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F1
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Through negotiations with Province, establish a stable and adequate
source of revenue for transit funding in the region.
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Completed
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(1) In 1998, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, or
GVTA, was created through provincial legislation (GVTA Act - Bill
36). As of its official launch date in 1999, the GVTA has been known
as TransLink. Funding sources that are being used for regional transportation
include regional transit fares, property taxes, parking sales taxes,
AirCare test fees, levies on BC Hydro residential electricity accounts
and gasoline taxes. In addition, TransLink is able to raise revenues
through tolls on the regional Major Road Network, automobile levies,
non-residential parking lot taxes, additional sales tax for off-street
parking fees, and taxes on properties that benefit from nearby transportation
stations or facilities.
(2) As part of the TransLink Strategic Transportation Plan approved
in 2000, additional revenues were to be raised through a transit
fare increase averaging 25 cents on a one zone fare in 2000 and
again in 2003, an automobile levy averaging $75 beginning October
2001 and increasing annually by 5%, and an additional charge of
14% to fees paid for off-street commercial parking starting in 2005. These
new revenues would have allowed TransLink to increase regional transit
funding from $507 million in 1999 to $814 million in 2005. However,
due to difficulties in obtaining provincial approval for a vehicle
levy, TransLink is facing a funding shortfall for their 2001 budget,
and service reductions for both transit and the Major Road Network
are required to balance their budget. As an alternative to the vehicle
levy, TransLink is pursuing an increase in the gas tax.
(3) Through review of a new regional transportation monitoring
program that is to be established by TransLink (see
ITEM M7), and annual TransLink work programs, staff can
report back on whether TransLink's funding levels are adequate to
meet the City's Transportation Plan policies and targets.
(4) Both TransLink and the GVRD have been active in lobbying the
federal government to play a role in funding sustainable urban transportation. The
GVRD Board, in September 2000, endorsed an urban transportation
cost-sharing proposal made by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. TransLink's
Board, in October 2000, prepared a response to the Government of
Canada's Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, in which the Board
called for federal cost-sharing for new transit systems, in partnership
with the Canadian Urban Transit Association. TransLink's Board also
approved in 2000, a request for a federal cost-sharing program,
which would contribute to the costs of transit (including a new
rapid transit line to Richmond) and capital improvement of the Major
Road Network.
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F2
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Review priorities for City expenditures in Capital Plan and capital
budget
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Completed
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Review of funding priorities are carried out as part of three year
Capital Plans and annual capital budgets. Changes in annual City
transportation spending from pre-1996 (as shown in Section 3.9 of
the Transportation Plan) to that approved for average annual funding
in the 2000-2002 Capital Plan is shown in Figure
15.
As part of the City's Financing Growth Review, transportation projects
are among the facilities that are being considered for capital funding
eligibility for the new citywide Development Cost Charge.
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