The same day Premier Christy Clark said Translink funding is the mayors problem, the chair of the mayors council was talking with the Transportation minister.
Richard Walton says he left the discussion with Mary Polak feeling hopeful a solution to long term sustainable transit funding can be found.
“Absolutely I got a sense of hope and I think sometimes these things take a while to work through but we are certainly commited to working with this government or any other government and try to find the best solution to the region. I don’t really get to distracted by you know comments that are made to the media now and then we are taking a much longer term picture.”
Walton also takes issue with the Premier saying Translink funding is not the province’s problem.
“Well I think as long the provincial government has taken, and continues to take, an active role in defining how Translink governance works and what funding levers may be available for the Metro Vancouver region I think the province probably has the most important role in regional transportation funding.”
Walton also revealed, despite what the Premier said, the province is getting ready to work with mayors on long term sustainable transit funding.
“I am not so concerned with what the Premier says at this point because I think you know we certainly chatted with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in fact I have spoken with her today and I think we discussed where the areas are that we agree and where the areas are there is some distance and we will be working together with the ministry starting next week for the next 12 weeks I think quite intensely to try and solve some of these challenges.”
Premier Clark ruled out provincial taxpayers as a source of transit revenue.
But Walton says mayors have no expectations of raising revenue outside the lower mainland.
Last week the mayors gave the provincial government a February 28th deadline to help solve funding woes, or Translink will hit a funding wall.
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