Dear Editor,
After much thought, I am voting yes on the upcoming transportation plebiscite, and the reasons why are quite straight forward ...
* Transportation infrastructure is vitally important to our economy, our environment and our way of life. Less congestion means we all spend less time polluting the air and more time doing what we want to do, it means trucks spend less time idling and reduces the cost of transporting our food, our goods and services.
* Our region has been searching for well over a decade for the right funding formula, and never has there been such across-the-board support for a funding source, as there is right now.
* We also have a strong plan in place. The elected mayors from our region have provided us with a well thought out plan for transportation improvements.
* When we compare investment in transportation to investments in health, education and public safety, which one can argue are more vital, we must remember transportation improvements are a key enabler to our economy. They “prime the pump” and enable us to afford the investments in these other areas.
History has shown us that there is no perfect funding formula. There have been many attempts to gain broad support and never have we come this far, this close, to being in a position to move forward with a strong plan.
Bashing TransLink may be fashionable today, but it does run a transportation system that is viewed by many experts around the world, to be world class. Please don’t be distracted by the “noise,” this is far too important for us all. There are very strong reasons to support the upcoming plebiscite. Please vote yes for our future.
Rob Howard
Former MLA Richmond Centre
Former Richmond councillor
