Mayors propose gas tax to fund Evergreen Line

property, expected, increase, instead, needed

Mayors propose gas tax to fund Evergreen Line
Dave White Jul 06, 2011 13:07:56 PM
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BURNABY (NEWS1130) - It's likely drivers will pay the price for the long awaited Evergreen Line.

Metro Vancouver mayors have opted for a gas tax increase instead of a jump in property taxes to come up with $400 million needed to complete the project.

The two cents per litre regional increase is expected to take effect next April, says Mayor's Council Vice Chair Pamela Goldsmith-Jones.

"The legislation to introduce two cents a litre gas tax has to happen this fall. The [Transportation] Minister is committed to that," says Goldsmith-Jones.

She says increasing property taxes would have been regressive.

TransLink already collects 15 cents a litre, but the add-on will bring in another $40 million a year. By next April the transit authority will collect 17 cents per litre.

Goldsmith-Jones calls that "buying time" while loans and other long-term funding sources come into place in hopes of getting the project moving.

"A graduated vehicle levy, transportation improvement fee, a regional carbon tax perhaps, road pricing perhaps. The things we've talked about for years in the region."

In the meantime, TransLink will borrow.

As for when ground might break on the Evergreen Line - she couldn't say.

The project still isn't a done deal but is now much closer to becoming reality.

There has recently been concern the Federal government would withdraw its $400-million share because the project timeline is still growing.