An op-ed in The Sun from Jonathan Cote, the mayor of New Westminster and chair of the Funding Strategy Committee for the TransLink Mayors’ Council.
Transportation has become a big issue in the provincial election campaign. …
However, the debate so far has focused on whether to continue charging tolls for crossing certain bridges. The B.C. NDP proposes to eliminate tolls altogether, while the B.C. Liberals want to cap the amount charged per year at $500. …
But the so-called “cap” or “scrap” policies won’t help affordability of transportation over the long term, nor improve our region’s quality of life.
… those of us who have a role in shaping the future of transportation in Metro Vancouver must agree on some key principles that should guide all of the decisions we make — independently and collectively. These principles are:
1. Mobility. Changes to our transportation network must improve mobility for people and goods in the region, by providing more choices, reducing travel times and improving the experience of users.
2. Accountability. Every dollar raised from fares, fees, taxes or other revenues intended for transportation must contribute to improvements that benefit the travelling public and that will help meet our objective of reducing congestion.
3. Fairness. Benefits of new transportation infrastructure and services, and revenues to support them, should be applied in an equitable way throughout the region. Our transportation network is integrated — all users should contribute to maintaining it.
4. Affordability. A high-quality transportation network that improves mobility gives residents more choice where to live and work, which helps combat the region’s housing affordability challenges. At the same time, building and maintaining this network must respect taxpayers by making smart choices to keep costs low, and maximize return on investment.
5. Engagement. Metro Vancouver residents and businesses should have a say in establishing priorities and making choices about transportation improvements, and how those improvements are paid for.
So where do we go from here? An important study is about to begin later this spring that will provide recommendations on a made-in-BC solution for pricing transportation in this region, and will tackle the issue of tolling head-on. The Mobility Pricing Independent Commission — led by experts and local community leaders — will undertake extensive research and public consultation, and look at best practices from other jurisdictions around the world. … Once the commission completes its work and residents have had their say, the Mayors’ Council and provincial government can then make decisions about the best way forward. …
During this provincial election campaign, the Mayors’ Council is asking the major parties to clarify their commitments to Phase Two of the Vision. In addition to new rapid transit projects in Vancouver, Surrey and Langley — which the federal and provincial governments recently committed matching funding for — the Phase Two plan includes replacing the aging Pattullo Bridge; upgrading the existing SkyTrain system to deal with growing demand; expanding bus service; improving HandyDART service; ongoing improvements to road conditions for drivers, and safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. More information is available at CureCongestion.ca.
(6) Region wide balanced I C I & residential ZONING would make mobility a choice for most people. It would end the tidal wave of people heading downtown Vancouver AM & back PM.
The term “congestion” is a red herring.
I don’t think you can “cure” congestion. If curing congestion means a state where people can move relatively freely, good luck with that.
That’s equivalent to always wanting a seat (or elbow room) on the SkyTrain.
If a system (roads or transit) is well used – in rush hour – you’ll have congestion and you won’t get a seat.
The measure should be based on functionality –
How well are you serving the demand for the service?
What is the throughput relative to that demand?
If Socrates were running for office, is that how he would pose the question – how to “cure congestion” – or would he ask: how do we get motorists, esp. solo drivers (monanists?), off the road. Would Socrates have pandered (sucked up) to the suburban voter the way Rob Ford did? It worked. That guy got elected. How crazy is that.
Going with the medical analogy, maybe instead of congestion, we should call it constipation:
IT’S TIME TO
CURE CONSTIPATION
IN METRO VANCOUVER
That is an unfortunately apt theoretical question. For encouraging others to not pander and be intentionally stupid, Socrates was sentenced to death by government office-holders. He wouldn’t fare much better today.
Kudos to Mayor Cote for being able to squirt out such a big election pile without using the dirtiest word in transportation: Commuturd. And danced around but dared not utter, the love that dare not speak its name: Monanist – self-love SOV.
Where are the initiatives to create work where people live? Focus, as Simon Sinek says, on the WHY. Why are people commuting? That’s a study worth doing. Why not spend money on saving them from this inane expensive activity. Why spend money to enable monanist hordes to speed through neighbourhoods? They’re harming, not benefitting the communities they transect.
There is no cure for constipation. You have to deal with the commuturds. Everything else is pricey palliative Ex-Lax. The constipation will be back.
My comment on Return of the Zombie Villain won’t upload there, so I’ll try under Mayor Cotes fantasy plan to cure traffic constipation. It’s on topic in the sense that choice of words matters.
The headline alone in the Sun, this corporate nepotism infested bird cage liner, underscores why I haven’t bought it in 25 years.
As an aside, an acquaintance once got a job on a major daily thanks to daddy’s pull. Her reportage consisted of writing the obit column. This well-paid plum made her profoundly depressed. Ha, ha.
I haven’t smoked marijuana in 15 years, but when I did, there were a few counter-culture individuals with whom I shared; others were blue collar, or artists, musician, and professionals, including PhD’s and, several times, with a Vancouver psychiatrist.
Marijuana use is a civil rights issue.
It has been illegal because billions are made keeping it so.
The emperor may wear no clothes, but his bully minions do – the legal bunch in suits; the storm troopers in uniforms. They love the money and the control it gives them over innocent people.
These hostile anti-drug evangelicals all use alcohol.
Jodie Emery says ther should be an amnesty for those who have been criminalizes by the war on drug users. That’s not enough. There should be truth and reconciliation hearings. Reparations should be made. And that’s not enough. People’s lives have been ruined.
How did the Mayors Council come up with ‘cure congestion’? It is offensive and nonsensical at the same time. Reminds of the TransLink CEO decision before the plebiscite.