14 - Sunday, December 21, 1997 - North Shore News

RANSPORTATION:

The Provincial Government Crown Corporation, BC Transit, is not
meeting the transit targets needed to cope with growth in travel demand.

tis buying less than half the number of buses we need each year and
our road system is over-burdened. Facing debt and deficit problems,
the Provincial Government has been unable to meet the regional
transportation requirements of Greater Vancouver.

About GO per cent of the rush-hour trips in the region cross municipal
boundaries, but there is litde co-ordination of the roads and trinsit
systems where this travel takes phice. The Provincial Government
operates the transit and major highway systems and the municipalities
look after their local roads.

All other urban regions in Canada run their own tnuinsit systems and
have networks of major roads that are developed and financed on
an area-wide basis.

The GVRD board set objectives in the recent negotiations to achieve:

@ local government control over transportation

® stable and predictable transportation financing

@ doubling of the transit service, including building
new Light Rail Transit lines

@ co-ordinating the financing of major roads

@ implementating transportation demand measures such as
carpooling incentives.

Towe NEE > To. Aé T

The transportation problems in the region have become so serious
they represent the number one concern of residents and businesses.
The financial problems facing the Provincial Government have created
a window of opportunity for making significant changes to the way
transportation in the region is governed and funded. If there is a delay
beyond the spring of 1998, the needs will get worse and the window
of opportunity may close.

Compared to other major areas in Canada,
on a per resident basis, Greater Vancouver
has the lowest supply of transit,
second lowest transit ridership and
highest car ownership.

Source: Transportation Association of Canada 1996

* Every hour, approximately 3
cars are added to Greater
Vancouver roads, almost the
same number as babies being
born in the region.