COPE proposes universal transit pass program

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      The Coalition of Progressive Electors' latest campaign policy involves a pledge to extend the U-pass program to all Vancouver residents.

      COPE mayoral candidate Meena Wong said under the party's proposal, the universal transit pass program would cost residents "a dollar a day", at $365 a year.

      According to the party, the "Vancouver Pass" policy is aimed at lowering transit fares, increasing ridership and reducing carbon emissions.

      “Taking transit is the best thing you can do to reduce the city’s carbon emissions,” Wong said in a news release. “Cars is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Vancouver.”

      Wong said TransLink collects about $150 million in fares annually from Vancouver residents, while the pass could generate $160 million if each "working age" resident paid $30 a month toward a pass.

      Currently, post-secondary students with access to the U-pass pay about $35 a month.

      Comments

      32 Comments

      Tommy Khang

      Oct 15, 2014 at 3:43pm

      And how exactly do they plan to implement this when Translink is a regional based entity representing the Lower Mainland?

      Jordan W

      Oct 15, 2014 at 3:44pm

      Right... and how is Translink supposed to handle all the passengers? This is completely unrealistic.

      Forest

      Oct 15, 2014 at 4:29pm

      I am struck by the contrast between the NPA (free parking for private cars, circa 1956) and the progressive policies of Vision and COPE (circa 2020). I think I'll back the futurists.

      cathy

      Oct 15, 2014 at 5:01pm

      Meanwhile out in the hinterland of south delta, we pay $11 round trip to get into vancouver by transit & our mayor just got re-elected by acclamation....

      A dollar a day would sure make folks lives a lot easier-this plan needs other politicians in metro van area to take it on and extend U passes to all.

      Mark

      Oct 15, 2014 at 5:40pm

      I don't see why Translink being a regional entity would pose problems for this plan. Vancouver on its own can collect fees and distribute passes. It would be up to Translink to adjust services according to demand. I, for one, think this is a great idea.

      Jagdeep Mangat

      Oct 15, 2014 at 6:02pm

      I imagine the City would negotiate an agreement with Translink. Just like the student unions and universities did. Fairly straight forward. As for handling all those passengers

      Jagdeep Mangat

      Oct 15, 2014 at 6:04pm

      As for "all those passengers"not everyone is going to use their upass.

      Evil Eye

      Oct 15, 2014 at 6:40pm

      What COPE doesn't know, hell most people don't know, is that the Expo Line is at its contractual capacity of about 15,000 persons per hour per direction, during peak hours. To increase capacity, one must upgrade the power distribution and lengthen the station platforms too accept longer trains. The price tag for an Expo and Millennium Line upgrade would be around $3 billion.

      This also puts a lie to the Vision(less) Vancouver claim that a SkyTrain Broadway subway would have a higher capacity than LRT, a SkyTrain subway will not have a higher capacity than an at-grade/on-street LRT unless the the entire SkyTrain network as been retrofitted and upgraded, which will add a$3 billion to the $4 billion Skytrain Broadway subway.

      The Canada Line is at capacity also, in fact it was at capacity when it was opened because the provincial government reduced the scope of construction to reduce the escalating costs of the heavy-rail metro. (The Canada line is not Skytrain and is not compatible in operation with either the Expo or the millennium Lines.) The Canada Line with its pygmy 40 metre to 50 metre long station platforms can't accept much more ridership, than its current 7,500 pphpd capacity at peak hours.

      The cost to increase the capacity of the Canada Line, a minimum of $1.5 billion! For added insult, the Canada Line cost about three times more to operate than comparable rapid transit systems.

      What this translates too, is that the transit system is at capacity and in no way can accommodate customers with deep discounted fares. The COPE initiative would result in a transit meltdown!

      Dan

      Oct 15, 2014 at 7:16pm

      COPE seems to be the only party with fresh ideas. I'm especially fond of their proposed "luxury tax" to help with the affordability problem.

      OMG

      Oct 15, 2014 at 8:55pm

      @Jordan W

      How will Translink handle all of those extra passengers? They'll just build more lines and buy more trains. It's easy! Those are just details and somebody will figure it all out. What could be simpler?