Outgoing Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini is hoping to leave office with the Evergreen Line on track and a commitment to review the city's development future.
Trasolini told The Tri-City News yesterday that it's time to review the city's zero-to-minimal growth policy now that the provincial legislature is poised to pass a legislation to allow a gas tax hike of 2 cents a litre to finalize funding for the long-awaited rapid transit project.
The mayor said he plans to bring forward a report to council next Tuesday recommending it take another look at the official community plan adopted in January that restricted growth based on current transportation infrastructure.
"I'm simply bringing a report to council to start the process," Trasolini said of the proposed review of the OCP, which is a municipality's statement of its long-term vision for the future
The $1.4 billion-rapid transit line from Burnaby to Coquitlam will enter Port Moody through an underground tunnel and travel through the city along side the CP Rail tracks, stopping at the Port Moody and Ioco stations. A third station is proposed but would require justification through ridership and development.
A change in the official community plan would enable the city to look at potential development along the line and do some planning in other special study areas but Trasolini said one of the key reasons for updating the OCP would be to meet population projections required in the Regional Growth Strategy, which was passed without the city being required to state growth targets until the Evergreen Line and the Murray-Clarke projects go ahead.
Although the Murray-Clarke connector is still off TransLink's priority list, the passage of legislation approving the gas tax hike means the Evergreen Line can go ahead.
Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom has promised to get the shovels in the ground "as quickly as possible" once a formal agreement with TransLink has been reached.
The province is contributing $583 million to the line, the feds are putting in $417 million with TransLink adding its share of $400 million to the project, according to a government website.
In addition to the gas tax hike, slated for April 2012, property taxes across the region will also have to rise on average $23 for two years unless an alternative source of funding is confirmed.
dstrandberg@tricitynews.com
