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Mayors to vote "Yes" for Evergreen gas tax boost
Mayors to vote "Yes" for Evergreen gas tax boost
Seven Metro Vancouver mayors will vote to boost the gas tax by two-cents
Ryan Sullivan/Tamara Slobogean Oct 05, 2011 06:42:13 AM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Seven Metro Vancouver mayors have decided to vote "Yes" this Friday for a gas price hike to help fund TransLink's Evergreen Line.
TransLink plans to raise $40 million annually through the two-cent gas tax hike. They also hope to grab another $30 million through user-pay measures, such as tolls and road congestion charges.
Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson feels the boost is needed. "We simply must invest in a more robust transit system".
Surrey mayor Dianne Watts says she somewhat reluctantly voted in favour of the tax. "It wasn't easy to advocate for any kind of tax increase for transit expansion, but the group felt it had to start planning for the future."
One driver tells us sometimes, leaders have to make hard choice. "I just think we have so much tax on gas in the first place; it's just ridiculous. But I do understand that we have to have some rapid transit in the Lower Mainland and in the end, it will probably be a good thing for people."
The seven mayors that are ready to approve the tax represent 70 per cent of Metro Vancouver's 2.5 million residents. So, even if the region's 22 other cities object, the vote will go through if those seven mayors proceed with their "Yes" vote on Friday.
By 2040, TransLink hopes to have 51 percent of daily commuters in the region going to work using public transit, bikes or on foot. |
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發表於 2011-10-5 06:49
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