Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows was ground zero this week in the B.C. election battle over transportation funding.
NDP leader John Horgan repeated the NDP's promise to hike its share of funding to 40 per cent for Phase 2 of the Metro Vancouver's 10-year transportation plan, during a brief stop at the Maple Meadows West Coast Express station, Thursday.
With the federal government promising the same, TransLink's share would be only 20 per cent of Phase 2. That part of the plan includes brand new rapid transit lines; light rail into Langley and SkyTrain extension in Vancouver.
Horgan said the NDP will increase the province's share to ensure Phase 2 gets underway.
Local candidates Lisa Beare and Bob D'Eith were also there.
"Our commitment to support the Metro mayor's plan will result in a 64-per-cent increase to bus service hours in Maple Ridge, the biggest increase in the region. That's a huge win for families here," D'Eith said in a release.
"It's time to get transit service out to fast-growing areas like Silver Valley, Albion and Thornhill so that families don't have to own several cars just to get their kids to and from school, sports, and other activities," added Beare, NDP candidate for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.
However, new bus routes in Silver Valley and Albion and a B-line bus to Coquitlam, are already being implemented in the next few years and are part of Phase 1 of the Mayor's Plan, which is already funded.
Ottawa is paying $370 million, the province $246 million, and TransLink $1.3 billion, for Phase 1, with fare increases and higher TransLink property levies helping pay for the latter.
Local Liberals seized on the confusion.
"Maybe the NPD missed it, but the province has already committed $246 million to Phase 1 improvements, working with the mayors and federal government," said Maple Ridge-Mission candidate Marc Dalton.
"That funding is in place and we're seeing new cars for the West Coast Express, increased bus services, improved SkyTrain service. What the NDP wants to do, we're already doing," added Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Liberal Doug Bing.
NDP media relations director Jen Holmwood later said the intent was "to reiterated our strong support for the work that finally gotten underway," saying the party supports the Mayors' Plan and its increased funding for Phase 2.
"We would make sure they aren't stalled anymore."
Thursday's promise by the NDP for more transportation dollars was followed Friday by the Liberals making the same promise.
TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender said the provincial government will match the federal government's share of $2.2 billion over 11 years.
D'Eith said the change was prompted by the NDP's announcement the day before.
"The Liberals last week, were unequivocal that they were not going to budget from the third-third-third formula but of course today, it's a flip-flop and they're going to do the 40 per cent," D'Eith said.
"It's not because they wanted to. I think it's because it's election time. It's political expedience for them."
New Westminster Mayor Johnathan Cote, on the Mayors Council, welcomed the election promise of more money for Phase 2, mentioning the SkyTrain extension and light rail in Surrey. "We have never been closer than we are today to putting shovels in the ground for Phase 2 of the Vision."
He said he was reassured that transportation was an election issue.