A lack of confidence in TransLink’s ability to manage transportation projects appropriately drove voters to vote no in Metro Vancouver’s transportation plebiscite, according to the results of a poll released July 3.
A day after the announcement July 2 that the no side won, the poll released by Insights West showed 76% of those who voted against the implementation of an additional 0.5% sales tax to fund the region’s growing transit needs did so because of lack of faith in the transportation authority.
It wasn’t just the no voters who felt this way, however.
“This is an issue where yes and no voters are in agreement,” said Insights West vice-president, public affairs Mario Canseco.
“Three-in-five residents believe that major changes are required at TransLink before we start to figure out how the transportation projects are going to be funded.”
Sixty two per cent of all poll respondents said the most pressing concern for the region’s transit is reforming the way TransLink operates. This was followed by ensuring there is adequate funding for projects from both the federal and provincial governments (22%) and coming up with a “Plan B” for taking care of Metro Vancouver’s transit needs (16%).
A lack of trust in TransLink wasn’t the only motivation for no voters. More than half of those surveyed – 53% – said they don’t trust the mayors to make appropriate funding decisions. In addition, two-thirds (68%) said they thought the tax would end up going up in the future.
A further 67% said TransLink needed to explain how funds are spent before any tax increase vote should have taken place.
What was behind the decision to vote yes?
Among yes voters, 72% also said they were unhappy with TransLink’s past performance but still saw the tax as the best way to fund future transportation upgrades. More than half of yes voters said the plebiscite appropriately addressed the regions traffic and road problems.
Forty three per cent of those who voted yes said independent audits and reporting would promote transparency.
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