The Greens plan to make transit free, invest in regional transit and return transit to public corporations.
The NDP are promising to work on SkyTrain extension, add more express bus routes and offer free public transit for seniors.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives want to bridge service gaps, fund SkyTrain extensions and expand SkyTrain in Surrey.
As per a report released in July, TransLink will have to potentially cut services by the end of next year to balance its budget if a new funding model isn’t established.
The agency faces a funding gap of $600 million each year. Potential cuts would include cutting bus service in half, reducing SkyTrain and SeaBuses by 30 per cent, reducing HandyDart by 35 per cent and eliminating the West Coast Express as well as local government funding for road maintenance and local infrastructure.
Aman Singh, the incumbent MLA in Richmond-Queensborough, said the NDP is committed to making transit accessible as well as continuing to work with TransLink on a “long-term sustainable, regional model” so that the transportation agency has stable funding.
“We realize that communities have been growing and people need to be able to get to work, run errands and get home safely and quickly, and we've been investing in building the roads and public transit that people need,” Singh said.
He said the NDP has committed more than $24 billion for the 2022-25 for transit. On Oct. 1, the NDP also announced their plan to expand rapid transit to North Shore.
“John Rustad, on the other hand, instead of saying that we're going to make sure that public transit is there for people, they want to do an audit and cuts. That doesn’t help regular people that need that transit,” Singh said.
As per their platform, the Conservatives plan to “audit and reform TransLink's financial model” to ensure availability of funding to maintain consistent service and fund future expansion.
Singh said he will continue to advocate for public transit by working with the mayor and city in Richmond and Queensborough.
Cindy Wu, an independent candidate from Richmond-Queensborough, said the transit deficit will affect students, seniors and low-income families that depend on transportation in Richmond.
She said the deficit would also increase the demand for cars and carbon emissions in the area.
Research needs to be done to reassess which areas need more bus service, and which ones don’t, she added. Switching to smaller buses and more frequent service in some areas would help address the deficit.
Sustainable options such as e-bikes will help make transportation more convenient, Wu said.
Tamás Revóczi, the Green Party candidate for Richmond-Bridgeport, said Burkeville has been “squashed” between runways on Sea Island, leading to a disconnect with other areas in Richmond.
The Bridgeport area has the same problems, he added, which is why he supports the Greens' “ambitious” plan to make transit free.
“It's going to cost money. But at the same time, it's a critical piece of infrastructure that we definitely need,” he said.
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