TransLink Ridership Down, Higher Fares Blamed.

BC Governments SlashTourism to Second Rate Status-you just can’t get there from here-not on PUBLIC transit; and not at a reasonable fare or without paying equally unreasonable Tolls/Taxes.

So much for BC being a WORLD CLASS tourist destination!

Remember all the hype as various government poured BILLIONS of PUBLIC DOLLARS into hosting a World’s Fair, the  Olympics, new Convention Centre, Sea to Sky Highway?

The expenditures WERE all SUPPOSED to make BC a WORLD CLASS TOURIST DESINATION … bringing  millions more visitors, spending billions more dollars throughout the entire province … cashing in on what throughout much of the world has become a First Class Money And Job-Generating Industry: TOURISM.

Not in BC!

Ask the tourism, restaurant and hotel operators in Vancouver, and throughout the Gulf and Vancouver Islands about whether government policies have helped or hurt TOURISM on the Islands; ask hotel and tourism promoters in the Okanagan, and in the rest of the Interior, about their views of current BC Government Tourism Promotion Policies And Programs. Ask what kind of a tourist year they had. Ask people who depend on Tourism and or Public Transit for their jobs up in the Chilcotin. Ask all of them about what kind of impact they’ve felt from high prices and service cuts on BC Ferries ---while the government??? in their own self-interest, sat by--- and did nothing.

You don’t even have to ask.

Tourism operators in the West Chilcotin issued a report this week saying BC Ferry Cuts ALONE Have Cost Them $4 Million In Lost Tourism Revenues … while the ferry corps SAVED??? $725,000.

The government did not undertake a single economic study before making these reckless cuts.

Not one.

This is the first comprehensive review of the impact these changes have had, and it confirms the public’s taxpayer’s worst fears. The governments, as per usual, have MANAGED to cost the public, and therefore of course taxpayers,  money, not save it. Moreover: that’s from a BUSINESS organization in BC’s “heartland".

Transportation Minister Todd Stone gutted tourism in this region with these cuts, and the bleeding is going to continue for years If It’s Not Stopped.

Canada, THE MAJESTIC is the best place on earth. Here, there are phenomenal growth opportunities for tourism, if, the government would only stop being hostile to Canadians-THE PEOPLES- best interests and the best interests of the region.

Does this sound like a true BC government commitment to an industry that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs by welcoming millions of people into the province-or does it sound like the usual do nothing but waste money and chalk up personal expenses of most all civil servant/administrators-- In A Democratic Party Joint/Multi-Party, DICTATORSHIP?

Don’t think the tourists aren’t noticing and won’t tell others back home. I just hope the PUBLIC, the voters, and the Taxpayers are, because the government is planning to make things even more difficult and unwelcoming for visitors—FOR EVERYBODY—OTHER THAN FOR VIPS=THE GOVERNMENT.

The government is CLOSING its two tourist information centres at Vancouver Airport…one at the domestic arrivals and one at the US/International arrivals …offering visitors nothing in the way of tourism advice, assistance, or help finding their way anywhere—unless you  have money, and are willing to spend lots of it – because of OUR governments???-you just can’t get there in British Columbia.

It appears that TransLink is, (of course), dealing with the same fallout that BC Ferries has forever-raising fares, tolls=Taxes.

Translink was expecting its ridership to increase this year, but latest numbers show it’s actually on the decline.

TransLink does not appear concerned with the recent decline in passengers as they??? still expect to pull in a $2.3 million surplus (even after the already exorbitant government and TransLink salaries. FOR WHAT IS THIS SURPLUSS???SCHEDULED TO BE USED, YOU ASK?)

According to TransLink’s third quarter report, ridership decreased less than one per cent across the board, but there was a significant drop in bus passengers; 10.1 million fewer than projected.

The decline; attributed to a fare hike in early 2013.

One and two-zone fares saw a 25 cent increase per trip, and a 50 cent increase for three zones, pushing prices to $5.50 for a three-zone trip.

No wonder, as the price of gas continues to drop, analysts say more transit users may be tempted to get behind the wheel.

Translink says it will not introduce a fare increase in JANUARY, but of course, isn’t ruling it out for the entire year-after Gregor Robertson decides how much of a salary increase they all “DESERVE”.

It is estimated, another tax increase would raise $250 million per year to fund the mayors' plan to spend $7.5 billion on regional transit improvements over the next 10 years.

Metro Vancouver residents Could Be asked to vote on a 0.5 per cent hike in B.C.'s Provincial Sales Tax to fund new transit projects, during a referendum next year. The proposal approved by the majority of Metro Vancouver mayors. They considered it the most affordable solution for the majority of residents, at a meeting in New Westminster. The proposal passed by a count of 109 to 19, under the weighted voting system of the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council; the mayors of Burnaby, West Vancouver and Maple Ridge opposed it.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who voted in support, said the alternative would be detrimental economically. "There will be a lot more traffic congestion, pollution, sitting in traffic ... it's a costly thing for our economy," he said.

The proposed sales tax increase would apply only in Metro Vancouver and would cost the average household about $125 per year, officials estimate. The poorest families would pay an estimated $50 per year. The estimated revenue to TransLink and municipal governments from yet another Tax increase equals $250 million per year-to fund the mayors' plan to spend $7.5 billion on regional transit improvements(caused by what has been shown to be very poor management) over the next 10 years.©Al (Alex-Alexaander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.