Editor:
Re: Tax critics snort at barren park-and-ride, Feb. 27.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation should revoke the municipal Teddy award given to TransLink, apologize, make a statement to the public about its mistake and reassess its criteria for future award ceremonies.
TransLink defended itself by stating the provincial government was responsible for building the expansion.
My extended research finds that TransLink was already planning to pursue a more cost-effective solution to deal with growth by arranging a temporary overflow lot at a nearby church – just as the provincial government announced and moved forward with the park-and-ride expansion, without accounting for TransLink’s new park-and-ride tariff, without accounting for TransLink’s Grace Point Church solution and without notifying the City of Surrey.
I have also found the city has failed to anticipate park-and-riders who are hampering residents and clogging up streets in order to avoid the new park-and-ride fees.
These are the shortfalls that have resulted in a situation where a brand new $4.5-million park-and-ride is never used; it does not have to do with TransLink’s own spending habits.
Daryl Dela Cruz, Surrey
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Canadian Taxpayers Federation should check its facts.
The recent Teddy Waste Award given to TransLink by the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation 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 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 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 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 everyone likes to dump on TransLink. But in the face of economic and political issues, they are at best maintaining transit and transportation infrastructure.
The Surrey Board of Trade encourages the CTF to check your facts before you give out your awards.
Anita Huberman, Surrey Board of Trade CEO
