New Deal Needed for Transit to Prevent 50% Cut in Bus Service Starting in 2026

The provincial government has been a strong supporter of TransLink services. When the pandemic hit, the provincial government was there to provide bridge funding to maintain transit service levels, is building the Broadway Subway and Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension, and most recently provided $300 million to get the ball rolling on Bus Rapid Transit.

Since the pandemic, TransLink's revenue has been less than its expenses, even as transit ridership continues to smash records in our region. There are a few reasons for this.

The regional fuel tax has been a significant funding source for TransLink, but it has rapidly decreased as fuel efficiency has increased and people are purchasing more and more EVs.

Local road congestion is a significant cost driver as TransLink needs more buses on the road to maintain the same service frequency (more congestion means slower buses.)

Also, inflation has caused a massive increase in the cost of providing transit services.

TransLink's budget must be balanced. Starting in 2026, TransLink will have drained its reserve and need to start cutting service if we stay on the current course.

For our part, the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation called for an efficient audit, which resulted in TransLink implementing $91 million in annualized cost savings.

TransLink also has a bus speed and reliability program. TransLink works with municipalities to speed up bus service, which saves money. We have several bus lanes in Langley City that TransLink 100% funded. We will need more in the region, and municipalities must step up.

The mayors are also willing to increase fares modestly and property taxes significantly, but this alone won't solve the funding issue unless we were to triple the TransLink portion of property tax, which most people would find unreasonable.

We will need the province to unlock additional ongoing and sustainable funding for transit service in our region. The federal government must also come to the table for ongoing and sustainable funding. If not, the results will be bleak.

If we continue with our current revenue sources, starting in 2026, bus service will be cut between 45~50%. SeaBus service will be slashed 15%-30%. SkyTrain service will be cut 10%-30%, the West Coast Express may be cancelled, and HandyDART will only service medical trips.

The following maps look at two possible scenarios to achieve these cost reductions.

Scenario 1: Maximize Ridership. Only the blue bus lines remain. Select the map to enlarge.

Scenario 2: Maximize Coverage. Only the blue bus lines remain. Select the map to enlarge.

As someone who relies on transit, I know these cuts would devastate people in our region and our economy. It would also spike up congestion on our roads. I will do everything I can to ensure that these nightmare scenarios do not come to pass. As I stated earlier, I believe the province and the federal government strongly support transit. I also know the mayors' strongly support transit. I am hopeful that together, we will continue to partner to ensure we have a sustainably funded transit system that meets the needs of our growing population.