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1. Create a Fare-Free Transit system for GVRD

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   29 comments  ·  GC 2020 » Travel predominately by foot, bike, and transit  ·  Delete…  ·  Admin →
   AdminGreenest City Planning Team (Admin, CG2020) responded

   Transit (and transit fares!) are controlled by TransLink, not the city. Having said that, reducing or eliminating transit fares is an interesting idea.

   Unfortunately it’s not very feasible, at least as TransLink is currently funded. Unlike most North American cities, Vancouver’s transit problems aren’t due to a lack of demand but rather a lack of capacity. Anyone who’s ever tried to squeeze onto one of our busy buses or trains knows this all too well — there isn’t enough space even when people have to pay, let alone accommodate the additional demand that would be created if transit were free. Compare this to cities with fare-free zones, which are typically struggling for increase demand, and which typically have (a) less frequent service and/or (b) plenty of extra capacity to accommodate more riders.

   In Vancouver, we need to provide more transit capacity to meet existing demand — and a LOT more capacity to meet our long term targets — and to do so we need to identify additional funding sources. On that front, some good news: in September 2010, the Province of BC and Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation signed an MOU opening the doors for possible new ways to help pay for transit.

   For more information on the MOU, visit http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2010PREM0169-001129.htm .

   Transit (and transit fares!) are controlled by TransLink, not the city. Having said that, reducing or eliminating transit fares is an interesting idea.

   Unfortunately it’s not very feasible, at least as TransLink is currently funded. Unlike most North American cities, Vancouver’s transit problems aren’t due to a lack of demand but rather a lack of capacity. Anyone who’s ever tried to squeeze onto one of our busy buses or trains knows this all too well — there isn’t enough space even when people have to pay, let alone accommodate the additional demand that would be created if transit were free. Compare this to cities with fare-free zones, which are typically struggling for increase demand, and which typically have (a) less frequent service and/or (b) plenty of extra capacity to accommodate more riders.

   In Vancouver, we need to provide more transit capacity to meet existing demand — and a LOT more… more

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   anna pietrobruno commented  ·  Sep 17, 2010  ·  Delete…

   The way I see this operating is that every Vancouver and Greater Vancouver tax payer would pay a transit fee of $50 to $100 extra at tax time. Considerably less than the monthly pass. If you are low income or disabled this fee would not be charged. This would eliminate the need for disability passes. It would also eliminate the fraudulent practice of selling disability passes, which is obviously occurring.
   Translinks costs would be reduced because:
   There would be no need to deal with money and tickets.
   No need to pay staff to deal with whether or not user have a ticket.
   Bus drivers will be happier and therefore the amount of altercations between transit users and bus drivers would be reduced.
   However to encourage people to use transit there needs to be an increase in the number of buses. They need to offer the same service provided during the Olympics. Along the Broadway corridor for example the bus lane needs to be a designated bus lane as it was during the Olympics.

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   anna pietrobruno supported this idea  ·  Sep 17, 2010