[Drift_Monkey]

Quoted from Vancouver Sun:

METRO VANCOUVER — TransLink is proposing to put tolls on all Metro Vancouver bridges and charge drivers for using the roads as part of a scheme to raise $450 million in new revenue.

Along with these so-called "road-pricing options," TransLink is considering a vehicle levy averaging $122 per vehicle per year.

It's the latest round in a long battle between the regional transportation authority and the provincial government over where TransLink will find much-needed revenue increases.

Without new revenue, TransLink is projected to go into deficit by 2011, as it subsidizes the private operators of the Canada Line and the Golden Ears Bridge for four to five years until they reach projected ridership figures.

TransLink says it needs an extra $150 million a year just to keep its current operations going.

With $300 million a year, it says it could modestly expand the public transportation system, including building the long-promised Evergreen rapid transit line from Burnaby to Coquitlam.

With $450 million more a year, it could finance all the major items on its wish list, including rapid transit lines, rail corridors and a greatly expanded bus system. With no additional money, TransLink says it will have to make huge transit service cuts as its expenses rise.

PROPOSAL NEEDS APPROVAL FROM PROVINCE, MUNICIPALITIES

TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast said he was waiting to hear whether the province will provide legislative authority for the road-pricing options, which could see long-haul drivers and gas guzzlers paying more for using the road than drivers on short trips in fuel-efficient cars.

The proposed charges, which would increase the cost of driving in Metro Vancouver, were unanimously supported by the TransLink board but still need approval from the province and the regional mayors' council.

"At the end of the day we have to come up with the funding somewhere," Prendergast said. "It's more than about transit. It's about changing some behaviours. You drive down Hastings, Lougheed, Kingsway ... they're all crowded. The days of the free ride for automobiles worldwide is coming to an end."

The plan must be approved by the province and regional transportation commissioner in August before going to the regional mayors' council in October.

Several earlier attempts to impose a vehicle levy — politically a hot potato — have been dropped.

TransLink and Metro Vancouver have flirted with the notion of tolls, only to be flatly rejected by the provincial government.

Now TransLink is bringing back some of the most controversial options. "It's an issue of livability in the region at large," Prendergast said.

RECOMMENDATION 'UNSUPPORTABLE'

But at least two Metro Vancouver mayors say the recommendations — particularly the vehicle levy — will hurt those who have little means of viable transport: residents south of the Fraser.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said road pricing could work as long as it's done with a policy in place and plans to build up the transit system. Right now, there aren't enough buses to support Surrey residents, she said, let alone another million people moving into the region by 2040.

"The vehicle levy, is for me, unsupportable," she said. "There's no way I can go out to our residents and say, 'You're not going to get anything, but pay an additional property tax and a vehicle levy. You might get a bus or two.'"

Prendergast acknowledges transit service is lacking south of the Fraser. TransLink is working with municipalities to add new routes and increase population density along transportation corridors, but needs money to do so.

TransLink has the ability to collect $275 million extra a year by way of property tax increases, the vehicle levy, boosting gas taxes by three cents a litre, imposing a higher parking tax, and raising fares by seven per cent in 2016.

The road-pricing options would bring the total revenue increase to $450 million, enough to fund the Evergreen Line, upgrade existing SkyTrain stations, buy more buses, build new rail corridors, provide optimum maintenance for regional roads.

But Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said that is just another way for the province to dump costs on municipalities.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun


http://www.vancouversun.com/news/TransLink+proposes+tolls+Metro+bridges+vehicle+lev y/1847317/story.html:mad:

[CounterPuncher]

No wonder the province is investigating Translink to see if we're getting our value for our money.

We are getting fucked!

[hotjoint]

FU translink

[murd0c]

What a fucken joke, maybe if they put a good transit system in surrey and langley but we get
Fucked out here

[wouwou]

We are paying someone a million dollar a year for his salary, and this is what his company comes up?

[ziggyx]

We are paying someone a million dollar a year for his salary, and this is what his company comes up?

Yeah and they probably all drive expensive cars like ferrari's and lambos. That or get driven around in limo's so they dont know how shitty our public transportation is.

[Solo_D33A]

Oh com'on.... it's not like the province don't know public transit systems failed at many of their wishes.:/

No.3 rd bus lane for example... or the fast ferries.... or the West coast express that goes from Vancouver to Mission.... Mission is a place out of no where why not a place like harrision of something as a stop?.... and it's not like they're giving us free rides for our cars to the raceway... it seems like they start building it and ran out of funds so they stopped at mission as a mission failed.... :/

[!SG]

so whats the point of paying property tax then?

[!SG]

is translink a public corporation? do they have to do full disclosure? i bet even if they do, if u look at the numbers, any one of the "chiefs" probably has a very decent salary with very decent raises every year.

[Ikkaku]

no shit translink board would vote in favour of it, they get a hefty raise.

first let's deal with our shitty translink, where we are the butt of all jokes in Canada. Too hot? busses overheat and break down. Getting cold? busses break down or become unoperatable. Most other places, transportation doesn't break down like this. And what? each year we get charged more for improvements?

I know people will jump in on this and say busses and shit aren't the only things they're responsible for, but honestly they need them to step up and fix their half assed products first.

[Expresso]

is translink a public corporation? do they have to do full disclosure? i bet even if they do, if u look at the numbers, any one of the "chiefs" probably has a very decent salary with very decent raises every year.
I think there was an article about their salaries yesterday, lots of bonus incentives and definitely not making chump change.

The guy says that the days of driving for free is coming to an end? I didn't know gas and taxes from it and my insurance was comp'd. I thought Translink was a public company I don't get how they have so much pull from the government.

[Gt-R R34]

If they try and do this, i will KILL translink

[ziggyx]

no shit translink board would vote in favour of it, they get a hefty raise.

first let's deal with our shitty translink, where we are the butt of all jokes in Canada. Too hot? busses overheat and break down. Getting cold? busses break down or become unoperatable. Most other places, transportation doesn't break down like this. And what? each year we get charged more for improvements?

I know people will jump in on this and say busses and shit aren't the only things they're responsible for, but honestly they need them to step up and fix their half assed products first.

+1

Last winter was horrible. Busses can't move for shit. Especially at sfu man. EVERY winter the fucking buses have trouble going up and down the fucking mountain. You would think that they would do something about that by now. Idiots. I fucking hated getting stuck up there.

[muteki]

Yay for shitty buses that never arrive according to THEIR schedule and skytrains and buses that break down constantly.
Maybe if TransLink didn't suck so much people would consider using it.
The only people on there are like students, old people, and bums; with a few exceptions of course.
Hot weather + old people + bums does NOT make public transportation anymore appealing. It's like a smelly ass sauna filled with bacteria.

[CorneringArtist]

Bullshit. They ALREADY plan to give themselves a payraise, so this is just a way to put that cash in their pockets. Fucking greedy assholes. IMPROVE the service instead of trying to buy that third Escalade.

[hotjoint]

Bullshit. They ALREADY plan to give themselves a payraise, so this is just a way to put that cash in their pockets. Fucking greedy assholes. IMPROVE the service instead of trying to buy that third Escalade.

:werd: 1/4 of the money will actually go to buses/skytrain/transportation. The rest will go into their pockets :rolleyes:

[shenmecar]

i think we should each write a Fuck You letter to translink CEO.

[tiger_handheld]

why is that the #1 answer in crunch time is: raise prices, increase taxes.

why not look at their self first , and see what they can cut down, and if no cuts are available, i'm sure the public will not mind. why is this so hard?

[!SG]

because, u think they will vote to take a pay cut?

if translink is truly a public company, then they have to be somewhat transparent and do full disclosure of all their assets and liabilities. this should also include the payroll.

im all for giving the bus drivers the pay they deserve. but dang, these exec officers, u sit in the role for a few years, get let go or change position, and u are given a nice severance pay.


why is that the #1 answer in crunch time is: raise prices, increase taxes.

why not look at their self first , and see what they can cut down, and if no cuts are available, i'm sure the public will not mind. why is this so hard?

[twitchyzero]

i think translink is decent in terms of bus breaking down and whatnot..

they have many new buses on their fleet..okay it sucks that buses become imoperable when there's a ft of snow..but how many days out of the year does that happen in vancouver? no AC on the bus, yeah that sucks, but how often is it that hot? 2-3 weeks of the year? I rather get more bus services.

they need more FREQUENT bus service..that's their major issue right now.

Even in Vancouver there's still many pass-ups cause less than 25% of the buses offer under 10min service. Not to mention matters are way worse in the suburbs. It totally sucks watiting 30min on a cold rainy night for the next bus b/c the one that just passed by was full.

[Gh0stRider]

fuck translink

[misteranswer]

because, u think they will vote to take a pay cut?

if translink is truly a public company, then they have to be somewhat transparent and do full disclosure of all their assets and liabilities. this should also include the payroll.



http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/features/public-sector-salary-database/advanced-search.html?appSession=128101562369679

[quasi]

So stupid, make better use of the money available. If you don't have enough money to operate what you have scale back, thats what I'd have to do if I can't afford my lifestyle. Don't have enough money to expand transit? Don't expand it, save up until you can afford it.

These stupid fucking useless good for nothing cocksuckers rape and pillage us until we have absolutley nothing left.

I think the most anoying thing is if we were Montreal or Toronto the Federal Government would just buck up and pay for everything at a cost to all Canadians. Since we live in a place with pretty much no relevence as far as federal politics go we get fuck all.

[TekDragon]

We are paying someone a million dollar a year for his salary, and this is what his company comes up?

To be fair, it's just over half a million, plus bonuses... BUT, Translink needs salaries to be competitive with the private sector to get good talent. A good CEO can do a lot for a company. Now, we can debate all you want if we have a good CEO running Translink. I'm inclined to say no, but then again, I don't know what their books and day to day ops look like to comment more on it.

[q0192837465]

To be fair, it's just over half a million, plus bonuses... BUT, Translink needs salaries to be competitive with the private sector to get good talent. A good CEO can do a lot for a company. Now, we can debate all you want if we have a good CEO running Translink. I'm inclined to say no, but then again, I don't know what their books and day to day ops look like to comment more on it.

Yea, but do they get the talent? Not really

But the better question is, how do u get into one of the top positions? I won't mind a pay raise if I work for Translink.

[you!]

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/features/public-sector-salary-database/advanced-search.html?appSession=128101562369679

just took a close look at those fucking numbers
FUCK U TRANSLINK
FUCK U!:mad:

[keifun]

sadly I think even with the raises in taxes/levies etc., people will still end up paying more just to drive their own cars.. Same goes with the increase in gas prices. People will make compromises in their spending so that they can drive to work/school etc. instead of waiting for a bus. C'mon lets face it. Would you want to wait for a bus for 30+mins out in the suburbs in the rain/snow/heat outside?

[taylor192]

To be fair, it's just over half a million, plus bonuses... BUT, Translink needs salaries to be competitive with the private sector to get good talent. A good CEO can do a lot for a company. Now, we can debate all you want if we have a good CEO running Translink. I'm inclined to say no, but then again, I don't know what their books and day to day ops look like to comment more on it.
Studies found most top positions in government/public companies pay 30% more than private.

Translink does need to be competitive, yet if they are doing a bad job, then that should be reflected. For a company bleeding money, there is no need to pay out $500K bonuses.

[CorneringArtist]

sadly I think even with the raises in taxes/levies etc., people will still end up paying more just to drive their own cars.. Same goes with the increase in gas prices. People will make compromises in their spending so that they can drive to work/school etc. instead of waiting for a bus. C'mon lets face it. Would you want to wait for a bus for 30+mins out in the suburbs in the rain/snow/heat outside?

That's what I'm thinking too. Why wait for a bus that you KNOW is going to be late when you can drive to your destination on your own time, and it'll only take half as long to get there than by transit.

If we think of it this way, you can basically drive most places in the GVRD, and transit can be used sparingly for things downtown like shopping or events going on that would be harder to get to driving.

[Not really racist!]

$360,595 a year for doing a half assed job. Fuck you.

[tool001]

JUST put a ticket checker at every station,, enough free rides. im sure, that'll raise the revenue enuff for them to stop bitching for 2-3 years

[orange7]

i seriously foresee vancouver becoming like japan. Everywhere you go you will have to pay some kind of bs tax/fees. Soon, we'll even have a fee for walking outside.

[CorneringArtist]

i seriously foresee vancouver becoming like japan. Everywhere you go you will have to pay some kind of bs tax/fees. Soon, we'll even have a fee for walking outside.

quarter of a cent per step. 20% off your cost at the end of the month if you don't drive, add 10 if you do.

[CRS]

JUST put a ticket checker at every station,, enough free rides. im sure, that'll raise the revenue enuff for them to stop bitching for 2-3 years

That's coming!

http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=b7c5a1d8-a358-4de7-837f-fab2c92a1108

[Great68]

Translink's answer to everything is Tolls.

All of those bridges were built before Translink even existed. Some bridges HAD tolls, which were removed AFTER THEY PAID FOR THEMSELVES.

Tolls should only be for paying off construction and maintenance costs of that piece of , not for Tranlink revenue generation.

Vancouver and it's area is so big you can't go ANYWHERE without crossing a bridge. God I could just imagine the oak st., knight st., queensborough, alex fraser or massey tunnel being tolled... That would pretty much be a gigantic dildo up the ass of everyone that lives in Richmond.

[misteranswer]

JUST put a ticket checker at every station,, enough free rides. im sure, that'll raise the revenue enuff for them to stop bitching for 2-3 years

There were studies down on this and they believe the cost of putting up, manning and maintaining gates at skytrain stations is greater than the loss of revenue.

[pandalove]

O' Canada OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND ~~ bum bum bum

[Durrann1984]

we are the most expensive cities to live in

cant live here anymore if i have to pay for everything

they are probably going to end up puting parking meters in residential area

[van_driver]

JUST put a ticket checker at every station,, enough free rides. im sure, that'll raise the revenue enuff for them to stop bitching for 2-3 years

I bet they'll still come up with more taxes and shit

[Drift_Monkey]

How about we propose a counter tax on Translink and toll every single bus and skytrain that runs every single route. lol

Gov't should be collecting these tolls for us and sending cheques to us every 3 months.

why do they get to call all the shots.
Why can't they just budget their cost like what most companies do when they face financial problems.

If Translink's proposal does pass, they better watch out for protesters.

I'm sure there's enough people to destroy their head office hahaha

[JesseBlue]

i was also concerned about this especially the ceo positions and salary...screw their mentality about that...i'm betting you that there will be at least 100 other people who would love to do the job that would get paid half of what the current board / ceo's take home pay would...hell...pay me a hundred grand a year to think of taxing everyone's ass for using the road...oh yah...especially them bikers who uses the burrard bridge..lol

[dizzystar]

FUCK TRANSLINK

seriously, this is how (in my short time being here) translink has let me down:

- voted in 2004 (or 05) that people in VCC were not eligible for UPass because (paraphrasing) "because not enough people who go to VCC live far enough away to deem a upass necessary" so instead of paying $40 a month, I pay $73, pay for a fast trax sticker, and have to flash my student card every time I am not in zone 3, annoying.

- I have been stranded in vancouver 3 times so far by busses just clearly not showing up at kingsway and victoria when I was on the way home from work. Making me miss the last skytrain forcing me to take the night bus and get home at 3am (when I got off work at midnight)

- get to work late, by busses just not showing up outside guildford town centre, where they should be there every 10 minutes, costing me money and face at work, where I am looking to be promoted so this shit means something to me.

- get stuck at broadway for an hour LUCKILY in an air conditioned car so I didn't die of heat stroke.

upon being called and complained at, they basically go "iunno, shit happens" with no real sense of 'i give a fuck about your problem'

and then I read about salaries, how much they claim they 'need' to upgrade services. And even though they do have a lot of fucking shit to support, they are going about it a shitty way and they need someone better who can run it, and deal with stranding normal citizens who work and pay their taxes to pay their puffed up salaries.


Fuck Translink.

on the plus side though, when I moved here, I rode the rails and busses free for 3 weeks, even though I kinda felt bad when I was doing it, they should strictly enforce fare paid zones with turnstyles as stated above, hopefully it goes through, and I am sure it will generate a whole bunch more revenue. Of course, I am sure the revenue from free ride tickets will be nearly extinct, how the hell they gonna make those quotas now?


ps.
WHY THE FUCK ISN'T THE HUGE ICBC SURPLUS GOING TOWARDS HELPING TO FIX AND UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE ALL OVER THE PROVINCE AND GVRD?
right, because they are crooks, too. Unless they are not a gov't corporation, I have never found that out yet.

[ilvtofu]

I'd Pay 25c to go on a bridge nothing more XD
and the bridge better not be jammed either... Toll lineups...
And only if this 25c goes towards building more bridges! and not paying some bus driver who'll swear at me :(

[hk20000]

if they do that we'll have "catastrophic mass" and ram down all toll booths with bulldozers. Fuck the system.

[ajax]

Which other private companies could these CEO's go to? Serious question. Are we talking other companies similar to Translink? Or a company that has a different sort of business?

It seems kind of like how MLA's and others got their salary increases to "interest better candidates to the job."

[PiuYi]

Vancouver and it's area is so big you can't go ANYWHERE without crossing a bridge. God I could just imagine the oak st., knight st., queensborough, alex fraser or massey tunnel being tolled... That would pretty much be a gigantic dildo up the ass of everyone that lives in Richmond.

YES IT WOULD BE
fuck you translink!!!!! we need an RS-protest-meet, jam up translink HQ or some MP's office

damn, translink just makes me wanna puke everytime i see a bus pass by 20 ppl at a bustop

[Mercy]

Im wondering if they would do the tolls how the new bridge has it... no tollbooths just cameras and flashy things.

[ziggyx]

Im wondering if they would do the tolls how the new bridge has it... no tollbooths just cameras and flashy things.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Driving/Golden-Ears-Bridge/About-Quickpass.aspx

I guess if you don't have one of those "transponders" (quickpass) the camera will take a picture of your plates and you will have to pay the toll when you renew your insurance or something.

[cobra_commander]

i think we should each write a Fuck You letter to translink CEO.

x2

[Meowjin]

holy shit if they actually do this im actually going to riot and burn down translink headquarters.

[AsBannedAsItGets]

Living in the lower mainland is getting more expensive year after year.
Its all about the moolah :(

[goo3]

FUCK TRANSLINK


LOL, you need a car.

[FS1992EG]

Didn't i say vote for ndp?, now we're getting DP'ed by the HST and Translink

[CP.AR]

how about translink get those turnstill/gate things set up at Skytrain stations first? They are losing oh so much money each year from people riding free on the skytrain.

[hotjoint]

fuck it doenst matter if you take the transit or have your own car, either way translink fucks u up the ass.

[ilvtofu]

how about translink get those turnstill/gate things set up at Skytrain stations first? They are losing oh so much money each year from people riding free on the skytrain.

well they need to invest in an Octopus system, that'd be awesome :)
no more coins...
I wonder if they have a proper method to scan those cheapass bus passes.

[CRS]

well they need to invest in an Octopus system, that'd be awesome :)
no more coins...
I wonder if they have a proper method to scan those cheapass bus passes.

They are. Read the article I posted.

[Ax2-Y]

I live on the north shore and in order to go anywhere else in the GVRD it is inevitable that i will have to use a bridge to get there. However, it appears that NONE of the money i will be paying at the tolls will go to anything that would benefit me

Golden ears bridge? never been on it, never plan to.
evergreen line? when would i ever use that?
the only time ive taken public transit was to get to sfu for school, and that was only because i was forced to pay for the Upass.

i have a sneeking suspicion that i will be getting ripped off.

[CounterPuncher]

To be fair, it's just over half a million, plus bonuses... BUT, Translink needs salaries to be competitive with the private sector to get good talent. A good CEO can do a lot for a company. Now, we can debate all you want if we have a good CEO running Translink. I'm inclined to say no, but then again, I don't know what their books and day to day ops look like to comment more on it.

If that's what top talent comes up with fuck that give me bottom talent.

[RFlush]

To be fair, it's just over half a million, plus bonuses... BUT, Translink needs salaries to be competitive with the private sector to get good talent. A good CEO can do a lot for a company. Now, we can debate all you want if we have a good CEO running Translink. I'm inclined to say no, but then again, I don't know what their books and day to day ops look like to comment more on it.

Probably the best post in this thread.

It's always easy to say "fuck the CEO does shit all" when no one here has ever had a CEO position or understand the work that the CEO does. If it's so easy to do, how come most of you aren't in CEO positions or anywhere close to it?

[JesseBlue]

this is because they think ceos have to have experience...lol...anyone can think of just taxing everyone and everything...how about salary cuts? now that'll take balls...or look out for the best of the company than performance bonuses...look at japan airlines...

[RFlush]

It's public transportation and like many other public transportation systems, it's a losing business. But we need it for the public and that's why they can't just be like any other company.

Here is some background of the current CEO of Translink:
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-TransLink/Media/2008/July/Thomas-Prendergast-named-TransLink-CEO.aspx

You guys make it sound like your high school diploma and retail/fast food experience is sufficient enough to run things.

[murd0c]

It's public transportation and like many other public transportation systems, it's a losing business. But we need it for the public and that's why they can't just be like any other company.

Here is some background of the current CEO of Translink:
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-TransLink/Media/2008/July/Thomas-Prendergast-named-TransLink-CEO.aspx

You guys make it sound like your high school diploma and retail/fast food experience is sufficient enough to run things.

maybe if the idiots on the translink board actually listened to the publics opinion rathern then doing what the fuck they want with everything they wouldn't be going down the toilet. It's bullshit this day and age that we can no longer to to their closed door meetings and they strong arm us every second they can.

[CorneringArtist]

He's American....I think he's trying to apply the same shit he did to the MTA in New York. Well, whatever he's doing, it's not fucking working.

The people should have the first say on transit moves and NOT the suits on the board who drive their Mercedes to the meetings.

[CounterPuncher]

It's public transportation and like many other public transportation systems, it's a losing business. But we need it for the public and that's why they can't just be like any other company.

Here is some background of the current CEO of Translink:
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-TransLink/Media/2008/July/Thomas-Prendergast-named-TransLink-CEO.aspx

You guys make it sound like your high school diploma and retail/fast food experience is sufficient enough to run things.

Hey schmuck,

It's a cat chasing it's own tail.

Translink needs more money to fund larger projects to reach more people, so it increases fares, levies and taxes.

Because of the increased fares, levies and taxes people can't afford to use the service.

I'll sooner be fucked in the asshole than pay $5 to take a bus that will run late.

[iEatClams]

^
regarding the CEO :
I'm fucking surprised this guy is sucking so bad. He ran the NYC subway stuff. NY has one of the best systems in the world IMHO. They have like 18 million people (thats over half of the entire pop. of Canada) jammed into one small area but their subway system is awesome given their resources. You barely need a car in NY to go anywhere and the taxis usually take you to the places that do require driving.

Why does he have to fuck up when it comes to us. we always get them at the worst time.


Honestly, the first thing they need to do is install gates so that free-riders can't go onto the system. This alone will help decrease the amount of smelly ass bums on the skytrain and increase some revenue. Will also help with security as well.

Also:
If we don't have money for more buses, then at least have better planned schedules.
They should have more buses running (or on call bus-drivers) that work rush hours, when the majority of users ride.

[2damaxmr2]

cry more. if you can't afford it move to another province, no one is stopping you.

[iEatClams]

That's coming!

http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=b7c5a1d8-a358-4de7-837f-fab2c92a1108

it's about fucking time they invest in the gates

[CounterPuncher]

It's public transportation and like many other public transportation systems, it's a losing business. But we need it for the public and that's why they can't just be like any other company.

Here is some background of the current CEO of Translink:
http://www.translink.ca/en/About-TransLink/Media/2008/July/Thomas-Prendergast-named-TransLink-CEO.aspx

You guys make it sound like your high school diploma and retail/fast food experience is sufficient enough to run things.

^
regarding the CEO :
I'm fucking surprised this guy is sucking so bad. He ran the NYC subway stuff. NY has one of the best systems in the world IMHO. They have like 18 million people (thats over half of the entire pop. of Canada) jammed into one small area but their subway system is awesome given their resources. You barely need a car in NY to go anywhere and the taxis usually take you to the places that do require driving.

Why does he have to fuck up when it comes to us. we always get them at the worst time.


Honestly, the first thing they need to do is install gates so that free-riders can't go onto the system. This alone will help decrease the amount of smelly ass bums on the skytrain and increase some revenue. Will also help with security as well.

Also:
If we don't have money for more buses, then at least have better planned schedules.
They should have more buses running (or on call bus-drivers) that work rush hours, when the majority of users ride.


He didn't build the metro in NYC though, the fucker just managed the system.

[CounterPuncher]

cry more. if you can't afford it move to another province, no one is stopping you.


It's not an issue as to whether I can or can't afford it, it's an issue as to whether we get any value for it.

We don't.

[maxxxboost]

They should look harder within the company and show the public what they sacrifced to cut down on costs and if more taxes need to be paid, then so be it. But i think they need to stop building and start being more efficient and effective with what they have. More is not always better.

[goo3]

^
regarding the CEO :
I'm fucking surprised this guy is sucking so bad. He ran the NYC subway stuff. NY has one of the best systems in the world IMHO.

It's not the CEO who makes an awesome transit system. It's this:


They have like 18 million people (thats over half of the entire pop. of Canada) jammed into one small area but their subway system is awesome given their resources.


Even if you get superman, he's not gonna change the fact that ppl here live in houses and drive. Until you get everybody into a shoebox and to give up cars, transit's gonna suck and it's gonna cost a lot for us to do all that sucking.

With density like NYC, you don't have to build out as far, saving you money (ie digging tunnels is expensive) AND more ppl use the system to pay for it. It's the complete opposite here.

Are you willing to pay the price to have good transit: live in a condo and give up cars? I guess a lot of ppl here don't have their own cars yet.. cuz if you do, you'd say no!

[cococly]

It's really getting a bit socialist here with translink...

[originalhypa]

Think about it people.
You want more buses. Buses cost money. Money has to come from somewhere, and since we're a socialist nation, it comes from all of us. Would you pay $12 to take the bus from Surrey to New West? Of course not. So instead you pay $3, and the rest of us cover the final $9.

rflush said it well. The money has to come from somewhere. If Translink needs $150 million to maintain current standards, then so be it. A $500k/year ceo pay is a drop in the bucket. A billion dollar bridge on the other hand, is not.


I'll sooner be fucked in the asshole than pay $5 to take a bus that will run late.

Maybe you just like dicks in your ass?

[Tapioca]

^
Also:
If we don't have money for more buses, then at least have better planned schedules.
They should have more buses running (or on call bus-drivers) that work rush hours, when the majority of users ride.

The 99 B-Line runs every 2-3 minutes during rush hour when UBC is in session. Granville St, Main St., and Victoria/Commercial drive have buses running every 5 minutes during rush hour. You can only put so many buses on a road before they become an impediment as opposed to a convenience.

People say that transit should be run like a business. Fine, services would be cut, but people would complain anyway.

CEO pay is a drop in the bucket. What's a suitable salary - 50K/year? A bus costs 150-200K; if we were to halve the CEO's pay, we'd be able to buy one bus.

[wouwou]

The 99 B-Line runs every 2-3 minutes during rush hour when UBC is in session. Granville St, Main St., and Victoria/Commercial drive have buses running every 5 minutes during rush hour. You can only put so many buses on a road before they become an impediment as opposed to a convenience.

People say that transit should be run like a business. Fine, services would be cut, but people would complain anyway.

CEO pay is a drop in the bucket. What's a suitable salary - 50K/year? A bus costs 150-200K; if we were to halve the CEO's pay, we'd be able to buy one bus.

I don't think people are having problem with the high salary the CEO of translike is getting.

I think the problem is more towards someone getting a high salary but his company is DOING A CRAPPY JOB.

[Vansterdam]

translink = dosent make profit i beleive if anything with all their upcoming plans and projectors i beleive their already down a couple million from what i remember reading.

who the fuck gave translink the right to regulate/maintence all of our bridges?

[CP.AR]

but again... the turnstiles/ticketing upgrades will NOT work unless it is ENFORCED. Some people here lack the discipline required to function within the confines of the rules in our society - I can already imagine teenagers "jumping" gates or merely crawling under. I would hate for our skytrain turnstiles to become like Toronto's, where they have giant steel fences like a jail.

And yes, an octopus system would work here... and it would be really nice not having to wait for an entire line of people to put in their change, get a transfer; or put the transfer in and wait for it to come out again.


and Oh yeah - Canada Line opens August 17th. I wonder how long until I see vandalism in the stations/train cars *sigh*

[StylinRed]

i love how everbody who is able has their hand out asking/demanding more money saying how there isn't enough for them to operate... yet its been operating fine for decades and decades off of taxes

and taxes(and tax revenue) has gone up more than inflation

[Ax2-Y]

from what i have been told, translink would not be allowed to toll both north shore bridges as there must be atleast one way for people to travel to and from the city free of charge...

now, what this will do it just divert even more traffic to which ever bridge that is not tolled and make the morning commute even worse... i dont see how proposal will be allowed...

[!LittleDragon]

NY has one of the best systems in the world IMHO.

I agree, NYC's system works very well but I have noticed one thing. While it does a great job of getting people around, it separates the population. When I was there, I took the subway to Manhattan from JFK and there was nothing but poor to middle class folks along with a few students. Go above ground and it's all business folk who can afford the sky high parking.

[jimzilla]

time to move to alberta :(

[Hot Karl]

He didn't build the metro in NYC though, the fucker just managed the system.

so if we were to steadily improve our transit system, to one day be as good as NYC, we'd have to start getting money and building stuff right? or did you think that one day we'd just wave a magic wand and have a train system like nyc or london or beijing?

it's always bitching and moaning but it needs to be done. like the sea to sky highway, the canada line and golden ears. i personally don't use any of those in my day to day. not even close. but i realize shit needs to get done. i got to benefit via the lougheed skytrain. just take what you can get. or move. deal with it.

i know folks who only find apartments based on skytrain accessibility. if they can do it, you can move closer to your job.

[ziggyx]

so if we were to steadily improve our transit system, to one day be as good as NYC, we'd have to start getting money and building stuff right? or did you think that one day we'd just wave a magic wand and have a train system like nyc or london or beijing?

it's always bitching and moaning but it needs to be done. like the sea to sky highway, the canada line and golden ears. i personally don't use any of those in my day to day. not even close. but i realize shit needs to get done. i got to benefit via the lougheed skytrain. just take what you can get. or move. deal with it.

i know folks who only find apartments based on skytrain accessibility. if they can do it, you can move closer to your job.



I think that most people here wouldn't mind giving translink a little bit more money. But most people are bitching about how stupid translink is with their money and the kind of service they give us. They lose revenue over stupid stuff such as not having turn pikes at skytrain stations. So in order to make up for this stupidity they choose to charge people to go over bridges?

But the revenue they lose from skytrain hoppers is no where near to the revenue they would gain from charging people to drive over bridges so I dont know...

Our public transportation system sucks shit but it's not the worst (at least i don't think so).

[Tapioca]

I think that most people here wouldn't mind giving translink a little bit more money. But most people are bitching about how stupid translink is with their money and the kind of service they give us.


When people mention 'service', what does that actually mean? Public transportation can't be all things to all people - the system has to make compromises in order to provide an adequate level of service at a reasonable cost. For my needs, I find the service pretty darn good, but I happen to live in an area that is within a 5 minute walk of a Skytrain station. From my observations, the people who complain about 'service' often live in areas where it does not make economic sense to provide the same levels of service to those who live in denser communities (i.e. a bus running every 5 minutes).

Should BC Transit have installed turnstiles way back in 1986? In hindsight, yes, but they risk-managed and went with an honour system instead. At least they're going to do it right now and install a distance-SmartCard system.

[CounterPuncher]

so if we were to steadily improve our transit system, to one day be as good as NYC, we'd have to start getting money and building stuff right? or did you think that one day we'd just wave a magic wand and have a train system like nyc or london or beijing?

it's always bitching and moaning but it needs to be done. like the sea to sky highway, the canada line and golden ears. i personally don't use any of those in my day to day. not even close. but i realize shit needs to get done. i got to benefit via the lougheed skytrain. just take what you can get. or move. deal with it.

i know folks who only find apartments based on skytrain accessibility. if they can do it, you can move closer to your job.

Buddy, stfu.

Our infrastructure was built without future proofing it, we made no considerations for subways, population growth, or even busses.

Any attempt now that we make to update our transit systems will be two things, 1) really expensive 2) inadequate.

Speaking of that Sea to Sky Highway, how is adding 1 more lane going to help anyone? All it's going to do is add choke points, because honestly, where are two lanes of traffic going to go when they have to funnel into one?

My point isn't that it needs to be done, but that it needs to be done WELL. Which is something translink fails to grasp, at the same time they want us to pay an insane amount to ride on a system that is hopelessly inadequate.

[misteranswer]

Any attempt now that we make to update our transit systems will be two things, 1) really expensive 2) inadequate.


Why do you think that?

[CounterPuncher]

Why do you think that?

Because we didn't plan for any of this and the fact that vancouver is primarily settled on granite, one of the hardest substances to blow through, or drill through makes drilling underground tunnels one fucking expensive proposition.

As well, like I said, we had no foresight to plan for any of this stuff, and we have the complications of being surrounded by water which always makes things expensive.

In addition, unless we plan on being like China and just knocking people's houses down, we can't design an efficient transit system because we're limited to building under pre existing roads.

Not to mention the fact there is absolutely nothing we can do to make our roads larger.

To quote my girlfriends Vancouver Guide, Vancouver's infrastructure was 20 years out of date, 20 years ago.

[anti_rice]

did you know that the federal government also grants more money to provinces in the east for transit and infrastructure then they do here in the west. We get shafted by the federal government. Provinces back east gets almost double what we get.

[Tapioca]

Buddy, stfu.
My point isn't that it needs to be done, but that it needs to be done WELL. Which is something translink fails to grasp, at the same time they want us to pay an insane amount to ride on a system that is hopelessly inadequate.

To be fair to Translink, they didn't build the Skytrain in the 80s - the provincial government, under BC Transit, did. I can understand the lack of foresight with the Skytrain because it was built mainly as showpiece for Expo86. But, heck, even the old system is more future-proof than the 'new' Canada Line. So much for public-private partnerships, eh?

But, honestly, up until the 1980s, Vancouver saw itself as a small town which explained the infrastructure, or lack thereof. It wasn't until Expo86 and the wave of immigration in the 1990s that made people realize that we needed to upgrade our infrastruture to accomodate all of the people (and cars.)

I don't think Hot Karl is too off the mark though. Given the constraints of our natural environment (as you rightly point out), the only way to make our system more 'efficient' is to increase density (which is what the Millenium Line and Surrey Central have done to a certain extent.) Not everyone works in a stationary office, but not every family of 4 needs 2500 square feet either.

did you know that the federal government also grants more money to provinces in the east for transit and infrastructure then they do here in the west. We get shafted by the federal government. Provinces back east gets almost double what we get.

Do you have proof of this? This made sense in the 60s and 70s because Toronto (and to a lesser extent Montreal) was where the bulk of the people and businesses were located.

The federal government funded part of the Canada Line and it's providing funding for the Evergreen Line. It has also provided funding for a number of Translink's smaller projects such as the Central Valley Greenway and the Main St. restoration.

[CounterPuncher]

did you know that the federal government also grants more money to provinces in the east for transit and infrastructure then they do here in the west. We get shafted by the federal government. Provinces back east gets almost double what we get.

LOL, where did you hear this? Under the federal transfer payment system BC was a have not province for a very long time. Only recently have we started paying out more than we have been receiving.

The Easten provinces for the longest time were paying us money.

Not to mention a lot of their infrastructure is privatized and tolled.

Please do some research.

[CounterPuncher]

To be fair to Translink, they didn't build the Skytrain in the 80s - the provincial government, under BC Transit, did. I can understand the lack of foresight with the Skytrain because it was built mainly as showpiece for Expo86. But, heck, even the old system is more future-proof than the 'new' Canada Line. So much for public-private partnerships, eh?

But, honestly, up until the 1980s, Vancouver saw itself as a small town which explained the infrastructure, or lack thereof. It wasn't until Expo86 and the wave of immigration in the 1990s that made people realize that we needed to upgrade our infrastruture to accomodate all of the people (and cars.)

I don't think Hot Karl is too off the mark though. Given the constraints of our natural environment (as you rightly point out), the only way to make our system more 'efficient' is to increase density (which is what the Millenium Line and Surrey Central have done to a certain extent.) Not everyone works in a stationary office, but not every family of 4 needs 2500 square feet either.



Do you have proof of this? This made sense in the 60s and 70s because Toronto (and to a lesser extent Montreal) was where the bulk of the people and businesses were located.

The federal government funded part of the Canada Line and it's providing funding for the Evergreen Line. It has also provided funding for a number of Translink's smaller projects such as the Central Valley Greenway and the Main St. restoration.

I agree with what your saying, except for the fact that if we're going to do it we need to do it well.

Independently I think the Canada Line isn't worth shit, but if we can get a few more lines running along broadway and alone 41st and stuff it would be a start.

The problem is it won't be cheap because we can't build in a straight line.