B.C. Premier David Eby approves $479-million TransLink bailout

The provincial government will give TransLink almost half a billion dollars to prevent service cuts, keep fares stable and fund the purchase of electric buses.

The announcement came two weeks after a similar amount was promised to B.C. Ferries to also prevent service cuts, keep fares stable and buy electric ferries.

B.C. Premier David Eby said the $479 million TransLink grant was needed to address the bus, SeaBus and West Coast Express provider’s “urgent financial needs.”

Last month, the TransLink Mayors Council on Regional Transportation called on the federal and provincial governments to give TransLink $500 million in “emergency relief transit funding” to offset the financial impacts of reduced demand due to COVID-19 and to help cover TransLink’s $20 billion 10-year expansion plan.

The $20 billion plan includes doubling bus service, adding nine new Rapid Bus Transit lines and expanding transportation infrastructure — including extending SkyTrain to the University of B.C. and building a gondola to Simon Fraser University.