Whereas access to reliable, frequent public transit is critical to achieving shared local and provincial objectives of supporting community growth in an equitable, healthy, connected, low-carbon way: And whereas communities serviced by BC Transit havent been able to realize public transit expansion plans due to lack of matching funds from the Province since 2021: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of BC and BC Transit to commit to funding transit service expansions where requested and to move from annual funding agreements to 3-year funding agreements to allow for more certainty.
Ministry of Transportation and Transit By investing in BC Transit services and infrastructure, the Province is providing more people with safe, affordable, and reliable travel options in communities outside Metro Vancouver. To align with the current provincial budget processes, the Province enters into an annual transit operating agreement with BC Transit, allowing for a yearly review of transit funding and service levels to better meet the needs of each community. Since 2017, the Province has increased BC Transits operating funding by more than 70 percent from 108 million in 201718 to 184 million in 202526 with a further planned increase of four percent by 202728 - increasing transit services across the province. In Budget 2024, the Province provided 28.7 million in operating expansion funding, over three years 202425 - 202627 and an additional 298 million in capital funding for BC Transit to expand transit services in communities outside of Metro Vancouver. This additional funding will enable BC Transit to expand transit services in communities outside Metro Vancouver, providing approximately 2.83 million annual service hours by 202728. The additional funding will also enable BC Transit to procure more buses needed to support BC Transits Low Carbon Fleet Program and electrification. As of April 2024, BC Transit has been implementing service expansions in communities across the province and will continue to do so over the next three years.