Everybody in Metro Vancouver loves transit. Richmond may love it a little less.
You may think that’s not completely fair — but that’s the takeaway TransLink and Metro Vancouver mayors have before an important meeting next week.
For those blissfully unaware of the latest developments in the region’s transportation negotiations, at the beginning of this year mayors set their wish list for $20 billion in new transit investments over the next decade.
At the top of that list is an expanded rapid bus network, first by building more lines, and then converting the majority of them to routes with dedicated bus-only lanes.
But for that to become reality, two things need to happen.
First, higher levels of government need to provide funding. Thus far, the province has given encouraging signals to TransLink, but federal support has been
less than what mayors were hoping for.
The second thing that needs to happen is buy-in from the municipalities on where the bus lanes would be going.
All the bus lines involve some element of getting rid of spaces currently for cars — whether in the form of eliminating parking spaces or converting lanes to HOV or bus-only — and will take many years to come to fruition.
As a result, councils were asked to vote on motions expressing support for the principles of the current plan, in advance of next week’s Mayors’ Council meeting where priorities for planning these routes will be decided.
Surrey,
Langley,
Maple Ridge,
Delta, and many more have affirmed they’re on board.
But this week Richmond
emphatically rejected the proposal for a rapid bus from Metrotown to Richmond Centre. Councillors argued the loss of car space wasn’t worth increased bus use, and didn’t like the idea of committing to TransLink’s regional plan without more local details.
“It’s a bit of a waste of time. It’s not a local priority,” said Coun. Michael Wolfe.
“We should be discussing the [routes] benefiting the majority of our residents and users, not half with another municipality.”
But the reality is most infrastructure works on a regional basis in Metro Vancouver, particularly TransLink.
Still, there will be many people happy with the result, starting with the councillors who voted against the proposal.
TransLink will also be happy to avoid a repeat of the situation four years ago in West Vancouver, where long-developed plans for rapid transit were abruptly scrapped after council changed their mind following community backlash.
And mayors from smaller municipalities will likely be happy that Richmond opting out will increase the chances of their priorities moving closer to the front of the line.
As for Richmond?
It will remain an Island — both when it comes to its geography, and its position within Metro Vancouver.
“I don't know what that does for us,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie at the end of the meeting.
“It certainly doesn’t get us any farther. But it is what it is.”
