TransLink Efficiency Review Reduces Structural Deficit By $91 Million - No Cuts to Transit Service

In December last year, TransLink’s Mayors’ Council requested an efficiency review of the organization. A combination of declining fuel tax revenue and changes in transit ridership patterns means that even though more people are taking transit than ever before, TransLink has a significant funding gap. If the gap isn’t plugged, not only will TransLink not be able to expand its service, but starting in 2026, TransLink will need to cut about half its service. I believe most of our region’s mayors do not want to see these cuts.

For clarity, starting in 2026, TransLink will have an average annual revenue shortfall of $670 million. In 2023, TransLink had $2.6 billion in revenue.

Given the significant funding gap, I supported an efficiency review of TransLink because if we are going to be asking our residents and businesses to increase property tax to pay for transit, ask the province for a new funding source to replace the declining fuel tax, and ask the province and federal governments for significantly more money to pay for needed transit expansion, we better make sure that the TransLink house is in order.

TransLink commissioned Ernst & Young LLP to complete an efficiency review. While the report was interesting, TransLink’s management response to the review was more meaningful. They approached finding new revenue and cost savings in a way that would not impact the delivery of transit service in Metro Vancouver or the customer experience.

They reduced the annual revenue shortfall by $91 million to $579 million.

$91 million in annual cost savings by area. Select the chart to enlarge.

$16 million is from increasing revenue by reducing fare evasion ($5m), optimizing investment income ($7m), and increasing commercial and carbon credit revenue ($4.5m). Commercial revenue includes retail space leases at SkyTrain stations.

TransLink management will be reducing costs by $74.7 million. The most significant cost savings of $40 million will come from restructuring TransLink’s debt.

$20 million in cost savings will be achieved by streamlining administrative processes, saving on information technology, discontinuing some non-core programs, and optimizing bus service (without impacting the actual delivery of service).

TransLink will achieve $15.3 million in cost savings by eliminating vacant positions that aren’t directly tied to transit service delivery. TransLink will also reduce its reliance on external consultants and contractors by in-housing roles.

I believe that these changes will put TransLink in a solid position as we work to close the funding gap and increase much-needed transit and transportation investments in Metro Vancouver.

Langley City's 2024 "State of the City" Address

Last week, I delivered Langley City's "State of the City" address at a Langley Chamber of Commerce dinner.

During the address, I touched on SkyTrain and the proposed Bus Rapid Transit route on 200th Street, connecting Langley City's Downtown, Willoughby, and Maple Ridge.

I also discussed housing, including completed housing units, housing units under construction, and housing units that are in the queue. I pointed out that Langley City is investing in the basics like water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure while at the same time advocating for investing in provincial infrastructure to support growth, such as expanding Nicomekl Elementary. I noted that the province is listening and recently announced a 200-student expansion of that school.

I stated that while we have amazing recreation facilities such as Al Anderson Memorial Pool and the Langley Twin Rinks, we know we need to grow our facilities. I announced that we will launch an "Invest Langley City" plan later this year.

I explained that public safety is at the top of people's minds and safety means security. I explained that security and safety also mean food security, health security, job security, and home life security. I also noted that while Langley City Council has hired six firefighters, three RCMP officers, an emergency program coordinator, and a bylaw officer in the last two years, we know that we must address the upstream causes that makes people feel less safe and secure. I noted that over the last year, City staff and Council have been meeting with every segment of our community to understand their concerns and desires, leading to the launch of our Citizen Assembly next spring—an opportunity for people to have a direct role in governing our community.

I also stated that we need to "measure what matters" and that Langley City will launch a public key performance indicator dashboard. Some examples of indicators are housing unit completion, average rents, water pipe leakage, and newcomer integration success.

I also covered other topics. The entire presentation was recorded, and once it is ready, I will share it.

In the meantime, I am sharing the introduction video, played at the beginning of my address.

Langley City Highest Ratio of Childcare Space in South of Fraser. More Needed.

Metro Vancouver recently published its latest data on childcare space in our region, aptly titled "2023 Survey of Licensed Child Care Spaces and Policies in Metro Vancouver. "

I wanted to share some information from this Metro Vancouver report about the number of children under 12 and the number of childcare spaces for them.

The yellow bar is Langley City.

Member	Estimated Number of Children	Estimated Number of Childcare Spaces	Spaces per 100 Children
UBC	1951	996	51.1
Tsawwassen First Nation	334	164	49.1
Pitt Meadows	2858	1260	44.1
Richmond	24507	8521	34.8
New Westminster	9206	3164	34.4
Anmore	266	91	34.2
Port Coquitlam	8207	2794	34
North Vancouver District	12267	4156	33.9
West Vancouver	5114	1732	33.9
Langley City	4301	1280	29.8
Port Moody	4519	1277	28.3
North Vancouver City	6832	1930	28.2
Coquitlam	19118	5299	27.7
White Rock	1707	437	25.6
Langley Township	21108	5303	25.1
Lions Bay	165	40	24.2
Vancouver	63300	15203	24
Maple Ridge	13954	3316	23.8
Delta	13573	3041	22.4
Burnaby	29056	6433	22.1
Surrey	81034	14795	18.3
UEL	394	32	8.1
Belcarra	25	0	0

While Langley City has the highest ratio of childcare spaces for children under 12 in the South of Fraser, we are not a leader in Metro Vancouver, and there is room for improvement. Langley City is expanding childcare spaces in our publicly owned facilities. We are also updating our zoning to incentivize childcare facilities in apartment buildings and allow childcare facilities in more locations in our community. You can read more about this in a previous post that I wrote.

At the same time, the province will continue to need to invest in training for people and daycare space funding to ensure we get to a place where every parent who needs childcare has easy access to a space.

June 17 Council Notes: Development Variance and Public Art

Langley City Council considers development variance permits from time to time. These permits allow people to make minor deviations from the City's development bylaws that maintain the spirit of the bylaws, even if they aren't exactly to the letter.

On June 17, Langley City Council approved changing the interior yard setback at 20556 Grade Crescent from 3 meters to 1.73 meters, which will allow the subdivision of 20532 Grade Crescent. The City provided an opportunity for people to provide written or verbal feedback at the meeting, but Council didn't receive any feedback.

A survey drawing showing the change in the lot line. Select the image to enlarge.

At the same meeting, Council approved a new three-panel mosaic mural designed by Jessica Fairweather. The City is funding this $12,000 mural from the Public Arts Fund, which will be installed on the Rotary Centennial Park washroom building.

Sample of mosaic mural. Select the image to enlarge.

Council also gave third and final read to place a separation distance between childcare facilities in the Fraser Highway One Way area and approved changes to our zoning bylaw to make it compliant with new provincial housing regulations. You can read about these in previous posts.