4 Surrey/North Delta Leader Friday, February 25, 2011
Golden Ears subsidy $33M this year Toll revenues short of costs as driver shun new bridge by Jeff Nagel TRANSLINK IS counting on a 26-per-cent jump in the number of motorists who will pay to use the Golden Ears Bridge this year, but the costs of the bridge will continue to far outstrip the tolls coming in.
Even with the rosier traffic forecast, the transportation authority will still pay out $33 million more than it receives in tolls for the Fraser River crossing connecting Surrey and Langley to Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge. “We knew for the first
few years we would be subsidizing it,” TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie said. “But we are subsidizing it more than expected because traffic volumes have not increased to the levels we thought they were going to be.” TransLink’s budget
calls for toll revenue to climb to $37.8 million from $30 million in 2010, the bridge’s first full year of operations. It gives no rationale for the projected increase when large numbers of motorists continue to refuse to take the tolled crossing.
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Even if the number of users rise as fast as hoped, TransLink will remain far short of covering its $71.1 million in costs for 2011 – which consist of a $46.4-million capital payment to the bridge’s private contractor, the $11.9-million operating payment to the contractor and $12.7 million in debt servicing. Hardie denied the current shortfall represents any risk to taxpayers. Other projects are under budget and TransLink can absorb the extra bridge subsidy until revenues improve, he said. “We’re not looking at raising fares or taxes or anything else as a result of the Golden Ears Bridge performance,” he said, adding project is only 18 months into a 30-year contract. “The cost of the bridge will over time be covered by tolls.” This year’s shortfall will bring TransLink’s cumulative deficit on funding the new bridge to $63.8 million for the first three years. The payments to the private partner continue escalating each year until they peak in 2014. But TransLink expects the revenue picture will change significantly for the Golden Ears Bridge in 2013, when tolls kick in on the new 10-lane Port Mann Bridge and it no longer offers an easy free alternative.
BLACK PRESS PHOTO
About 25,000 vehicles cross the Golden Ears Bridge each day – less than projected. “People will make their choice of which bridge to use based on the efficiency of the trip – the time it takes to get where they’re going,” Hardie said. TransLink also plans a new initiative this year to drum up more Golden Ears users, in part by marketing the time-saving benefits to drivers, especially commercial truckers, who now detour via the Port Mann to avoid the toll. About 25,000 vehicles a day cross the Golden Ears Bridge, while five times as many use the Port Mann. Asked whether changes could include adjustments in the toll charged or the adoption of variable time-of-day tolling to attract more users, Hardie said everything is on the table but added it’s too early to provide details. Base tolls for regular
cars with transponders now pay $2.80 ($3.35 or $3.95 for those who don’t have transponders or aren’t registered at all) and that is expected to rise for inflation again this summer. Unlike other major bridges – including the new Port Mann where the province has opted to borrow the money directly and taxpayers are already shouldering significant costs – a private partner financed and built the $808-million Golden Ears Bridge and will operate and maintain it for 30 years. There is no federal or provincial money in the bridge, Hardie said. He also noted the previous costs of operating the former Albion ferries has been used to keep the Golden Ears tolls lower than would otherwise be required. jnagel@surreyleader.com
$400,000: Being spent on school meal programs Surrey’s general operating budget to supplement the school meal programs. That’s enough money to pay five In general, the provincial fundteachers or several special education ing formula supports districts with assistants, McKay notes, but how do declining enrolment, says McKay, and you choose between hiring instructors needs to be fixed to recognize areas and feeding hungry children? like Surrey where student numbers are “Everyone acknowledges it makes continually rising. no sense, but no one does anything to In addition, continual inequities in correct it,” says McNally of Community Link Funding the skewed Community Link – a grant that pays for things funding. such as meals for low-income The many portables curstudents, initiatives at innerrently in use here also take city schools and community a considerable bite out of schools partnerships that run the school district’s limited after-school programs – leave operational funds. There are Surrey with million of dollars about 230 of the so-called less than other, smaller school temporary classrooms on local districts. Laurae school grounds which cost For example, while Vancouapproximately $120,000 apiece ver receives about $8.7 million McNally to purchase and install. annually through Community The provincial government has Link, Surrey gets about $3.7 million. repeatedly acknowledged it is aware or Victoria, with one-third the number of Surrey’s distinct needs, but has yet to students as Surrey, receives about the commit to any new funding. same amount as this district. This year, it’s estimated about Also see OPINION / Page 7 $400,000 will have to be taken from From page 3