Stephen Rees's blog

This piece by Don Cayo appeared on the Vancouver Sun’s web site about an hour ago. It looks like the Translink Board  is getting the most out of the little room to manoeuvre the province has left it. Both the Evergreen Line and the North Fraser Perimeter Road funds will be lost if the Mayors do not agree to raise new revenues. They don’t like the idea of raising property tax, and there really isn’t time to design a vehicle levy properly – but there is enough cash on hand to allow for a year’s breathing space. The Mayors could approve a plan to build both projects – and expand bus service significantly –  and pay for that from current reserves. That gives them a year to talk to the province and come up with something better than the options they have now. If the worst comes to the worst and no agreement is possible, property tax would have to go up in 2011. The plan is set out in a letter and a backgrounder.

I am not going to predict what they Mayors will do, but I think people here can comment – and vote. I have to got to the NWEP meeting tonight – and blog that tomorrow. But after that maybe there will be more to say.