Release: Eliminating Transit Service in Langley, Cutting 50% Elsewhere “Unacceptable” Says Langley Business Community; Chamber Calls on Governments to Fix Funding Shortfall
Release: Eliminating Transit Service in Langley, Cutting 50% Elsewhere “Unacceptable” Says Langley Business Community; Chamber Calls on Governments to Fix Funding Shortfall
Langley, BC – In light of a shocking report predicting a 50% cut in transit service across Metro Vancouver and a near elimination of service in Langley, the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce – one of the province’s largest chambers of commerce representing over 1,100 businesses – is calling on the Provincial and Federal governments, including candidates in this fall’s BC election, to deliver solutions that solve the critical funding shortfall at TransLink.
TransLink has revealed it is facing a $600 million operating funding shortfall and without new or improved funding models, will be forced to make significant cuts to service by the end of 2025. These cuts could include a reduction in transit service by 50% overall, including eliminating the West Coast Express, slashing 145 bus routes, reducing SkyTrain by 30%, severely limiting HandyDart service, and a near elimination of service in Langley, White Rock, South Delta, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and much of the North Shore.
“The report released today paints a shocking picture of what could happen to transit in Langley and across our region and enduring such service cuts would be unacceptable,” says Langley Chamber CEO Cory Redekop.
“These reductions would put up to 265,000 jobs beyond the reach of transit, cutting people off from their jobs and severely restricting the ability of local businesses to hire and retain workers. Langley residents and businesses pay a significant amount towards transit and we are already woefully underserved, but this plan would see what service we do have eliminated! Again, this would be completely unacceptable.”
The Langley Chamber is calling on the Provincial and Federal governments to address this critical funding shortfall in the immediate term, and work on long-term, stable operating funding to ensure our people and businesses can access and rely on efficient transit service to move people throughout the region.
More information:
Report on Potential Transit Impacts
Report presentation at Mayors' Council
TransLink funding gap explainer video
TransLink’s efficiency measures announcement