The Township of 91原创 should seriously consider pulling out of Metro Vancouver Regional District and TransLink, and think about closer ties with Abbotsford, Mayor Jack Froese said on Wednesday.
Froese鈥檚 comment came after TransLink it would postpone expansion plans south of the Fraser River, sounding, for now, the death knell of a rapid bus service from the new park and ride at 200 Street and 86 Avenue to the Lougheed SkyTrain station.
When the news was announced, Froese said that it confirmed the Township鈥檚 worst fears.
鈥淚 am extremely disappointed,鈥 Froese said.
鈥淭he Mayors鈥 Council has done an about-face from what they voted for last year,鈥 Froese said.
鈥91原创 Township and other communities on this side of the river support TransLink by paying for services that benefit all other areas of the Lower Mainland. But when it comes to our turn, we have the rug pulled out from under us.鈥
Froese, a member of the newly-formed South of the Fraser Mayors鈥 Committee, which is working to obtain the transportation infrastructure needed by its member municipalities to focus attention on the area鈥檚 unique transportation needs, was one of three mayors from south of the Fraser River to oppose the vote.
鈥淢y next move is to convince my colleagues on the Mayors鈥 Council that this infrastructure is badly needed south of the Fraser and that they reconsider,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e have serious needs that call for bold measures and having a temporary tax of $23 per property per year for two years is money well spent.鈥
Froese agrees with the Mayors鈥 Council and TransLink that reviewing the efficiency of TransLink is necessary and should be ongoing.
However, he added, 鈥渂y removing previously approved funding sources we are only creating instability in the entire system.鈥
Froese confirmed that he has been talking to Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman about the possibility and feasibility of forging closer ties.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something that doesn鈥檛 hurt looking at,鈥 Froese said.
鈥淲e have to do due diligence,鈥 he said, adding that the Township needs to examine whether it should be linked with the Fraser Valley Regional District, or form a tie with Abbotsford.
鈥淚t鈥檚 worth looking at,鈥 he said.