Today's vote by Metro Vancouver mayors to support funding that will improve transportation opportunities in the Lower Mainland will also improve student access to post-secondary education, says the president of Douglas College.
The college supported the mayor's vote in favour of the 2% gas tax and other funding measure with the expectation it will lead to better bus service and help fund the long-awaited Evergreen Line to Coquitlam
The $1.4 billion Burnaby to Coquitlam line will terminate at Douglas College's Coquitlam campus. Douglas College's New Westminster campus is already served by the Expo SkyTrain line.
"I applaud the mayors for making this bold decision," says Scott McAlpine, the college president. "The entire Lower Mainland will benefit from better public transportation, especially students."
McAlpine points out that a better public transportation system will help more students to get to classes, particularly now that students are on the affordable U-Pass BC system.
"Transportation is often a barrier for post-secondary students. Today's decision, combined with U-Pass BC, will help eliminate that barrier."
The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce also supports the mayors' vote on the Moving Forward plan, which would provide TransLink's $400 million share of the Evergreen Line, plus operating costs for the project slated to open in 2016.
