A decision by TransLink Commissioner Martin Crilly to reject substantial fare hikes on top of provincial rejection of alternate funding sources means it's back to the drawing board for the troubled organization, said Mayors' Council chairman Richard Walton this week.
Walton said TransLink is "still searching for the Holy Grail of long-term sustainable funding."
On Wednesday, Crilly rejected a TransLink request for a 12.5 per cent fare hike, saying TransLink should be able to find $40 million to $60 million to fund operating costs in administrative costs, bus maintenance and logistical changes over the next three years.
"All savings should be achievable without cutting current or planned services, projects or programs" that TransLink has committed to, wrote Crilly.
The fare increase would have produced an extra $48 million towards TransLink's operating costs. Without Crilly's approval, TransLink can still raise fares six per cent, producing $28 million more.
TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis responded Thursday by asking for time to review both Crilly's decision and this week's Mayors' Council motion to eliminate reliance on property tax to fulfill TransLink's Moving Forward Plan.
"We fully support an open review of our operations, and our board of directors has asked for an expeditious audit so that we can return focus to delivering the services people of the region told us they need, said Jarvis in his release.
In making his decision, Crilly noted that higher fares deter riders and that higher fares would cause hardship for low-income citizens who are most dependent on transit.
He also pointed out that TransLink has higher equipment, staffing and administrative costs than other similar public transportation systems and has low ridership on some routes.
Crilly added that if TransLink is to meet its long-term goals, the search for "both short and long-term funding sources will need to continue."
Walton said this week he appreciates Crilly's diligence on the efficiency review. But "just because an independent body's done an audit, doesn't mean it's gospel," he said. "It's possible for external auditors to come in and do work and not be right."
Walton said auditing TransLink seems to be the "flavour of the day."
But Walton added efficiency isn't the only standard that's important in a public transportation system. For instance, if all night runs were cut out "your efficiency would increase dramatically," he said. "But you'd have very angry regional communities and very frustrated customers.
"You're trying to build a service. You don't build service by cutting routes in the areas you're trying to build in.
"Sure, look at the numbers," said Walton. "But the numbers don't tell the whole story."
Walton said getting agreement on how to sustainably fund the system continues to be TransLink's essential problem on both operating and capital budgets. While the mayors' council has suggested ways to bring in more money to fund TransLink expansion - such as a regional carbon tax and a vehicle levy - "the province has said no, no and no to that," said Walton. "The provincial government doesn't want to wear the public's blame."
The only other option is to raise property taxes which Lower Mainland mayors are all adamantly opposed to, said Walton.
"We're right back where we started," he said. Metro Vancouver's regional plan for community development is tied to TransLink expansion plans, said Walton. But without a longterm funding source, "We're absolutely in limbo."
