The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation should check its facts.
The recent Teddy Waste Award given to TransLink by the CTF is not substantiated by any real facts to the South Surrey Park and Ride property.
TransLink did not build or pay for the South Surrey Park and Ride parking lot expansion. The property is owned and has been developed by the B.C. government for transit users. The additional parking was developed in response to local government and community concerns, including the Surrey Board of Trade, about serious daily overcrowding at the original South Surrey Park and Ride facility.
Further, TransLink introduced a system-wide user pay pricing structure for all of its parking facilities across Metro Vancouver in 2013. Pay parking recovers the operational costs associated with park and ride facilities, saving taxpayers money. Pay parking has been at this location for less than four months and it will take some time to develop usage.
I know that everyone likes to dump on TransLink. But in the face of economic and political issues, they are at best maintaining transit and transportation infrastructure.
Anita Huberman, CEO
Surrey Board of Trade