The newly hired CEO of TransLink marked his birthday last Friday with a talk in Coquitlam to promote his bruised agency.
Kevin Desmond told the crowd of 75 people — including Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay and Port Coquitlam acting mayor Coun. Mike Forrest — at the Tri-Cities' Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he believes TransLink has one of the best public transit systems in the world.
In his chat with Douglas College v-p Hazel Postma, Desmond steered away from the current political tug-of-war between TransLink's mayors council and the provincial government and he did not give a definite date for the opening of the Evergreen Line, which is due to start operations through Coquitlam and Port Moody next spring.
Still, Desmond said with more funding, TransLink could get 20% of the mayors' 10-year transportation plan on track within the next 12 to 18 months.
Desmond also said TransLink wants to work with developers to create more affordable housing opportunities in Metro Vancouver. "We will have one million more people by 2040," he said, adding, "I know the mayors want to stay focused on the long view."
The provincial government has pledged $246 million to expand the transit system in Metro Vancouver; however, property taxes and transit fares will likely rise to cover TransLink's cost to the plan.
Last week's announcement of new provincial cash is to ensure the region doesn't lose the $370 million in federal funding that will help to pay for the first phase of the mayors' 10-year plan — a $7.5-billion vision that includes more buses, another SeaBus, more service hours and studies.
