Merry Christmas

Today is my final post of the year; I will be taking a break from blogging until January 2, 2019. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Video: Creating Safer Intersections in Langley City

Sometimes I get asked similar questions by multiple people about a particular topic. While I do write blog posts about these topics, not everyone has the time or desire to read them. Based on the reception of the videos I posted for the election campaign, I thought I would start a video series to provide another medium to answer these questions.

The first video is about design changes to intersections in Langley City, and how those changes support reducing collisions, injuries, and fatalities.

Province’s new CleanBC plan promises new investments in walking and cycling

Earlier this month, the provincial government released its CleanBC plan. This plan outlines how the provincial government plans to reach its 2030 greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction targets.

One of the largest sources of GHGs is transportation. While the CleanBC plan outlines how the province plans to move towards a zero-emission future for automobiles, it also contains a section about the important role of active transportation in reducing GHGs and giving people a way on out congestion.

On page 25 of the report it states that “in 2019, the Province will establish an active transportation strategy with measures to support new infrastructure, education and incentive programs, and safety improvements for people walking, cycling and using other kinds of active transportation.”

The authors of the report note that currently the province invests just $1.50 per people on active transportation (walking and cycling), and that places like Denmark and New Zealand invest $34 and $24 per person respectively. The plan goes on to say that “lessons learned in these leading jurisdictions will help to inform the new B.C. strategy.”

Combined with the TransLink 10-Year Vision, significant funding is becoming available for walking and cycling infrastructure.

A family using the year-old bike lanes on 53rd Avenue this summer. Select image to enlarge.

In Langley City, we have been successful in getting grants from both TransLink and the provincial government to build cycling infrastructure on 203rd Street and 53rd Avenue. We also will be receiving funding from TransLink over the next few years to implement $1.9 million in cycling infrastructure on Glover Road and $2.2 million in cycling infrastructure on the 208th Street Causeway.

We’ve also received funding to improve walking in our community from TransLink for projects such as the new path on Duncan Way.

With the provincial government now doubling down on investing in active transportation options, Langley City will be in a good position to take advantage of that funding.

Our community is 10 square kilometres which is the perfect size for providing active transportation options. Within our community, if we continue to invest in safe and comfortable walk and cycling infrastructure, people will have real transportation choices. When traveling outside of our community, people will be able to take high-quality transit.

6% of people use active transportation options as their primary way to get to work in Langley City, and around 7% of people take transit to get to work, based on the latest 2016 census data.

While some people must use a car to get around, there is ample opportunity for increasing the number of cycling and walking trips in Langley City. Doubling the percentage of trips that use transit and active transportation options in our community would help reduce congestion and GHG emissions.

Langley City and Township: A brief history of cooperation

Because of our shared origin, Langley City and Township have a history of working together for the betterment of residents and businesses in both communities. Today, we jointly fund policing, Langley Youth and Family Services*, dog control, emergency management, and search & rescue services. Our fire departments, along with Surrey, have mutual aid agreements, and our local water systems are interconnected.

Because Langley City is surrounded on three sides by the Township, there is also cooperation when it comes to planning for things such as transportation or stormwater management. We even still jointly fund the Douglas Day luncheon.

In the past, we also jointly marketed both communities as a tourist destination.

Last week, I posted about some of the historical documents that are available online about local governments. This is because all Orders in Council, dating back to the beginning of our province, are available online. Another interesting document that I found was from the late fall of 1971.

Langley City and Langley Township both have separate parks and recreation departments today, but for a period, we had a joint recreation commission. Some of the joint projects that both municipalities worked on in the past include the W.C. Blair Pool and McLeod Athletic Park.

The joint recreation commission was long gone by the 21st Century though finding this old document reminded me of my hometown. The City of Vernon and District of Coldstream have had a joint parks and recreation department since before I can remember.

I am not suggesting that Langley needs to have a joint recreation department again, but even shortly after Langley City became its own municipality, there was still room for cooperation. Over the years, that spirit of cooperation has waxed and waned, but it has always remained.

Map of the Langley Regional Town Centre. Select map to enlarge. Source: Metro Vancouver.

With rail rapid transit on the horizon, and both communities sharing the Langley Regional Town Centre, there will continue to be opportunity in the coming years to work together.

*This organization provides early intervention counselling service in cooperation with the Langley RCMP, the community and families toward preventing child and youth entry into the criminal justice system.

What will our transportation system look like in 30 years? TransLink trying to answer that question.

The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation will be meeting this morning. On the agenda are two important topics: South of Fraser Rapid Transit Planning (SkyTrain along Fraser Highway) and the Regional Transportation Strategy.

Visualization of what the future Regional Transportation Strategy should address. Select image to enlarge.

While much has been said about SkyTrain this week, there hasn’t been much focus on the proposed update to the Regional Transportation Strategy. This will be the topic of today’s post.

One of the legal requirements for TransLink is to prepare a rolling 30-year transportation strategy for Metro Vancouver. Transportation and land-use are linked. For example, walkable communities where people can access shops and services are required to support high-quality transit. TransLink’s long-term strategy must integrate the following objectives:

• Regional land-use objectives
• Provincial and regional environmental objectives, including air quality and greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives
• Population growth in, and economic development of, Metro Vancouver
• Provincial transportation and economic objectives

Sometimes these objectives may be at odds with each other. In the past, provincial transportation objectives have clashed with regional land-use objects. The complex nature of the long-term strategy means that it can take a few years to develop.

TransLink’s last attempt at creating a Regional Transportation Strategy was in 2013, but it was put on pause due to the 2015 transit referendum. In order for people to have had something to vote on, the Mayors' Council 10-Year Vision was put together. This has been the guiding document for regional transportation investments over the last several years.

With the final phase of the 10-Year Vision hopefully moving towards funding in the next year, a new long-term strategy is now required for the next 30 years.

This long-term strategy will be an opportunity for the region to “think big” about the future of transportation. For example, what role will autonomous vehicles play in the future? How will they integrate with walking, cycling, and public transit? Will buses be autonomous? How will they impact current on-site parking requirements for buildings?

Another big topic will be around what the future rail rapid transit, bus rapid transit, and frequent bus network will look like. Will we build rail transit lines on Scott Road and 200th Street, or a line out to Abbotsford for example?

As our region grows, the only way to get people out of congestion will be to continue to make walking, cycling, and taking transit convenient for more people. I’m looking forward to the process of developing this new long-term transportation strategy.

This long-term strategy will inform TransLink’s investment plans for the road and transit network for years to come. If all goes well, the new Regional Transportation Strategy will be adopted near the end of 2020.

Old map shows that Langley City was always at the crossroads of commerce in the Fraser Valley

Up until the 1990s, local governments in BC had less autonomy than they do today. The provincial government had to approve many matters which are handled locally today. While I am a strong supporter of local decision making, the one benefit of the province’s past control in local matters was the degree of historical records that are now available online. An Order in Council is similar to a council resolution; it is how governing bodies are able to direct the civil service, and update regulations or policies.

These Orders in Council are searchable online. Over the weekend, I was searching through these archives and found a few interesting pieces of history about Langley City.

One such peice is an old map of Langley City’s Downtown from 1967. It shows the community before the Langley Bypass and many other roads were built. The faded grey shows the proposed alignment of the yet to be built Langley Bypass.

Map of Downtown Langley City from 1967. Select map to enlarge.

Another interesting note is that the map shows when the railway (which provided passenger and freight service) literally when through the middle of Michaud Crescent, then up along Glover Road.

If you look closely, you can also see that all the roads were still named. Also interesting is that the current 203rd Street didn’t connect through and Logan Avenue/Production Way weren’t built.

More than anything, this map shows how the intersection of the BCER which was an interurban railway, Fraser Highway which was the Yale Wagon Road, and Glover Road which provided access to Fort Langley and the Hudson’s Bay Company Farm, were the reasons why Langley Prairie was established. Our community was and is the crossroads of the Fraser Valley.

December 10, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Smoking Ban in Parks, Magic of Christmas Awards, Committee Appointments

Last night was the final public Langley City council meeting of 2018. The meeting started with a presentation for the Magic of Christmas Parade Entry Award winners. These awards went to the best of the best in the categories of corporate, private, and community group.

Back in the summer, council gave third reading to an updated Smoking Bylaw. As required by provincial law, it had to go to Fraser Health for review. Based the health authority’s feedback, council moved forward with an update Smoking Bylaw last night. The updated bylaw covers tobacco, vapour products, and cannabis. Major changes include:

• Creating a no smoking zone within six metres of all doorways, air intakes, and open windows of any substantially enclosed public space and workplaces
• Prohibit smoking in a vehicle with children under the age of 16
• Ban smoking in parks

There is the option to create smoking zones in parks in the future is required. I asked what measures the City will be implementing to inform people of the smoking ban in parks including the possible use of signs. I was told that signs will not be placed in parks, but that the City will be engaging in a public education campaign.

Council gave first, second, and third reading to update the Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw which is used for issuing fines. Someone could receive a fine in the amount of $150 for a first offence, $300 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or each subsequent offence for smoking in contravention of the updated Smoking Bylaw.

Council approved renewing the animal control contract with the Langley Animal Protection Society for five years start in January. The cost of the contract is $97,895 per year, and will be adjusted annually based on the Vancouver Consumer Price Index.

Council endorsed the City applying for a $25,000 grant from UBCM. If successful, this grant will allow the City to “collect information regarding the child care needs of the community; create an inventory of existing child care spaces; identify space creation targets over the next 10 years; and identify actions that can be taken to meet those space creation targets.”

Council also gave final reading to adopt four bylaws. The first bylaw rezoned the properties located at 19727, 19737, 19755 and 19763 55 Avenue to accommodate a 36-unit, 3-storey townhouse development. A development permit was also issued for the project which you can read more about in a post from the summer.

Council also adopted updated Waterworks, Solid Waste, and Sanitary Sewer Bylaws by giving them final reading. As I posted about last week, utility rates are increasing in our community in 2019 due to the increased cost of services we receive from the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

Members of Langley City council sit on various city-controlled and external committees. The following list outlines which committees members of council will serve on in 2019.

Advisory Planning Commission

1. Councillor Storteboom (Chair)
2. Councillor Pachal (Vice Chair)

Committee of the Whole – All Council

Community Day Committee

1. Councillor Wallace (Chair)
2. Councillor James (Vice Chair)

Community Grant Committee – All Council

CPR Railway, Township and City Advisory Panel

1. Councillor Albrecht (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Crime Prevention Task Group

1. Councillor Pachal (Chair)

Discover Langley City

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Downtown Langley Business Association

1. Councillor Storteboom
2. Councillor Albrecht (Alternate)

Economic Development Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor James

Emergency Planning Committee

1. Councillor James (Chair)

Finance Committee – All Council

Fraser Health Municipal Advisory Council

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor Martin (Alternate)

Fraser Valley Regional Library

1. Councillor Martin
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Gateway of Hope Community Council

1. Councillor Martin
2. Councillor Storteboom (Alternate)

Healthier Community Partnerships

1. Mayor van den Broek (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Alternate)

Homelessness Action Table

1. Councillor Martin

Joint School Board #35 / Municipal Liaison Committee

1. Councillor Wallace
2. Councillor James

Langley Christmas Bureau

1. Mayor van den Broek (Chair)
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Langley Human Dignity Coalition

1. Councillor Wallace

Langley Refugee and Immigrant Advisory Committee

1. Councillor Storteboom

Langley Senior Resources Centre Society

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor James (Alternate)

Langley Walk Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht
2. Councillor Wallace (alternate)

Local Government Awareness Day

1. Councillor Storteboom (Chair)
2. Councillor Martin

Lower Mainland District RCMP Mayors Forum

1. Mayor van den Broek

Langley Secondary School Round Table

1. Councillor Wallace

Magic of Christmas Parade Committee

1. Councillor Albrecht (Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Vice Chair)

Metro Vancouver Board of Directors

1. Mayor van den Broek
2. Councillor Martin (alternate)

Performing Arts Task Group

1. Councillor James (Co-Chair)
2. Councillor Wallace (Co-Chair)

Youth Commission

1. Councillor Wallace
2. Councillor Pachal (Alternate)

A look at TransLink’s two billion-dollar 2019 budget

With 2018 ending, local governments and agencies are working on preparing their budgets for 2019. TransLink is no exception and presented its 2019 budget for TransLink board approval last week.

Due to the Mayors’ Council’s 10-Year Vision, TransLink has seen its revenue increase from $1.6 billion in 2017 to a proposed $2 billion in 2019. TransLink’s main sources of operating revenue comes from fares, gas tax, and property tax.

Fares have always been the number one source of operating revenue for TransLink. Gas tax has historically been the number two source. Over the years, the amount of revenue that TransLink receives from gas tax has been declining as less people drive in the region due to higher gas costs. Gas tax is predicted to be the number three sources of revenue in 2019, a drop of 5 percent.

The following lists from TransLink’s 2019 Business Plan outline the priorities for the agency next year.

Priority One: Implement the Mayors’ Vision

• Implement four new Rapid-Service B-Line routes including: 41st Avenue, Fraser Highway, Lougheed Highway and North Shore Marine Drive-Main Corridor.
• Receive and commission the third new SeaBus vessel as well as 178 new conventional buses aimed to replace existing aging fleet and expand service.
• Recruit and train transit operators and support staff to support the expanded service levels.
• Test, commission and deliver 56 new Mark III rail cars.
• Modernize the Expo and Millennium Lines infrastructure to increase capacity and accommodate growth.
• Provide technical support for into the design of the Millennium Line Broadway Extension.
• Construct new bus exchanges at Guildford.

Priority Two: Maintain a State of Good Repair

• Support the replacement of the Transit Management and Communications (TMAC) bus radio system and supporting technology.
• Implement the 8,000-kilometre internal Preventative Maintenance program at BCRTC in accordance with Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement requirements.
• Install new fareboxes on Community Shuttle fleet.
• Implement formal asset management plan and transform safety management system at British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd. (BCRTC) .
• Develop and implement Emergency Response Plan through the IT Disaster Recovery Program.
• Complete SkyTrain Noise Assessment Study and develop implementation plan.
• Upgrade existing infrastructure and conduct ongoing preventative and corrective maintenance of bridges.
• Implement a formal Safety Management System at TransLink Corporate.
• Implement a Health and Safety Software system across the enterprise.

Priority Three: Enhance Customer Experience

• Participate in the electric-battery bus demonstration and integration trial of the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) .
• Receive and commission 32 double decker buses.
• Implement new HandyDART travel training program and reservation system.
• Implement McNeil recommendations (Independent Review of SkyTrain Service Disruptions) and deliver McNeil capital projects at the end of 2019.
• Implement a tiered policing pilot utilizing Community Safety Officers (CSO) to enhance policing resources and improve efficiencies.
• Expand marketing campaigns of the “See Something, Say Something” text 87-77-77 service.
• Implement Passenger Information Displays on the SkyTrain system.
• Make improvements to bus exchanges and SkyTrain stations such as new bus shelters, lighting, wayfinding, drive isle layouts and increases in bus capacity.
• Support the implementation of the outcomes and Access Transit Service Delivery Review.
• Enhance the Compass Card website and vending machine functions to improve the overall customer experience and respond to customer feedback.

The business plan outlines building the Fraser Highway B-Line and constructing a new bus exchange at Guildford. Given the recent shift to SkyTrain in Surrey, these priorities will likely drop off the list.

To accomplish its priorities, TransLink will be directly funding $1.7 billion in capital projects next year. Combined with federal and provincial money, this works out to $3.2 billion in new projects funded for 2019.

As I posted about last week, TransLink also grants money to municipalities for the major road network and to improve walking and cycling infrastructure. $56.5 million dollars will be made available for improving the major road network.

$13.4 million is being dedicated to fund new cycling infrastructure and $5 million for new walking infrastructure outside of the major road network. Langley City has been a recipient of this funding in the past for projects such as 203rd Street and the new multi-use trail on Duncan Way. We are also expected to receive funding for new cycling infrastructure on Glover Road and 208th Street from TransLink over the next several years.

TransLink has a bold 2019 business plan, and I look forward to seeing it being implemented.

Public washrooms may be coming to major TransLink stations and exchanges

Currently TransLink provides public washrooms at SeaBus terminals and on the West Coast Express due to federal regulations. Public washrooms are not provided at other stations or exchanges within the TransLink service area.

The primary reason why many transit agencies don’t provide public washroom is due to ongoing maintenance costs and the perception that washrooms will cause negative activity. This summer I was in Halifax, and I wrote about how Halifax Transit is able to provide safe and clean public washrooms at their major transit terminals.

TransLink completed a survey earlier this year. People were asked what TransLink’s priorities should be. While it is no surprise that people picked increasing service as their number one priority, their number two priority was to “increase the availability of washrooms on the transit system.”

Results from TransLink survey earlier this year. Preferences for TransLink priorities. Select chart to enlarge.

People who were older placed a higher priority on washrooms than people who were younger in the survey. As we age, the requirement for easy washroom access increases. Some transit trips can be over an hour, and not having a public washroom available could limit some people’s ability to move freely around our region.

The TransLink board is likely going to be adopting a public washroom policy this morning with the following objectives:

• Increase the availability of washrooms for customers towards a long-term network: increase opportunities for most customers to have a washroom available as part of their transit journey.
• Maximize accessibility: washrooms should be universally accessible and inclusive for transit riders of all ages, abilities and identities.
• Foster safety and security: washrooms should be designed and delivered to foster safety and security for customers and staff who use or work at the washrooms.
• Foster cleanliness, comfort and convenience: these key customer needs and expectations should be a focus of provision, operation and maintenance decisions.
• Be affordable: washrooms should be provided and operated in the manner that meets the objectives and other guidelines through the most cost effective approach available.
• Keep risks manageable: risks should be identified, considered and managed for both TransLink and our operating companies.

The focus will be to provide access to public washrooms at major transfer points and at locations where customers have long journey times. I look forward to this policy being adopted, so that public washrooms could open at locations such as Carvolth Park and Ride.

December 3, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: City Park Upgrades, Utility Rate Increases in 2019, and Building a Happy, Healthy Langley

Over the last year, Langley City’s Engineering, Parks, and Environment Department has been busy making our community happier, healthier, and safer. Rick Bomhof, who is the director of the department, provided a year-end update on the many projects that have been completed over the last year.

I’ve posted about many of these projects over the last year, so I won’t be highlighting all the projects that Rick touched on at the meeting. There have been several broad themes that the City has been focusing on. Langley City is an old community with end-of-life underground infrastructure. Replacing storm sewers, culverts, sewer and water mains has been one of the prioritizes over the last year. Reinvesting in our parks was also a priority with enhancements made to playgrounds and trails throughout our community.

One of the major programs that the Engineering department is actively working on is upgrading every City-owned streetlight to LED. This will make our streets brighter in the evening and at night, and will save taxpayer dollars due to less energy use. Rick noted that there was an issue with the initial order of LEDs which delayed the rollout, but things are now moving forward. To date, LED streetlights have been rolled out along Logan Avenue, 56 Avenue East, and 203rd Street. Many of the new black streetlights in downtown are also LED. In addition, the City has added improved lighting in lanes and streets where there wasn’t street-lighting in the past.

Giving people safe transportation choices has also been a focus over the last year. The City has installed new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure in our community. This is important because as our community grows, we must give people choices to get out of congestion. The City has also installed traffic calming measures in our community which has resulted in drivers slowing down which creates safer streets.

Langley City’s 2019 budget will be presented early next year, and I look forward to continuing the trend of infrastructure investment focus areas that we have been working towards over the last few years.

On the topic of budget, the Metro Vancouver regional district provides water, sewer, and solid waste management services to Langley City. As I posted about last month, the regional district is also upgrading their aging infrastructure. Water, sewer, and solid waste management rates will be going up for Langley City residents in 2019.

Langley City council gave first, second, and third reading to update these rates for 2019 as follows:

• The water rate will increase by $1.31 per cubic metre. This works out to an increase of $26.40 for single-family housing, and $15.20 for apartments and townhouses on average.
• The sewer rate will increase by $1.19 per cubic metre. This works out to an increase of $21.12 for single-family housing, and $12.16 for apartments and townhouses on average.
• The solid waste fee will increase by $8 per household.

Langley City council also approved tendering a contract to Cedar Crest Lands (B.C.) Ltd. in the amount of $627,772 to continue with the renewal of City Park. The following map shows what will be completed.

A map of upgrades to City Park. Select map to enlarge.

The renewal of City Park is a multi-year program, so this is one of many contracts that will likely be tendered.

Next Monday will be the last council meeting of 2018.

December 3, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Long Service Award Ceremony, Budget Amendments, plus a Parking and Management Plan for a Proposed Construction Project

Last night was a special council meeting as it was an opportunity for the mayor, council, and senior city staff to acknowledge and thank people who have worked for the City for more than 10 years. There were several people who received a long service award for working at Langley City for 10 years, and several others that received a long service award for working at the City for 20 years. Every person who received the long service award had interesting stories about their commitment to our community. One interesting fact that we heard last night was that there are now second-generation people who work for the City. One person’s parent worked for the City, and now this person does.

People at the long service award recognition section of the council meeting. Select image to enlarge.

I posted last month about proposed amendments to the City’s 2018 capital budget to support our new Nexus Vision and other matters that surfaced during the year. You can read more about the additional projects in that previous post. Last night, opportunity was provided for people in the community to provide feedback on the amended budget. No one took advantage of that opportunity. Council gave final reading and approved the amended capital budget.

Last month, council held a public hearing for the proposed rezoning and development permit for the properties located at 5398, 5410, and 5448 208 Street to accommodate a 40-unit, 4-storey apartment building. Council asked the proponent of the project to provide a construction traffic management plan, construction parking management plan, and answer some specific questions about the underground parking.

Map from Construction Traffic Management Plan for the proposed project on the south-east corner of Douglas Crescent and 208th Street. Select map to enlarge.

The proponent provided the information requested by council. I was happy to see that the project’s proponent also secured off-street parking at St. Joseph's Church for the construction crew.

Redevelopment does have negative impacts to the community during the construction phase. I’ve heard from people who live near job sites about traffic, parking, garbage, and noise issues. By addressing some of these challenges, we can maintain the quality of life for current residents in our community.

Council gave third reading to the rezoning bylaw.

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting about the other matters addressed at last night’s council meeting.

TransLink’s MRN expansion means more money for municipal road maintenance

One of the unique attributes of TransLink among transportation agencies in North America is that it is responsible for both providing transit services and maintaining a portion of our regional road network.

I posted about the funding that municipalities in the South of Fraser received in 2017 to maintain the Major Road Network (MRN), and to expand walking and cycling infrastructure, last month.

When a road is part of the MRN, TransLink provides a per kilometre subsidy to municipalities for:

• street cleaning
• snow removal
• maintaining streetlights, traffic signals and signs
• patching potholes, and
• repaving

This subsidy worked out to $20,205 per lane kilometre in 2017. When a road is part of the MRN, it also becomes eligible for 50/50 cost-sharing between TransLink and the local municipality for projects that increase the flow of people or goods. This could include enhancing sidewalks, bike lanes, bus lanes, and even general travel lanes.

For a section of road to be eligible for inclusion in the MRN, it must these objectives:

• Facilitates intra‐regional travel of people and transportation of goods.
• Connects regionally significant destinations.
• Forms an interconnected and complete network.
• Moves high volumes of general purpose vehicles, transit passengers and/or trucks.
• Maximizes safety of travel.
• Maintains road and bridge structure conditions in a state of good repair to support all modes.
• Minimizes adverse impacts to adjacent neighbourhoods.

As part of new funding that was unlocked by the Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision, the Major Road Network will be growing by 10%. The following map shows the current MRN with the proposed additions to the network.

Current MRN in blue. Proposed additions to MRN in purple. Select map to enlarge.

In Langley City, additional sections of Fraser Highway and 203rd Street are being proposed to be included in the MRN.

Road network in Langley City. Provincial highways in red. Currently MRN in blue. Proposed additions to MRN in green. Select map to enlarge. 

If these additional sections of road are included in the MRN, the current local funding that is being used to maintain these sections of road can be reinvested to better maintain other parts of our road network in Langley City. With the new Fraser Highway B-Line in the works, it should make it easier for Langley City to cost-share implementing transit priority measures, and enhance cycling and walking infrastructure along Fraser Highway and 203rd Street.

A brief history of bus service in Langley City - Pacific Stage Lines

Between 1910 and the early 1950s, you could take a train from Downtown Vancouver to what was then known as Langley Prairie, all the way out to Chilliwack. If the system still existed today, I could have walked 8 minutes to the train stop at Glover Road and Fraser Highway with my final stop being the terminus in Downtown Vancouver. This system was called the Interurban. Ripping up this system was one of the biggest transportation mistakes made in our region in the mid-twentieth century.

You can read more about the Interurban on my blog and look at some of the old line maps. Ironically, we are rebuilding these old rail lines today, but with SkyTrain technology, and for a whole lot more money.

At the end of October, Greyhound Canada stopped providing bus service to Langley City. Its former bus depot is located across the street from the current TransLink Langley Centre bus loop. Greyhound Canada took over Pacific Stage Lines which was the replacement service provided when the Interurban rail network was shutdown.

Former Greyhound Bus Depot in Langley City. Select image to enlarge.

I was digging through TransLink’s “The Buzzer” archive and found an article from April 23, 1954 about the former Langley bus depot (I believe originally located at Douglas Crescent and Park Avenue.)

Branch Manager Dave King confers with Mrs. Maxine Irwin, Pacific Stage Lines agent, outside the new Bus Depot and BCE Offices at Langley. The $80,000 depot, fifth completed in the Fraser Valley since the was, opens Monday. Select image to enlarge.

Shortly after 11 a.m. next Monday, Reeve Brooks of Langley Prairie will wield a pair of shears on a ribbon and the new Pacific Stage Lines Bus Depot and B.C. Electric Offices will be officially open.

It’s a smart and modern building which makes generous use of brick, plate glass and concrete block — a handsome addition to a rapidly growing community.

…

The new building is one of five new depots which the company has erected in the Valley since the war. Chilliwack, Mission, Cloverdale and White Rock… Now Langley.

Later this year two others will be completed at Abbotsford and Haney.

This “first-class service in first-class quarters” bus system latest in Langley City for 64 years. I look forward to the day when I can once again take a train from Langley City to other points in our region.

TransLink’s Original Strategic Transportation Plan: A Decade in the Desert for Bus Service Expansion

In 1999, TransLink took over from BC Transit as the provider of public transit service in Metro Vancouver. The original purpose of creating TransLink was to transfer control of transit delivery and planning from the provincial government to the region. I wrote a three-part series on the history of TransLink; it has been a bumpy journey.

I stumbled upon one of TransLink’s original strategic transportation plans which was created a year after the organization took over transit services in Metro Vancouver. I thought it would be interesting to look at what bus service was supposed to look like by 2005 in that original plan, and where we are today.

By 2005, the original strategic transportation plan envisioned that there would be 4.79 million hours of conventional bus service deployed throughout our region (including SeaBus). More bus service hours means more frequent bus service, and bus service in more locations.

TransLink was unable to expand bus service because our local and provincial governments were at an impasse for close to a decade on how to fund transit in our region. It took until 2009 for bus service hours to reach the original 2005 vision. There was a small bump during 2010, then bus service hours remained unchanged until last year. In 2017, 5.12 million hours of conventional bus service was delivered.

The current 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation is why we are seeing an actual increase in bus transit now. As I noted yesterday, bus transit is the backbone of the transit network.

Two interesting maps from the original strategic transportation plan focused on bus service. The following map is of proposed B-Line services. Some lines took a bit longer to get implemented than originally envisioned.

Map of proposed B-Line bus routes from 2000 Strategic Transportation Plan. Select map to enlarge.

The strategic transportation plan also called for express buses to service certain corridors. This would be similar to the kind of bus service in South Delta, and between the SkyTrain and Carvolth Exchange in Langley. Some of these routes never materialized.

Map of proposed express bus routes from 2000 Strategic Transportation Plan. Select map to enlarge.

With the recent changes in some municipalities, I am concerned that some in local government may try to open up the 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation for new debate. It took close to a decade to get transit expansion restarted in our region. While the plan is not perfect, it is good. I hope that the current Mayors’ Council works hard to ensure that the final phase of the 10-Year Vision gets funded.

TransLink’s Accountability Centre shows positive impacts from increasing bus service

Over the last few years, TransLink has been adding statistics to a section of their website called the Accountability Centre. The Accountability Centre shows some key performance metrics about the agency such as ridership, customer satisfaction, safety, and efficiency. It is similar to the Accountability Center which is part of the King County Metro Transit website.

One of the metrics that most people look at is transit ridership. The Accountability Centre provides both detailed year-over-year statistics, and high-level historical statistics.

Monthly Boardings. Select chart to enlarge.

Historic Ridership Trends. Select chart to enlarge.

The chart that I find most interesting is boarding by service type. This chart shows the number of times people enter a fare paid zone which includes buses, trains, and boats.

2018 Boardings by Service Type. Select chart to enlarge.

Around 62% of boardings occur on buses in our region. This is a significant number. While SkyTrain may generate 90% of the headlines, it is really the bus system that is the backbone of transit service in Metro Vancouver.

Currently transit service is seeing its biggest expansion in several decades. While it hasn’t gotten much attention, major investments are being made to expand bus service.

Currently funded is an 18% increase in bus service throughout our region which includes 7 new B-Line routes. If the Mayors’ Council can figure out funding, their will be an additional 7% increase in bus service which includes a further 5 new B-Lines.

Over the coming years, it will be interesting to see if a higher portion of boardings will occur on buses in our region as increased service continues to be rolled out. I’ll certainly be checking the Accountability Centre. I also look forward to even more performance data being made available online by TransLink.

Smaller, more accountable local government possible because of regional service delivery

Over the weekend, I met with someone who is politically involved in the Township of Langley. The topic of amalgamation was brought up by the person who I was having coffee with. I asked them how does amalgamation benefit Langley City residents?

One of the reasons why people believe that amalgamation is a good idea is because they believe that it will lead to more cost-effective delivery of services. More often than not, this doesn’t materialize. The Fraser Institute, which is a conservative advocacy organization, states that amalgamation “weakens incentives for efficiency and responsiveness to local needs.” They believe that there should be more, smaller municipalities.

In some cases, it makes sense to provide services at a larger scale. Some examples include police, water, sewer, and transit service delivery. In Metro Vancouver, we have a federation of municipalities who work together to delivery these services.

For example, Langley City would not be able to deliver water or sewer services on its own. Delivering clean water to businesses and residents is a major operation in our region with a planned operating budget of $289 million, and a $231 million capital projects budget in 2019. The regional sewer service is also a large-scale operation with a planned 2019 operating budget of $308 million, and a capital projects budget of $564 million. These two regional services employ over 900 people.

It would make zero sense to have a Langley City transit agency as most people travel between municipalities daily. TransLink, which delivers transit service in our region, has an operation budget of over $1 billion.

Even policing services are currently highly integrated. Langley City and Township have a joint RCMP detachment which utilizes regionally funded teams, such as for homicide investigation, when required.

Regionalization allow communities like Langley City to focus on local matters such as parks, roads, recreational and cultural opportunities, and land-use planning. Because of our size, members of council and city staff are highly aware of local geography, concerns, and solutions. Our smaller size allows us to quickly respond to local matters. It also leads to more accountable and transparent government.

The delivery of services where large-scale is important is already regionalized in Metro Vancouver. Having some of the larger municipalities split into several smaller municipalities might actually provide for even better government in our region.

A study about the capital region on Vancouver Island was released last year. It noted that amalgamation wasn’t the answer, but the better coordination of services where larger-scale is important. This is something that we do relatively well in Metro Vancouver today.

November 19, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Langley City’s Nexus vision implementation progressing. Updates to the capital budget approved.

This summer, Langley City council approved our new vision called “Langley City: Nexus of Community”. This is a comprehensive framework that will guide all aspects of community planning over the next decade. To make this vision become a reality, action will need to be taken. In a previous post, I outlined some of the key action items that will be required to implement the Nexus vision.

A presentation slide about the progress made on implementing “Langley City: Nexus of Community” to date. Select image to enlarge.

On Monday, Langley City council received an update on the steps that are already underway to move forward with the Nexus vision as follows:

Communication Plan

• Communication plan approved by council
• Community outreach throughout 2019

Building a Strong Foundation

• Official Community Plan update starting in 2019
• Zoning Bylaw update starting in 2019

Community

• Downtown and Transit Corridor Master Plan starting in 2019
• Nicomekl River District Neighbourhood plan starting in 2019
• Property Fund approved by council

Connected

• Economic Development Commissions task group will start in 2019

Experiences

• Performing Arts and Culture Centre task group will start in 2019

Council also approved some changes to our capital budget to align with the Nexus vision, and to address some other matters that have surfaced during this year. These changes do not directly impact property taxation.

Directly Supports Nexus

• Official Community Plan Update - $150,000
• Zoning Bylaw Update $60,000
• Nicomekl River District Neighbourhood Plan - $100,000
• Transit Hub Design - $30,000
• Performing Arts Centre Feasibility Study, Phase 2 - $50,000
• Prosperity Fund for Land Acquisition - $1 million
• Rogers Hometown Hockey Event - $25,000
• Community Day Event - $6,000

Other Matters

• Traffic Signal Upgrade, 200 St & Logan Ave - $122,000
• Pedestrian Button Replacement at Crosswalks - $30,000
• Traffic Calming in School Zones - $75,000
• 203 St Fibre Optic Cable, Douglas Crescent to Fire Hall - $40,000
• Capital Asset Appraisal - $30,000
• Municipal Insurance Association Risk Management Plan - $16,630
• Wire Theft Deterrents - $15,000

The next four years will be exciting as this is the first time that Langley City has ever started to implement a comprehensive plan for our whole community. I look forward to consulting with members of our community as we move forward.

November 19, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Discovery Langley City’s contract renewed until end of 2022, plus an update on capital projects in our community

Yesterday, I posted about re-zoning bylaws and development permits that were heard at the Monday night Langley City council meeting. Today, I will be posting on some of the other matters that were on the agenda.

Around this time last year, Langley City in partnership with its hoteliers launched Discover Langley City to promote our community as a destination for visitors in Metro Vancouver. The City sent out an RFP for anyone who was interested in becoming the service provider for the Discover Langley City brand. The Downtown Langley Business Association (DLBA) was the successful bidder, and a one-year contract was awarded to that organization. Based on the performance of the DLBA, City council extended their contract to deliver destination marketing services until December 31, 2022.

One of the primary purposes of Discover Langley City is to promote people spending the night in Langley City as it is mostly funding by a surcharge on the price of hotel and an Airbnb rooms in our community.

Due to our community’s size, the people who would most likely visit our community are people that already live in Metro Vancouver or people who are already visiting Metro Vancouver for another reason. Discovery Langley City will be ramping up marketing to people in our region to visit Langley City.

In 2019, Discover Langley City plans to continue to work on attracting and promoting new multi-day events in our community. Some of the events in the works next year include Rogers Hometown Hockey and the Canadian Festival of Chili and Barbecue.

For more information about Discover Langley City, please visit their website.

City council also received an update on the various projects that are happening in our community. One of the things that you will have noticed over the last few years is that the City has been busy replacing and repairing water mains. Some of our water mains contain asbestos in the concrete. Under normal use, this is perfectly safe, but special training is required when doing repair work. Our City crews received specialized training around working with this type of pipe recently.

City crews recevied training around working with asbestor cement pipes. Select image to enlarge

If you walk around Downtown and Douglas Park, you’ll notice that there are new Christmas lights and decorations that have been installed.

New Christmas lights around Downtown and Douglas Park. Select image to enlarge.

Work is continuing on adding new trails at Conder Park, and completing the new sidewalk along 46A Avenue. The Duncan Way multi-use path has also been recently completed with more sidewalks coming soon to that area.

Work will be finishing up shortly along Douglas Crescent between 206th and 208th Street except for paving which will be completed in the spring when the weather is consistently above 10°C.

Upgrades were recently completed to create a public outdoor patio at City Hall. Water mains in our community are currently being flush to ensure that our water quality remains top-rate. The culvert across 50 Avenue was also recently completed.

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting about the progress to date on the implementation of our new Nexus community vision.

November 19, 2018 Council Meeting Notes: Townhouse and apartment projects moving forward, plus a new process for rezoning bylaws

Monday night was the first meeting of the new Langley City council where we got back into the business of city governance. With a new mayor and council, comes a new process for dealing with rezoning bylaws.

To rezone a parcel of land, four “readings” of a bylaw, plus a public hearing is required. Previously, first and second reading were given at one council meeting. At a subsequent council meeting, a public hearing and third reading was given. After all conditions from the city were met, a final reading would be heard for possible adoption of a rezoning bylaw.

The public hearing and third reading will now happen on two different nights. This will allow for feedback from the public and council to be addressed in more detail before debating the merits of a rezoning at third reading. I think that this is a good move.

There was a public hearing on Monday night about a proposed rezoning of the property located at 5398, 5410, 5448 208 Street to accommodate a 40-unit, four-storey apartment building. Of the 40 units, 8 units will include three bedrooms. This will help provide move affordable housing options for families.

Render of proposed apartment building at 5398, 5410, 5448 208 Street. View from 208th Street. Select image to enlarge.

Render of proposed apartment building at 5398, 5410, 5448 208 Street. View from Douglas Crescent. Select image to enlarge.

There were two residents who spoke at the public hearing, and one resident who submitted a written list of concerns. One concern expressed by the residents was the loss of trees along Douglas Crescent, east of 208th Street. The primary concern regarding the trees is that the people who live in the apartments across the street would lose privacy. They were also concerned that there would be a reduction of on-street parking. Finally, one resident was concerned about the construction period noise and parking for tradespeople.

Staff informed the residents at the public hearing that the trees will need to be removed to accommodate the underground parking. The proponent of the project noted that they will be incorporating new layered trees and shrubs to provide privacy. As far as on-street parking, staff noted that there will be no reduction in on-street parking.

Landscaping plan for proposed apartment building at 5398, 5410, 5448 208 Street. Select image to enlarge.

I asked the proponent of the project to bring their construction parking management plan for the third reading of the rezoning bylaw.

Later in the meeting, council gave final readings and issued development permits for the following projects:

• 4-storey, 48-unit apartment located at 20105, 20109, 20119, 20129 53A Avenue
• 3-storey, 41-unit townhouse project located at 19610, 19618-26, 19630-32, 19638, and 19648-50 55A Avenue

Tomorrow, I’ll be continuing my update on the matters that were addressed last night.

Mayors’ Council halts light rail along King George and 104th Avenue; moves forward with two-phase SkyTrain extension to Langley

As I posted about on Wednesday, important decisions were made at the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation inaugural meeting. I listened to this meeting which was live-streamed on Thursday morning.

One of the first orders of business was to choose a new chair and vice-chair for the Mayors’ Council. People who serve as the chair and vice-chair of the Mayors’ Council are also automatically appointed to the TransLink Board, so these positions are very important.

Mayor Jonathan Cote of New Westminster was nominated by other mayors to be the chair, and Mayor Jack Froese was nominated as the vice-chair. Both Mayor Cote and Froese are good choices for these positions.

New Westminster and Langley City are very similar as we are both compact urban centres. I know that Mayor Cote is also a strong supporter of building compact urban centres that are connected by high-quality transit. This is what we are working towards in Langley City with our Nexus Vision.

Mayor Froese will provide a strong voice for the South of Fraser. He is pragmatic, and I know that he will work to ensure that we will get rapid transit built to Langley.

Not surprising, the Mayors’ Council did vote to halt building light rail along King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue. Importantly, they also voted to keep moving forward with the 10-Year Regional Transportation Investments Vision with the exception of Surrey rapid transit.

After much debate, they also voted to proceed “immediately with planning, design and procurement readiness works for the SkyTrain on Fraser Highway project. And, concurrently, initiate a planning process to refresh the Surrey-Newton-Guildford rapid transit, consistent with the 10-Year Vision of building 27 km of rapid transit along both corridors.”

It was confirmed that SkyTrain along Fraser Highway will likely be built in two phases due to the increased cost of using this technology compared to conventional light rail. The first phase will likely terminate somewhere in Fleetwood. It will be extremely important that funding is approved to ensure that there is a phase two of SkyTrain that will run to Langley.

The Mayors’ Council also approved their work plan for 2019 which includes:

• Securing all remaining funding from the federal and provincial governments to complete the 10-Year Vision, including SkyTrain to Langley
• Getting funding to complete a SkyTrain extension to UBC
• Continuing to moving forward with exploring mobility pricing

While not explicitly stated, moving forward quickly to complete the 10-Year Vision will also mean that the Mayors’ Council will need to approve increased regional revenue to pay for the vision. This will likely mean property tax and gas tax increases.

Over the next few months, more details will become available on the implementation of rapid transit in the South of Fraser, including the timing of implementing B-Line routes. Information will also become available on how to get SkyTrain to UBC.

As I stated last week, I believe that the Mayors’ Council has their work cut out for them. They will need to accelerate and find significant new funding to build transit in our region. I hope that this new Mayors’ Council will move quickly as people in our region are tired of waiting for transit service to be expanded.

Two Events to Get You into the Christmas Spirit

I know that it is still the middle of November, but the Christmas season is quickly approaching. There are a few events that are coming up that are sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

The first event is the 2018 Langley Children's Wish Breakfast.

Stop by Newlands Golf & Country Club on November 27th with a new unwrapped toy, and enjoy a free breakfast with live entertainment. I was at this event last year, and it really reminded me of the generous spirit of our community. The toys will be used by the Langley Christmas Bureau for families in need.

Date: November 27, 2018
Time: 6:30 am - 9:30 am
Location: Newlands Golf & Country Club, 21025 48 Ave, Langley, BC

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact wishbreakfast@newlandsgolf.com

The next event is the annual Magic of Christmas Day on Saturday, December 1st.

You can start the day with a kid-friendly Breakfast with Santa from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Douglas Recreation Centre. You must pre-register for this event online or by calling (604) 514-2940.

In the afternoon, you can drop by McBurney Plaza to take part in family-friendly activities from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

The annual Christmas Parade starts at 6:00 pm, so be sure to grab a spot along the Fraser Highway One-Way.

After the parade, the Christmas Tree at McBurney Plaza will be lit and carolling will ensue.

For more information, please visit Langley City’s website.

The Future of South of Fraser Rapid Transit on the Table Thursday

Thursday morning will be the first meeting of the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation since the local government elections. Normally, inaugural meetings including items like appointing chairs, allowing people to get up to speed on the details of the current work plan, and developing a work plan for the coming year. With 75% of the mayors serving their first term, this would be a significant meeting with just those items.

With the new mandate in Surrey to halt development of light rail along King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue, and build SkyTrain along Fraser Highway instead, this meeting will also lay the groundwork for the future of transit for the over 800,000 people that call the South of Fraser home.

A typical cross section of SkyTrain as proposed for Fraser Highway. Select image to enlarge.

Mayors’ Council staff is asking mayors to approve the following recommendation:

1. Endorse TransLink’s decision to suspend the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Project, stopping all expenditures of money and resources on the project, based on the request from the City of Surrey;
2. Use the 10-Year Vision as the basis for South of Fraser rapid transit planning, recognizing the City of Surrey request to change the technology and timing of the Fraser Highway project from LRT to SkyTrain, and draw only on the available funding currently allocated for South of Fraser rapid transit in the Phase Two Plan, and the financial framework for the Phase Three Plan.
3. Request the additional analysis and a work plan on “Option 2” in this report, for consideration at the December 13, 2018 meeting of the Mayors’ Council to:
1. Start immediately with planning, consultation, design and procurement readiness works for the SkyTrain on Fraser Highway project, building on the 2017 SkyTrain design study; and concurrently to,
2. Initiate a planning process to refresh the South of Fraser transit strategy.

What this means is that if the resolution is approved, Mayors’ Council staff would start the process of implementing SkyTrain along Fraser Highway in two phases. There is currently $1.6 billion available to build SkyTrain along Fraser Highway. The total cost to build SkyTrain is around $2.9 billion.

As noted in the report, “given the funding available in Phase Two [today], management advises that is likely that SkyTrain from Surrey to Langley would have to be constructed in two phases, the first using available Phase Two funding, and the second phase to complete the line to Langley, commencing once the Phase Three Plan is funded and approved.” Planning for SkyTrain along the whole corridor would start right away if the resolution is approved.

Additionally, there could be impacts to the timing of the Fraser Highway B-Line which was scheduled to start service in 2019.

In order for SkyTrain to make its way to Langley, new funding will need to be approved. Ideally, the federal and provincial governments would commit to an accelerated funding program. The Mayors’ Council would also have to approve a regional funding component which has historical been sourced by increasing property tax and gas tax.

Building SkyTrain to UBC has been expressed as a priority for the City of Vancouver. The Mayors’ Council will also need to figure out the priority of this project, how much it will cost, and how it will be funded. There is also the question of the future of rapid transit along King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue in Surrey that will need to be answered.

The new Mayors’ Council will have a full plate over the next few years. If all the pieces fall into place, SkyTrain along Fraser Highway could start construction in 2021/22.

Battery-electric and double decker buses coming to a transit route near you

Every year, the federal government distributes around 2 billion dollars to municipalities throughout Canada. This program is called the Federal Gas Tax Fund, and can be used for a broad range of infrastructure projects. In Metro Vancouver, municipalities decided that 95% of the fund be dedicated for public transit projects. This funding is used almost exclusively to purchase new buses for TransLink.

Every year, TransLink submits a list of projects to the Metro Vancouver Regional District Board for approval. This year TransLink is looking to purchase the following:

Project	Vehicles	Cost (Millions)
2020 Conventional (Double Decker) Bus Purchases for Modernization	25 double decker diesel buses	$32.32
2020 Conventional 60’ Hybrid and 40’ Battery Electric Bus Purchases for Expansion	62 60‐ft hybrid buses, 6 40‐ft battery electric buses	$109
2020 HandyDART Vehicle Purchases for Modernization	42 gasoline vehicles	$6.45
2020 HandyDART Vehicle Purchases for Expansion	10 gasoline vehicles	$1.6
2020 Community Shuttle Purchases	9 gasoline vehicles	$2.22

One of the interesting purchases is for 25 double decker diesel buses which will replace the current yellow highway coaches that run on routes such as the 555 between Carvolth Exchange and Lougheed Town Centre.

TransLink is also proposing to buy 6 40-ft battery electric buses. These buses are proposed to run on the 100 between 22nd Street Station and Marpole Loop. These battery buses could use rapid-charging stations on-route. You can read more about this in a previous post that I wrote.

Map of bus route 100, Marpole Loop/22nd Street Station. Select map to enlarge.

In total, 87 vehicles will be used to expand transit service in our region, and 67 vehicles will be used to replace end-of-life buses.

Transit expansion is dependent on the region still proceeding with the Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision. We will know more in the coming months about any modifications that will be made to the vision per the wishes of the new Mayors’ Council.

Property Tax, TransLink, and funding the major road network in the South of Fraser

When most people think of TransLink, it’s buses and trains that come to mind. What many people don’t know is that TransLink is also responsible for enhancing and maintaining the major road network, and funding projects that support improving cycling and walking in the region.

Map of the Major Road Network in the South of Fraser. TransLink funded roads are in blue. Select map to enlarge. Source: TransLink

In Langley City, TransLink helps fund the maintenance of 200th Street, and sections of the Langley Bypass and Fraser Highway. TransLink is also responsible for the 204th Street Overpass. In addition, our community has received funding for projects such as for the 203rd Street corridor enhancements.

TransLink has three major sources of revenue: fares, fuel tax, and property tax. The following chart shows the amount of property tax that the agency received from municipalities in the South of Fraser in 2017.

Property Tax	2017
Delta	$14,131,700
Langley City	$2,699,413
Langley Township	$12,801,000
Surrey	$43,692,000
White Rock	$2,210,261

The following table shows the funding that TransLink provided in 2017 to South of Fraser municipalities to fund the major road network, and other cycling and walking projects.

Road Network, Cycling, and Walking Funding	2017
Delta	$2,834,243
Langley City	$871,865
Langley Township	$5,235,952
Surrey	$10,000,757
White Rock	$69,000

This final table shows the percentage of property tax directly collected in each municipality that is used for road, cycling, and walking projects in that community.

Percentage Returned to Communities	2017
Delta	20%
Langley City	32%
Langley Township	41%
Surrey	23%
White Rock	3%

Around a quarter of property tax revenue is invested directly into non-transit projects by TransLink in the South of Fraser.

The majority of funding does go into transit service. In Langley, we get more transit service than we fund via property tax and gas tax. For more information, please look at an infographic I created a few years back.