Translink considering $100 vehicle levy, fare hikes, property tax increases
 

Worst recession since the great depression, and they still want to increase taxes and levies.

I feel sorry for you guys on the mainland under the control of the translink gestapo, but I guess they gotta pay for their infrastructure upgrades somehow.

Translink wants to hit drivers with $100 levy
Updated: Thu Mar. 12 2009 18:36:35

ctvbc.ca

Needing to raise cash, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (Translink) is working on a plan to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund its bus fleet and rapid transit line.


Translink says it needs new money from new sources otherwise its service will be cut drastically.


To avoid that doomsday scenario, Translink is proposing a $100 per-vehicle levy, fare hikes, property tax increases, and a tax on every container entering local ports.


It's expected that the whole package could get Translink $350 million per year



"We want to try to keep as many of those funding options on the table [as possible],'' said Translink Chief Executive Officer Tom Prendergast.


However, Lower Mainland residents should not expect to see their taxes skyrocket just yet. A provincial election is coming up and Translink needs the provincial government to get on board with its plan. It likely means any potential tax hikes may be delayed until after the election.


With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward

Unlikely.

I wonder what would happen if the government just said "no" to Translink? How would they survive? You know, being creative, frugal, fiscally responsible like real businesses?

I'd torch a few busses at their compounds and call it even steven if this passed.

Get out there and buy your own cars and stimulate the economy!!! STOP TAKING BUSES :D , pay more for your gas. Buy more 8.4L sports cars

I had been studying for my ECON midterm lately, sorry for any inconvenient. :)

haha the only way out of recession is spend
get the demand up agian so supply has to go up therefore more jobs haha

anyways translink should do pay cuts at this time as the auto company's are doing

How about they just raise the fares for F sakes?

Because some of us don't have cars and depend on public transit and we can't afford to pay even more for bus fare, passes, etc.

dont think the bill will pass on this one

For those translinkophobes: translink is also responsible (it appears at least in part) for road projects as well.

http://www.translink.bc.ca/Projects/...es/default.asp

So the levies don't go completely to public transit.

translink wants some icbc action

translink and icbc can suck my balls

but i take the skytrain everyday so they better not up the fees lol

ugh. wealth transfer ftl. they're not even being subtle about it.

... WTF... if this passes, I will be very upset. Unlike the gas tax which hit only drivers, this tax seems to target everyone, and drivers will get hit even harder!!!

^ exactly what I think too. Translink needs more money and from everyone. Whether you're privileged to drive a car, or take public transit..we all gotta pay!!


This sucks..hope this bill doesn't pass. I can see lots of opposition to this bill.

in times of recession more people use transit. and more people will start using transit.

kinda makes sense. and in the grand scheme of things you'd want and expect more folks to use transit. making it better or at least maintaining it is a good thing.

it's not like it's a "tax drivers only" thing. fare hikes are right there. and let's face it. barring stupid circumstances you aren't that poor if you're still driving. besides the more folks on the bus means more room for you drivers. it's a win win.

How do they manage in China?


Bikes!


Too bad westerners are fucking lazy and fat.

The only problem I have with translink is that they still have the open system where anyone can hop on a skytrain and not having to pay anything. Ridiculous! They think of where they can get new revenue? How about installing gates and simple measures to prevent fare evaders.

I'm sure some poverty group supported by the NDP will protest, saying that fare evasion is neccessary due to maginalization and racism, or some bullshit similar to that.

knowing vancouver, we'd have protests saying it isnt fair to the hobos.

that shit aint gonna pass, and if it does then fuck them :)

Yeah, just like how the poverty group started throwing shit infront of busses in the DTES as a protest was a good idea. That was fucking retarded. Why the hell would you congest bus routes and the buses especially when it is typically people who are poor that go on the bus anyways?! Do you think the guy from Coal Habour is thinking "Gee, what a nice day.. I think I'll hop on the bus and get to work!". All that they did was cause the people who are already poor to be even more poor by causing them to miss work or be late!

The poverty group is a bunch of fucking idiots who have nothing better to do and clearly missed the boat in coherent thoughts. I would shoot every single one of them if given the opportunity.

Translink can suck balls if they think I want to give them more of my hard earned money for a service I never use ... The fare increases are a good thing, but a vehicle levy and property tax hike .. as well as MORE gas taxes ? Are they on fuxxing glue ? The government should say "NO, you can't run a profitable business then you deserve to fail and let someone that could do it take over".

I'm not saying I'm too good for transit, but it would NEVER work for me .. when I worked downtown I took the bus from White Rock every day.

The Federal Government already takes far too much ... Translink deserves NOTHING !

I'll consider paying, IF buses will f'N get outta my way and when I don't have to YIELD to them.


I hate fat/slow buses.

only in vancouver...
translink and ICBC....communist corporations