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The TransLink board meeting is set for Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
Shortly after CityHallWatch posted on X that the agenda was not available to the public, a 146-page agenda was posted just before 5 p.m. on Fri. Nov. 29, 2024.
Delegations wishing to speak have until 8 a.m. on Monday Dec. 2, 2024 to apply to speak via Zoom. For instructions, see here https://www.translink.ca/about-us/about-translink/board-of-directors#apply-to-speak-at-board-meetings
The public only has four opportunities per year to address the TransLink board directly. Unfortunately, the sign-up link seems not be functioning, so be sure to write TransLink Corporate Secretary TransLinkCorporateSecretary@translink.ca. It seems some governance and operational improvements are needed with this $2.5 billion organization.
TransLink is a massive $2.5 billion organization tasked with providing public transportation to our region. As in any city, public transportation is a crucial part of everyday life of the people. It defines the shape and experience of our cities. And the use of public transportation is an important part of any efforts to promote sustainability and limit the environmental impacts of cities, including climate change. TransLink is also a major employer.
With legislative changes, TransLink has also become a major property developer (for example, the 30-storey tower at 2096 W Broadway & 2560-2576 Arbutus St, rezoning approved at Public Hearing on July 25, 2024). Expect much more of this. And with Bill 47 on Transit Oriented Areas (e.g., see CityHallWatch post here) passed in November 2023 under severe non-disclosure agreements preventing municipalities from speaking out, Transit Oriented Areas with concentric circles up of 20, 12, and 8-storey buildings allowed up to 800 meters from transit stations now set to transform cities across BC. Through all of this, TransLink is also very closely connected with issues associated with the Broadway Plan and proposed Broadway Subway extension to UBC.
Board members currently (Dec 2024) include Lorraine Cunningham, Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Jennifer Chan, Harj Dhaliwal, Gordon Harris, Stephen Howard, Tracy Redies, Andrea Reimer, Harpinder Sandhu, Allan Seckel, Mayor Brad West, Mayor Linda Buchanan, Mayor Nicole MacDonald, and Mayor Eric Woodward. Source: https://www.translink.ca/about-us/about-translink/board-of-directors#board-members
Since the 146-page report was only made public on Friday, leaving interested persons and organizations almost no time for careful analysis and consideration, we asked ChatGPT for a quick read of the full document and got some interesting comments: The summary was “Overall, the agenda documents provide only a limited view of TransLink’s operations and planning processes. A more in-depth analysis would require access to additional documentation, such as board meeting minutes, strategic plans, risk management frameworks, and public consultation reports. The analysis highlights the need for greater transparency in decision-making processes, a clearer articulation of governance structures and accountabilities, a comprehensive long-term funding plan, and a more detailed strategy for addressing aging infrastructure and implementing sustainability initiatives.”
The TransLink Board is the only transit board that still meets only on Zoom. Other are using the hybrid model of in-person as well as the virtual option.
TransLink is repeatedly warning of a massive financial crisis, asking for more public funding. Rod Louis has done extensive writings on TransLink’s financial situation.
How about fares? On Monday Nov. 25, 2024 there were 38 delegations at the Ottawa Transit Commission. Most spoke against the proposed fare increases. In Metro Vancouver we typically have very few delegations speak to the board. Given the hurdles mentioned above, perhaps that’s no surprise.
From Nathan Davidowicz, transit commentator, possible items that delegates may wish to speak to the TransLink board about include:
- Unfair 3 zone fare structure since 1984
- Highest average fares in Canada
- We still have transfers that are only valid for 90 mins while many other transit systems have 120 mins (2 hours)
- Supporting BC Federation ConnectingBC plan (with doubling the bus fleet in 3 years and tripling in 6 years)
The biggest problems with the 2025 budget:
- Lack of details (need the same details as provided in municipal budgets)
- Priorities are wrong (e.g. the Surrey Langley Skytrain, or SLS, is not the top transit project)
- No proper targets (CleanBC targets will not be achieved)
- No proper analysis is being done or provided to the public: Even ChatGPT noticed there are Gaps in Transparency, Governance, Budgeting, and Strategy
- Scant information on public engagement processes:
The TransLink Board (and Committees) hold over 40 meetings per year. All the meetings are closed to the public except the four quarterly meetings where the public can speak.
Since the establishment of TransLink in 1999 there have been two TransLink provincial Acts. GVTA (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority) from 1999 to the end of 2007 and the SCBCTA (South Coast BC Transportation Authority) from 2008 to the present.
The present Minister in charge of TransLink, Mike Farnworth, voted in 2007 against the new SCBCTA. Now he has the power to return TransLink to the original TransLink. Will he use that power? One of the main differences between GVTA and SCBCTA is that SCBCTA copied the governance model from BC Ferries. (Some people refer to the present TransLink as BC Ferries No. 2) Having two different boards is a big mistake. Having Mayors instead of councillors is another big mistake. Prior to 2008, Vancouver had three city councillors on the TransLink Board..
Vancouver has zero political representation on the TransLink Board now.. Vancouver/UBC accounts for about 50% of the total transit ridership in Metro Vancouver while only having 25% of the region’s population.
On the agenda, the main item is No.11, the 2025 Business plan, Operating and Capital budget. (see pages 26 to 92 , 66 pages)
This is just a summary as TransLink does not provide a detailed budget like municipalities do.
(City of Vancouver’s budget is 545 pages at their Dec. 3, 3034 meeting https://council.vancouver.ca/20241203/spec20241203ag.htm but overall, TransLink’s budget is higher than that of the City of Vancouver. Why does TransLink have such a lack of transparency?)
TransLink does not want to follow the 10 suggestions from The Transit Guy – Hayden Clarkin (US) in its Nov. 29, 2024 post (https://thetransitguy.substack.com/p/10-principles-for-a-new-democratic) especially No. 10 – More Money Does not Equal Better Outcome (TransLink keep asking for more money and governments are giving in without any conditions!)
Some highlights from the operating budget as compiled by Nathan Davidowicz.
- Canada Line service during rush hours will return to Pre-COVID service levels in Q2 2025 (five years after it was cut back , overcrowding is experienced now)
- Very few additional hours to bus services in Vancouver-Burnaby-NW-Richmond many bus routes still have not returned to the Pre-COVID level of service (see our post https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/news-cuts-to-translink-bus-service-davidowicz/) Overall bus service hours will be increased by 4.6 %, but West Vancouver Municipal Transit -Blue Bus will have only 0.9 % increase.
- Fare increase of 4% is scheduled for July 1, 2025 (Without any public consultation as required by law. TransLink does not know that in 1986 a court challenge was made to the fare increase and the judge slammed transit for not abiding by the law) see bottom of page 41 of 146
- Various taxes will be increased with all the details to come in the March 2025 Board meeting.
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