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(From the Western Canada Wilderness Committee)

The B.C. Transit Plan — Taking a back seat to Gateway?

In January 2008, the B.C. government announced a proposed $14-billion public transit plan, to be completed theoretically by 2030.

Unfortunately the 2008 Budget includes $621 million more for highway expansion than for transit. Only $219 million was actually allocated for transit over 4 years, including $21 million in this year’s budget — only a fraction of the overall budget.

While the transit plan (if funded) is positive, it will not significantly reduce congestion south of the Fraser if Gateway goes ahead as planned. Furthermore, if we go ahead with Gateway, this will result in a drastic and irresponsible increase in climate changing greenhouse gases even with more transit available. Ultimately, government can either plan for car-dependent sprawl or it can plan for healthy communities. Transit planning is inextricably linked to land use planning. We need to make a choice: Transit must not take a back seat to Gateway.