David Eby's BC NDP promises new TransLink funding without higher costs for drivers | Daily Hive

David Eby's BC NDP promises new TransLink funding source without higher costs for drivers

David Eby at SkyTrain's VCC-Clark Station. (Government of B.C.)

Nearly two weeks after ruling out creating a new vehicle levy and/or road tolls for TransLink, BC NDP leader David Eby is promising a long-term funding solution for Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority that would not increase costs for drivers.

However, the BC NDP has not identified which revenue source it would use for TransLink or specified how much additional funding the regional transit authority would receive under the latest pledge.

The announcement follows the public debate earlier this month over a possible annual vehicle levy to help address TransLink’s funding shortfall. It was revealed early this month that discussions before the snap provincial election call had included a potential charge of $100 to $150 per vehicle annually across Metro Vancouver, collected by ICBC during insurance renewals.

However, after being pressed on the matter, Eby acknowledged that while a vehicle levy had been proposed, it had ultimately been rejected by his administration.

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As well, in a statement to Daily Hive Urbanized earlier this month, TransLink said the provincial government is responsible for determining the new revenue source through new provincial legislation, asserting that the public transit authority has not advocated for any particular option.

The search for a lasting funding arrangement predates this election campaign.

In 2025, the provincial government committed $312 million in additional temporary operating support for TransLink, covering a portion of the operating revenue shortfall from 2025 to 2027. Combined with increases to fares, property taxes, and parking taxes, the new round of subsidies and revenue increases funded operations through the end of 2027 and averted the immediate threat of major service cuts.

That plan also anticipated the creation of a brand-new revenue source beginning in 2027, subject to legislative approval, generating at least $112 million annually once fully implemented in 2028. The latest BC NDP announcement renews the commitment to a long-term arrangement without explaining how that money would be raised.

One of TransLink’s challenges is its shrinking gas tax revenue, which is the public transit authority’s third-largest operating revenue stream after property taxes and fares. According to the public transit authority, average fuel consumption per vehicle has fallen 45 per cent since 2002 as vehicles become more efficient and more drivers switch to battery-electric models. In fact, TransLink’s gas tax revenues peaked in 2022. Despite having more vehicles on the road, TransLink is collecting less fuel tax and expects further declines.

Meanwhile, as part of the BC NDP’s re-election platform, they are promising to temporarily reduce a portion of the provincial portion of the gas taxes paid by drivers to provide them with some financial relief at the pump. This would not impact TransLink’s separate gas tax.

All the while, in addition to the revenue issues, operating costs have also been on an upward trend, especially for labour.

Without a major new revenue source — or another round of provincial operating subsidies — TransLink will face not only immense challenges with carrying out service expansion and improvements, but also major service cuts potentially beginning in late 2027 or early 2028.

Recommitting to TransLink’s first Bus Rapid Transit projects

As well, if re-elected, the BC NDP will commit to implementing TransLink’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan. Currently, the public transit authority’s first two envisioned BRT routes are the King George Boulevard BRT line between Surrey City Centre and Semiahmoo Town Centre/White Rock, and the Langley-Haney Place BRT line between SkyTrain’s future Willowbrook Station in Langley Township and Haney Place in Maple Ridge.

TransLink’s planned BRT network would use extensive dedicated bus lanes, traffic signal priority for buses, and special bus stations.

The King George Boulevard BRT project alone is expected to cost about $700 million.

translink brt bus rapid transit route map king george boulevard langley haney place

Proposed route map for King George Boulevard BRT and Langley-Haney Place BRT. (TransLink)

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January 2026 revised design of BRT bus stops with curbside bus-only lanes. (TransLink)

Today’s announcement does not attach a funding amount or opening dates to that BRT commitment. Technical design and planning for those BRT projects are already well underway. TransLink has previously noted that its 2025 Investment Plan provides preliminary funding to conduct design and planning work, but additional money is required to fully deliver them. The BC NDP has not specified which corridors its commitment would fund.

“Whether it’s people commuting to work, seniors getting to their appointments, or families out for a day trip, public transit keeps people and communities moving,” said Eby.

“There’s more to do, and we have a plan to keep building on the work already completed and underway.”

The party’s platform announcement today also includes an additional $40 million in annual operating funding for BC Transit — the separate provincial public transit authority for services outside of Metro Vancouver — to expand bus service and improve connections between communities.

The BC NDP notes that this extra annual funding would support more bus service and make travel between communities easier. According to the party, BC Transit’s operating funding has risen by more than 80 per cent since 2017, which has enabled a drastic increase in public transit bus services across the province.

No mention of UBC SkyTrain

As well, today, the BC NDP highlighted the ongoing construction projects of SkyTrain’s Millennium Line Broadway extension reaching Arbutus and the Expo Line Surrey-Langley, which will reach completion and open in late 2027 and late 2029, respectively.

While the planned SkyTrain extension project between Arbutus Station and the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) campus was highlighted as a priority in the BC NDP’s 2024 provincial election platform, the party’s announcement today and platform to date made no mention of further extending the Millennium Line westward to reach the university.

The provincial government is currently leading the technical design and planning work for the UBC SkyTrain project. Over the last few years, extensive work has been conducted to prepare the project’s business case, including performing geotechnical borehole testing along the route in 2024 to collect soil samples. The provincial government indicated in September 2025 that major progress had been made towards completing the business case.

The completion of the business case is necessary to determine the project’s design, route, station locations, and estimated total cost. A completed business case is also necessary to determine the provincial funding commitment and pursue a major contribution from the federal government. However, the provincial government has yet to publicly release the business case.

Earlier this year, in the 2026 provincial budget, Premier Eby’s administration had signalled that they would slow down their capital investments on new facilities and infrastructure due to the provincial government’s staggering annual deficit and growing debt issues.

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