FAQ

Developed by the Mayors' Council in 2014, the 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transit and Transportation (the 10-Year Vision) is a strategy designed to keep the region moving. The Vision is a transit and transportation plan that reflects agreement by 23 local governments across Metro Vancouver, and is supported by the largest coalition of community, environmental and business stakeholders in B.C.'s history.

The 10-Year Vision is unique in Canada. It’s a region-wide, integrated plan – from transportation to light rail to bus to roads and bridges – that supports our 30-year Regional Transportation Strategy and Regional Growth Strategy.

The 10-Year Vision will be rolled out in three phases, each timed to the delivery of new projects and services. Phase One, which includes a wide range of transit service improvements, and launched in January, 2017, is the critical first step in moving the Vision forward and creating the transportation system the region needs.

In each phase, investments from the federal government and provincial government will be matched with regional revenues to ensure the 10-Year Vision is funded in a fair and balanced way.

For a snapshot of the investments included in each phase of the 10-Year Vision, view the 10-Year Vision Dashboard.

On November 23, 2016, the Mayors’ Council and TransLink’s Board of Directors reviewed and approved Phase One of the 10-Year Vision. The Phase One Plan reflects feedback received from the public consultation process and represents a major step forward – the first significant new investment in transit and roads in Metro Vancouver since 2009. The Plan is the first in a series of investment plans, each designed to advance the significant transit and transportation improvements outlined in the 10-Year Vision.

Phase One of the 10-Year Vision will see an investment of approximately $2 billion in expanded transit services, transit infrastructure, and improvements for roads, cycling and walking – Metro Vancouver's biggest transit service expansion since 2009.

Over the course of the Phase One Plan, a broad range of enhancements will be implemented, including those listed below.

Phase One Transit Service Improvements

• 10% increase in bus service
• 15% increase in HandyDART service
• 20% increase in rail service (Expo Line, Millennium Line, Canada Line, West Coast Express)
• Pre-construction and consultation on the Millennium Line Broadway Extension and the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Line of the Surrey LRT project
• New funding for improvements to the Major Road Network
• Expansion and improvements to the cycling and walking networks

If approved, the Phase Two Plan would fund the next phase of the 10-Year Vision, starting in 2018. The Phase Two Plan would be an historic investment in the region’s transit and transportation system – one of the largest in Metro Vancouver’s history.

The Phase Two Plan is built on continued delivery of the transportation improvements in the Phase One Plan, as well as a proposed funding model to implement the second phase of transportation improvements in the 10-Year Vision. This includes:

• Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail to provide a new rapid transit option for the fastest growing city in British Columbia
• Millennium Line Broadway Extension to extend SkyTrain on the busiest transit corridor in our region
• a massive upgrade of existing Expo and Millennium Line SkyTrain to expand its capacity to meet double-digit ridership growth and improve the customer experience
• a further increase in bus service throughout the Metro Vancouver region to address overcrowding, reduce wait times and bring bus services to many neighbourhoods that currently have limited bus options
• more HandyDART trips
• improvements to sidewalks, bikeways and multi-use pathways
• early work on the Surrey-Langley LRT
• addressing bottlenecks and funding other upgrades to major roads

The Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia have made unprecedented funding commitments to Phase Two projects. To fully leverage those federal and provincial contributions, the Mayors’ Council has proposed to fund the region’s share through several sources, including:

• Transit fare increase: 2% increase to transit fares beginning in 2020, or an additional 5 to 15 cents on adult and concession fares
• Parking sales tax increase: 3% increase in the parking sales tax, or an additional 15 cents per hour for a $5 per hour parkade
• Property tax increase: a $5.50 increase per average household, or 46 cents per month, beginning in 2019
• Development Cost Charge: an increase in DCC revenues
• Revenue from a variety of transit-related commercial opportunities

Public consultation on the Phase Two Plan and how the region proposes to fund its share is happening later this spring. More information about the region's funding proposals will be available in advance of consultation.

This proposed funding model is a balanced, fair and long-term investment in the liveability of the Metro Vancouver region. To deliver the transit investments in Phase Two the average proposed increases are:

• Five to 15 cents increase to adult and concession transit fares and 1 to 3 dollars increase to adult and concession monthly passes to pay for more bus improvements. This is a 2% increase to all transit fares over two years.
• 15 cents per hour increase This is an increase from 21% to 24% to the existing parking lot rate. Legislative amendments would be required to enable TransLink to make this change.
• $5.50 increase in property taxes per average household each year or about 46 cents a month.
• About $300 to $600 increase in the Development Cost Charge on new residential units depending on type of dwelling. Legislative changes are required to enable the Mayors Council to levy the DCC.
• Revenue from a variety of transit-related commercial opportunities.

Learn more about funding

TransLink will ask for public input on the Phase Two Plan from April 30 to May 11.The feedback shared during this consultation period is important and will help TransLink finalize the Phase Two Plan before submitting it to the TransLink Board of Directors and the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation for consideration and approval. If the Phase Two Plan is approved by the TransLink Board and Mayors' Council, then TransLink would begin to implement these improvements later this year.

The Province is currently reviewing the business cases for the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail and Millennium Line Broadway Extension. Once the business cases are approved, the costs will be released to the public.