Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyzoomzoom
Transit users should pay for using the transit - not property owners, not BC Hydro customers, not car owners, etc.
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A self-funding transit system is not sustainable in Greater Vancouver; Translink could be the most efficient transit authority on the planet and that fact would remain unchanged. Only in a few select cities with extremely high population densities is a self-funding transit system possible, and not a single Canadian city fits that profile. As a citizen of a first world country, you will inevitably always help fund services you don't necessarily use, this is just one example. Get used to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger_handheld
So he is saying we ALL share the cost of transit to build, maintain, and service the the system. great. how does he propose we do that? he seems to be in favor of a vehicle levy. ok great -add a couple hundred extra to my icbc insurance every year and let me pay it monthly - i wont feel so hard pressed.
what kind of guarantee will i get as a driver that after 18months, i can reduce the dependency on my car take the bus. translink has too much red tape and bs for it to have a clear plan and milestones that are SMART. until translink can give a solid value proposition to everyone it'll just be lipstick on a pig.
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Your post exemplifies, why you, as a resident of Surrey who commutes to Vancouver, are in somewhat tough position with transit levies for system upgrades. You commute to the city with the most established transit network in the GVRD, via one of the most well established transit routes, from a city with a well established network. Even if a vehicle levy were to be attached to your annual insurance payment, you would personally experience borderline no improvement, because there's simply not
that much room for it. However, if you lived in Richmond, you would have relatively recently had your city connected to the Canada line. If you lived in PoCo, PoMo, or Maple Ridge, you could look forward to Evergreen line and the substantial improvements it offers. I am looking forward to the Rapid-bus line (I have faith it will still happen) in the near future. Big picture, our transit system has grown and improved monumentally in recent years. It just usually doesn't improve our connection to it, even when we're the ones paying. I do get what you're saying, and where you're coming from though; it would be great for a more clear plan to exist, and there's definitely room for improvement at the upper tiers of Translink.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiger_handheld
Transit vs Driving
Start: Guilford, Surrey
End: Nelson @ Hamilton - downtown
Driving:
Leave home at 8:15
Arrive at destination by 9:30
Duration: 1hr 15mins
Distance: 33km
Parking: 10.75/all day
Fuel Economy: 10L/100km
Fuel Cost: $3.30
Transit:
Walk to bus stop, take bus, get on train, transfer at granville to canada line, walk to work - Total duration 1hr:10mins
Buss fare: $10 (3 zone)
I value my comfort more than $3.30  |
It's a bit more than $3.30, you're not factoring wear and tear on your vehicle
I know you're deliberately not being overly specific though.
I would be stoked to have transit as an option with a slight time savings, and slight cost savings for my commute. The biggest benefit being that I would rather relax and zone out or read than drive in busy traffic, but we're all different.