips be made by public transit. (translink.ca)

Among the improvements and goals, the plan includes additional projects to better connect communities through transit, in order to meet the goal of having one of the most modern and expansive transportation systems in North America.

The mayors have also been dealing with the short-term survival of service and projects, asking the federal government Wednesday to extend emergency pandemic funding for TransLink, which is predicting a loss of $200 million over the next two years.

You can watch the livestream of the vote here:

Among the improvements and goals, the plan includes additional projects to better connect communities through transit, in order to meet the goal of having one of the most modern and expansive transportation systems in North America.

Among the goals, “By 2050, active transportation and transit are competitive choices accounting for at least half of all passenger trips, with taxi, ride-hail, and carshare accounting for most of the remaining passenger trips.”

The plan also promises major steps in transit affordability.

Map reflects Metro 2050 geographies as of 2021. (translink.ca)

“By 2050, active transportation and transit are competitive choices accounting for at least half of all passenger trips, with taxi, ride-hail, and carshare accounting for most of the remaining passenger trips,” the plan lists as one of its goals.

It also promises major steps in transit affordability.

“By 2050, none of us — but especially those of us with less ability to pay — need to spend more than 45 per cent of our household incomes on transport and housing combined,” the plan details.

“By 2050, people and goods are spending 20 per cent less time stuck in congestion, compared to today,” it adds.

Other key actions include quadrupling the rapid transit network with over 300 kilometres of new rapid transit through bus rapid transit, light rail, subway, or SkyTrain.

Highlights include:

Adding 300km of rapid transit
Expanding bike network from 250km to 850km
Align fares with people’s ability to pay
Support walkable & complete communities
Frequent transit just a 5-min walk for nearly all

— Kennedy Stewart (@kennedystewart) January 27, 2022

Additionally, this plan aims to build a connected network of 850 kilometres of traffic-separated bicycle paths that will provide communities with a greener transportation option.

The Transport 2050 plan also aims to promote the use of electric vehicles, scooters, and cars.

“Transport 2050 will serve as a roadmap for the future of transit in Metro Vancouver. By providing sustainable transportation choices and creating opportunities for transit-oriented development, Transport 2050 is also a plan that will create opportunities for affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and urgently necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions generated by personal transportation,” Bowinn Ma, Minister of State for Infrastructure, said.