The Province is giving new powers to TransLink to go after people who steal transit rides and is strengthening the organization's governance model.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom is introducing changes to the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act today.

Fare evasion and fine collection:

The legislative changes are designed to deter people from cheating Metro Vancouver's transit system.

The majority of people pay their transit fares. With the changes, people who do not pay their fare-evasion fines will face serious consequences.

Drivers with unpaid fines, both past and future, will be unable to renew their licence and registration. TransLink may make use of collection agencies and will also be able to refuse transit service until fines are paid. TransLink can file certificates in court to gain access to the assets of people who do not pay.

TransLink will have the authority to collect fines, set fine amounts and resolve disputes. Regulations will be developed prior to implementation.

TransLink will receive the revenue from fines, which will help pay for fine administration, dispute resolution services and collection costs. TransLink will also be required to report annually about the fine revenue and collection process.

These changes are expected to take effect this summer.

The legislation will provide TransLink with the tools to reduce fare evasion in addition to the introduction of faregates and the Compass smart card system in 2013. The Compass Card will replace the existing monthly and daily passes, tickets and cash fares.

The Province is providing $40 million and the Government of Canada is contributing up to $30 million from the Building Canada Fund to support the approximately $100 million in eligible costs attributed to the faregates and required station improvements. TransLink is contributing the balance of funding, for a total project cost of approximately $171 million.

Governance:

After listening to the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation and the public, government is changing legislation to provide greater assurance that TransLink is running efficiently and effectively and to strengthen the role of local government in planning and decision-making processes.

Legislative enhancements include:

• Establishing a requirement for periodic performance audits of TransLink.

• Extending the submission date for TransLink's base plans from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1.

• Adding the director of Electoral Area "A" to the Mayors' Council - Electoral Area "A" is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and includes several unincorporated communities, including the University of British Columbia, University Endowment Lands, as well as Bowyer Island and Barnston Island.

• Adding seats on TransLink's board for the chair and vice chair of the Mayors' Council.

Periodic performance audits will examine TransLink's operations with the goal to help the organization increase efficiency for the benefit of the travelling public. The Province has ordered a performance audit of TransLink, which will be complete by the end of August.

Extending the submission date for TransLink's base plans from Aug. 1 to Nov. 1 will allow for more consultation between the organization, the public and the Mayors' Council.

Adding the director of Electoral Area "A" will provide residents in the area with a representative voting at the Mayors' Council table. The change was requested by the Mayors' Council, the director and the public.

Adding two mayors to TransLink's Board of Directors will strengthen the link and facilitate communications between the two groups. This supports the objectives of the Mayors' Council without fundamentally changing TransLink's governance structure.

Quotes:

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom -

"People who have avoided paying their transit fare in Metro Vancouver have been put on notice: the free rides are over. I have listened to both TransLink and the public. These legislative changes will allow TransLink to go after people who abuse the system and their fellow passengers."

"Every passenger who takes advantage of the system by not paying a fare only increases the costs for those who do. The easiest solution to avoid being fined is to simply pay your fare ticket."

"After numerous discussions with the Mayors' Council, I have brought in changes to enhance the existing governance model. TransLink's planning and decision-making processes will be strengthened by adding the director of Electoral Area "A" to the Mayors' Council, changing the timeline for base plans, allowing for periodic performance audits to be requested and adding two mayors to the Board of Directors."

"I firmly believe the legislative changes in Bill 51 will strike a balance between the mayors' interests and keeping a professional Board of Directors for TransLink. TransLink must continue to be operated from a regional perspective, versus community by community decision-making."

Quick Facts:

• TransLink is Metro Vancouver's regional transportation authority. TransLink delivers regional transit services and cycling and commuting options, as well as the AirCare program, through its operating companies: http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Corporate-Overview/Operating-Companies.aspx
  

• TransLink provides funding and shares responsibility for the Major Road Network - http://www.translink.ca/en/Driving/Roads-and-Bridges.aspx - and regional cycling - http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling.aspx - with municipalities in Metro Vancouver.

• TransLink is the first North American transportation authority to be responsible for the planning, financing and managing of all public transit in addition to major regional roads and bridges.

• As guided by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act, TransLink has a multi-tiered governance structure that includes: the Board of Directors, the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation and the Regional Transportation Commissioner.

• The board provides oversight of TransLink's strategic planning, finances, major capital projects and operations and makes decisions in the interest of TransLink within the limits established by the act.

• The Mayors' Council contains representatives from each of the 21 municipalities, as well as the Tsawwassen First Nation, from within the transportation service region and collectively represents the viewpoints and interests of the citizens of the region.

• The Mayors' Council appoints the Board of Directors for TransLink and the Commissioner. It approves any supplemental transportation and financial plans prepared by TransLink, including related funding and borrowing limits.

Learn More:

South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

BACKGROUNDER

New powers for TransLink to enforce fare evasion

The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act will be modified to create a mechanism for TransLink to collect fines from unpaid fare evasion tickets. TransLink will be able to keep that money to help pay for the cost of collecting fines.

TransLink can use small claims court and collection agencies to collect unpaid fines as well as these other options:

• Offering discounts for early payment.

• Imposing continually escalating fines and interest over time.

• Filing certificates in Provincial Court to recover the amounts owed.

• Recovering fine amounts from the new Compass Cards.

• Refusing transit service, monthly passes, and transponders until fines are paid.

• Refusing a drivers' licence or vehicle registration by ICBC.

In extreme situations of repeat offences and refusal to pay fines, TransLink can request the Province to reduce a provincial payment to an individual, such as a provincial tax refund.

Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241