Bridge tolls on the Oak Street and Arthur Laing bridges, property tax hikes, and more expensive vehicle levies for Richmond drivers are not palatable funding solutions for Translinks budget crunch, according to Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
Instead, Brodie believes the region should be looking at the concept of road pricing, which charges drivers based on how much and where they drive.
Brodie also said he favours the gas tax but was one of the minority dissenting mayors who voted against the Metro Vancouver mayors transit plan as a whole because he vehemently opposes an increase to property taxes.
I did not support the Translink funding proposals because I dont support higher property taxes, he said of the proposed $23 average increase to property owners.
This week other mayors floated ideas about how to raise more money for Translink that could penalize Richmond drivers more than most others in the region.
Surrey Mayor Diane Watts told BC Local News she backs a graduated vehicle levy, meaning those who live in well-developed areas like Vancouver and Richmond would pay more than those who arent serviced by Translink as frequently.
Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender also suggested tolling existing bridges.
Brodie said one of the reasons he voted against the Moving Forward plan which passed July 6 was because he had not seen details of what the vehicle levy would entail.
It may mean many things: If you have less public transportation, a more fuel efficient car. It may mean many things, he said.
Brodie said while Richmond is served by the Canada Line, the city does not have superior bus service throughout the city.
I would be resistant to the idea that Richmond residents would have to pay a higher levy, he said.
The Moving Forward plan devised to find a solution to Translinks budget crunch includes a two cent per litre gas tax increase as well as a secondary to-be-determined funding option that could be a temporary property tax increase in 2013 or a vehicle levy.
The decision affects the Richmond residents who, according to ICBC, have 115,000 vehicles on the road.
And instead of bridge tolls a far better solution would be road pricing.
Just like in London where you have a transponder on the car and it notes youve gone by that place and it takes a certain amount of money, Brodie said.
He did note, however, that the idea is far too preliminary for Metro Vancouvers current population and it should only be an option if bridge tolls become a serious option.
The Moving Forward plan will raise $70 million in additional annual funding for several new services. The largest project it will support is the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam.
Translink is expected to put forth its initial plan by the end of this month. It will go to public consultation and a final version is expected to be voted on by the mayors this fall.
