How will Edmonton fund future transit?

[edmonton daily photo]

http://torontoist.com/2012/08/public...g-for-transit/

Public Works: Taxing For Transit

In 2008 Los Angeles county residents approved Measure R, a half cent sales tax increase to fund transit expansion, highway upgrades, and other transportation improvements over thirty years. The new money has had a galvanizing effect on public transportation, with fourteen new transit projects now in planning or under construction. In November, voters will be asked to decide whether to extend the sales tax until 2069, making it effectively permanent.

[geordieinthecity]

by 2069 the only resolution i can see edmonton making is their fare at 6 bucks a pop!

[edmonton daily photo]

^ it will depend on what the new city charters look like...

I suspect that they will be finalized within memory span of the next prov election.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...034/story.html

Edmonton, Calgary and the province signed an agreement Monday to negotiate a big-city charter they hope will find better ways to provide services in Alberta's largest centres.

The first stage of the work, set to be completed by September, will determine an outline of the charter's issues, options and solutions.

.......

While the two sides will look at funding after they work out their responsibilities, Mandel and Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths disagreed on whether the public should have a direct say on introducing new taxes.

"In the province of Alberta, if you're going to have a new type of taxation, by law we have to have a referendum on it for Albertans to decide," Griffiths said during a Calgary news conference.

"It seems to me if we're going to have a new form of taxation at the municipal level, the same thing should apply."

Mandel said he isn't big on referendums.

"I think we need to come up with solutions that don't require that kind of direction, and I think there's a possibility to do that."

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Preaching to the choir here.....

More provincial money needed for transit, group says

BY ELISE STOLTE, EDMONTON JOURNAL

EDMONTON - Edmonton’s transit use is growing but it will need the province’s support to develop the system to its full potential, says the head of the Canadian Urban Transit Association.
Michael Roschleau presented his organization’s Transit Vision 2040 to city councillors Tuesday, asking them to commit to a goal of 120 rides per capita by the year 2040. The vision also calls on cities to put transit at the centre of new developments, expand regional transit, and focus on excellent customer service and financial health.

Edmonton already has 99 rides per capita — above average for a city of its size. It should see that number increase significantly with the addition of more LRT lines, said Bob Boutilier, general manager for transportation.

Roschleau said the federal government has made clear funding commitments already. “Ultimately, what’s more important is getting support from the province. There’s been intermittent support from the province over the years,” he said.

In Quebec, Ontario, B.C. and Manitoba, provincial governments put funds toward transit operating expenses. That doesn’t happen in Alberta.

“There’s been some strong support on the capital side. We need to look at making that permanent, and supporting that with funding for operating expenses,” said Roschleau.

The councillors voted to endorse the transit vision.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...029/story.html

[David Jackson]

Something will have to give. There is only one tax payer.

Either the province will offer more money, or the province will give new fund raising powers to Edmonton and Calgary and/or the Capital Region Board and the Calgary Regional Partnership.

I wonder how things work with TransLINK in Vancouver and MetroLINX in Toronto? I remember one friend complaining about paying more money for gas in downtown Vancouver than out in Langley because of TransLINK having taxing powers.

Edmonton and Calgary do have one responsibility no other municipality has, and that is rapid transit. Do you know of any others?

[edmonton daily photo]

We are quickly falling behind the USA... States all across America are electing to pay dedicated taxes to fund transit expansion! The USA is also investing heavily in massive transit projects in most of it's major cities. Including NYC's second ave subway which has a total cost of over 17 Billion dollars and has been planed since 1929 when the 2nd Ave L train was removed.

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/11/09...pport-transit/



Arlington County, Virginia voted by a 4-to-1 margin to approve a $32 million bond, with about half the proceeds supporting Washington Metro capital projects and the rest paying for street repair, bike/ped infrastructure, and traffic calming. The path to victory is easy in Arlington – it’s the country’s third-wealthiest county, and no bond measure has failed there since 1979, according to the Washington Post.

Richland County, South Carolina, home to the city of Columbia and the University of South Carolina, passed a one-cent sales tax – one-quarter of which will pay for regional bus service, with the rest funding road improvements, greenways, and bike lanes.

In Lynden, Washington, outside of Bellingham, voters approved a 0.2-cent sales tax hike expected to bring in $300,000 over two years to pay for road maintenance and walking trails.

And Stephenson County, Illinois, approved an advisory measure voicing support for a countywide transit system funded by federal, state, and local sources.