VANCOUVER – A report by TransLink’s independent commissioner confirms that transit users in the Lower Mainland will see service roll back to 2004 levels by 2020 if no new funding is found, say New Democrats.

“The commissioner’s report confirms that people in the Lower Mainland can expect to see a decline in per capita transit hours if a solution to this funding crisis isn’t found,” said New Democrat TransLink critic George Heyman. “That means we can expect more overcrowded buses and more frequent pass-ups as our expanding population puts more pressure on shrinking transit services.”

The report from the Regional Transportation Commissioner on TransLink’s 2014 Base Plan and Outlook also points to the planned sale of TransLink assets, noting that while this sale is not prudent fiscal policy, TransLink has no other recourse to raise funds except an increase in fares or a reduction in services.

“The Liberal government has insisted that TransLink decisions must be delayed until after their referendum on the issue, which means that no real changes will happen in this system until 2015 at the earliest. In the meantime, TransLink is being forced to reduce its services and sell assets – decisions that make no long-term fiscal sense, and have a serious impact on the lives of transit users, drivers and the economy.

“Every day we hear more about the human impact of this waiting game. Just look at the recent revelation that service denials by HandyDART have risen seven-fold in five years,” said Heyman. “The B.C. Liberals need to stop delaying agreement on a new funding model and act now to maintain this critical transportation system.”