Editor, The News
TransLink is out of control.
I can’t believe that every one of the mayors on the TransLink board of directors did not know that transportation authority is not in the position to collect fair evasion fees.
What is going on? Not even the transportation minister knew that TransLink could not collect for the outstanding tickets.
I don’t get it. Nobody knows what is going on. These fellows must be sitting on their heads.
No wonder TransLink is always looking for more money. As a taxpayer, I say no more money for TransLink until an independent audit has been done.
And by the way, B.C. Hydro and ICBC should also be audited at the same time.
There is too much waste and not enough accountability.
TransLink must be living in dreamland, going by the honour system. Wake up, TransLink, I am sick and tired of giving you more money. My little pension cheque is not getting any bigger.
B. Felgner
Maple Ridge
Let’s get fair
Editor, The News
A recent letter stated that the best way to pay for transportation infrastructure is to raise the gas tax even more, so all drivers pay evenly.
The problem is that they don’t. Those who have access to good transit do not buy gas to commute, they ride SkyTrain, while those who have to drive to commute pay the gas tax and possibly a bridge toll, also.
This is patently unfair.
A major beneficiary of improved public transit is real estate adjacent to such service, as evidenced by property values near SkyTrain stations, and the recent sale of condos along the Canada Line. These sources then should contribute a major share to the cost of new transit infrastructure – add property taxes and as a percentage of the assessed values, not the minor $23 per property, or whatever it is now.
Some properties have increased majorly in value from SkyTrain expansion. And some commuters are paying majorly through gas tax and bridge tolls to finance a system that they can’t even use. Let’s get fair.
Lyall Holmes
Maple Ridge