Port Moody council is backing the Yes campaign after a visit Tuesday from Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore on behalf of the Mayors' Council's transportation plan.
With a million people moving to the region and, along with them, 700,000 new jobs, the transportation plan will provide the buses, SkyTrain and West Coast Express service as well as better walking and cycling routes, to keep all those people moving, Moore told PoMo councillors.
"In Port Moody, 94% of people have to leave Port Moody to go to work," Moore noted in his presentation, comparing that to a regional average of 43%.
Highlights of the plan include 11 new B-Line buses for the region (three in Port Moody), a 25% increase in bus service with 400 new buses, replacement of the aging Pattullo Bridge and extension of the Millennium Line in Vancouver.
Tri-Cities residents will see a 27% increase in West Coast Express service, he said, plus upgraded bus exchanges in Coquitlam and PoCo, a new B-Line route connecting Coquitlam and Maple Ridge (as well as one connecting Langley and Pitt Meadows) and new walking and cycling paths along the Evergreen Line.
There will also be more reliable and frequent bus service, including all-day service for Heritage Mountain and Belcarra, a 30% increase in night bus service around the region and a 30% increase in HandyDart hours.
Roads will also be upgraded, with an additional $36 million per year for capital investments in the Major Road Network.
Moore also emphasized the plan's accountability, saying money generated through the proposed 0.5% regional increase to the PST would only be used to implement the transit plan.
"It will be audited annually and presented to the public," Moore said, noting that audit would not be merged with TransLink's overall audit.
Additional funding will come from users and funding partnerships with municipalities, he said, noting that should Vancouver choose to upgrade its Broadway SkyTrain extension to an underground system, for instance, that city would bear the costs.
"A Yes vote assures that funding for Port Moody investments can proceed," Moore added.
But not all of council was keen to back the Yes vote in a motion that called for the city to formally support it and to provide resources to the campaign, including website exposure and billboard or kiosk advertising space depending on availability.
Coun. Rick Glumac suggested voters would have a difficult time answering the referendum question because of an overall lack of confidence in TransLink, and he said he is not comfortable with the city taking a position on a political matter.
"I don't support the Yes campaign," Glumac said. "If the province said it would overhaul TransLink, it might change my mind."
He also said the regional sales tax could set a precedent and, as a council, "I don't think we should state a position."
Coun. Rob Vagramov made similar comments, questioning whether the city would also be "telling people how to vote on a federal election."
"I see this as so not our place, telling people how to vote on a referendum," Vagramov said.
The rest of council were of a different mind, noting the benefits of improved transit options for PoMo residents and the region as a whole.
"This will have a profound effect on liveability," said Coun. Diana Dilworth, pointing out council had taken positions on a number of political issues.
Councillors Meghan Lahti and Zoe Royer agreed, saying it is no different than the city taking a stand on the closure of Burrard Thermal or applying for intervenor status in the Kinder Morgan hearings.
"To not support it is a giant leap backwards," Royer said.
"We're not telling people they have to vote Yes," added Coun. Barbara Junker, "we're saying we support it because it's better for Port Moody, it's better for the environment, it's better for the Lower Mainland."
Ballots for the Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Plebiscite will be mailed to registered voters starting March 16. The mail-in voting period runs until May 29.
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