Major TransLink funding plan approved to improve service, avoid cuts
TransLink has approved a funding plan that will see transit in Metro Vancouver fully funded until the end of 2027.
The funding plan was approved Wednesday morning at a TransLink board and mayors’ council meeting.
“This investment plan will be funded through several measures, including a $20 increase in property taxes for median households in 2025 and a fare increase of $0.14 for the average trip starting in July 2026,” TransLink said.
The property tax increase is based on a median-value residential property assessed at $909,000.
The new plan to avoid the cuts and make improvements includes an average five per cent fare increase in July 2026 — higher than the previously contemplated three per cent increase — and a two per cent increase annually starting in July 2027. This also follows the recent approval of a four per cent fare increase starting in July 2025.
Riders will see an increase of $0.14 on the average trip beginning July 2026.
Fares will increase for the first time on the YVR AddFare applied to SkyTrain Canada Line trips from Vancouver International Airport to out of Sea Island. This YVR AddFare, in addition to the regular zone-based fares, has been applied ever since the Canada Line’s opening, and it applies to the outbound trips from YVR Airport Station, Sea Island Centre Station, and Templeton Station.
The YVR AddFare will increase by $1.50 in 2026, “followed by annual increases of two per cent thereafter.”
The provincial government is also helping local transit with a one-time $312 million investment, “and a commitment to a new revenue source by 2027.”
How will these investments improve transit?
Before this funding plan was approved, TransLink faced an annual deficit of over $600 million.
“This was caused primarily by declining fuel tax revenue, increasing costs, and fare increases being capped under the rate of inflation between 2020 and 2024.”
The new plan keeps transit funded until the end of 2027 and cuts the deficit in half afterward.
This funding plan will address several service gaps. It includes more service on 50 overcrowded bus routes and improving or implementing 40 other routes, including 14 areas that currently have limited or no transit service.
Balbir Mann, the president of Unifor Local 111, was one of the speakers at the Wednesday meeting. Mann represents bus drivers and spoke of some of the conditions they are forced to endure.
“Drivers are being berated by passengers due to being passed up by multiple buses, which is causing passengers to be late for work, school, appointments, and other important events.”
He added that it’s causing friction between operators and passengers.
TransLink will also extend the North Shore’s R2 RapidBus to Metrotown by 2027 and plans to improve Metro Vancouver’s roads by expanding pavement rehabilitation.
If the revenue shortfalls were left unaddressed, previous worst-case scenarios included a 50 per cent reduction in bus services, a 30 per cent reduction in SkyTrain and SeaBus services, and the suspension of the West Coast Express commuter rail line. This scenario is no longer being contemplated.
“This Investment Plan allows us to get back to what we do best, which is delivering quality transit services for Metro Vancouver residents. This plan ensures we have the stability to expand service, help people get to work, and reduce overcrowding on transit,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn.
With files from Kenneth Chan