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Wilderness Committee Applauds Provinces Transit Expansion Plan
by WCWC Media •
Monday January 14, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Vancouver, BC – The Wilderness Committee is congratulating the provincial government on the announcement of a $14 billion transit plan for British Columbia. “This is a big step for BC to take in fighting global warming. Transit expansion is vital to meet our responsibility to cut climate-changing emissions related to transportation,” said Andrea Reimer, Executive Director of the Wilderness Committee ...
For immediate release – Monday, January 14, 2008
Wilderness Committee Applauds Provinces Transit Expansion Plan
Says Elected Translink Board Imperative to Oversee Spending of Billions of Tax Dollars
Vancouver, BC – The Wilderness Committee is congratulating the provincial government on the announcement of a $14 billion transit plan for British Columbia.
“This is a big step for BC to take in fighting global warming. Transit expansion is vital to meet our responsibility to cut climate-changing emissions related to transportation,” said Andrea Reimer, Executive Director of the Wilderness Committee. “A truly green future needs truly green transportation investments.”
The government announcement today committed to adding 1,500 new buses to transit systems across BC, creating or upgrading three new rapid transit lines in the Lower Mainland (the Evergreen Line, the UBC Line, and the Expo Line), and adding rapid bus networks in Kelowna, Victoria and throughout the Lower Mainland.
“Over the past year, we talked to many people about transportation and their messages are clear: less money for highway expansion and more investment in transit, especially in under-served areas such as Kelowna and south of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland,” Reimer continued.
While excited about todays transit announcement, Reimer reiterated the Wilderness Committees ongoing concerns regarding affordability of transit and accountability of Translink to the public.
“These projects are going to be costly, and we would like to know where the money is going to come from as well as who will benefit from these projects once theyre built,” said Reimer. “If you want people to use transit, you must keep it affordable. And if the public is to benefit from new infrastructure, the public needs control of the governance, financing and future revenue.”
Reimer points out that a single change in government policy would go a long way to addressing those concerns: “A democratically elected and accountable Translink board would be more responsive to the public. Its a move thats long overdue for the Lower Mainland and especially important with over $10 billion new dollars soon to be on Translinks table.”
Beyond these concerns, Reimer expressed real hope for the future. “The government is finally talking about getting people moving in BC in a sustainable way.”
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For more information contact:
Andrea Reimer, Wilderness Committee Executive Director, 604-683-8220; 604-719-3920
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