Elections BC has announced the results of the Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit plebiscite, for which voting closed on May 29th.

The plebiscite – announced during the last Provincial election – sought support for a half-percent regional sales tax that would be invested in improvements to the region’s transit systems, as well as in other transportation infrastructure (including cycling and pedestrian amenities).

After all the votes were tallied, a total of 61.7% of ballots were marked “No” on the question of the new transportation tax while 38.3% of those voted in favour. Closer to whom, the figures for Vancouver were 50.8% opposed, 49.2 in favour. Across the region, only Belcarra, UBC and Bowen Island had a majority in favour of the new transit funding. A full breakdown of the ballots received is available from Elections BC. For those of us hoping to see important investments made in the regional transit system, this is clearly not the hoped-for result. At best, it is an important sign that there is more work to be done on ensuring the connection between transit and our region’s quality of life is broadly understood. Perhaps a consequence of this vote is that there will be a more vigorous discussion on exactly how we can fund the transit that is necessary across Metro Vancouver. But even that, sadly, seems fairly remote at this point.

A Yes vote would have given hope to those on overcrowded trains and buses that some kind of relief was in sight; that making the responsible choice — to live and work relying on transit — would be supported. A No vote means, in the short term, no new funds will be available for critically needed improvements – such as more buses, longer (and safer) nighttime bus service, or more frequent train service. More broadly, it means tacit support for unsustainable modes of transportation — an affirmation for people who think transit isn’t a viable option, and who would prefer – consciously or unconsciously – to devote more of our scarce land resources to car uses, car congestion, and ultimately, the myriad of dis-benefits that emerge as a result (sprawl, pollution, health care costs). Have taxpayers “won” with a result like this? Exactly the opposite.

It warrants a reminder that roads and bridges and other tax-payer funded transportation infrastructure doesn’t seem to warrant a plebiscite

As the results are not binding, the VPSN will continue to join with others to make the case that transit and sustainable modes are key to the vision of this region, and too important to be continually left under resourced. To that end, we take some miner consolation that many voters indicated they were voting against the specific funding mechanism, not to supporting better transit service overall. We can only hope that these individuals will contribute meaningfully in discussions around other alternatives. After all, saying “No” is the easiest thing in the world. Be proactive and finding solutions to the challenges of an underfunded transit system…. well, that’s where you actually do the real work.

Of interest: Moving in a Livable Region

For more, see the below Statement of Affirmation from Moving in a Livable Region, the consortium raising awareness around transportation issues in Metro Vancouver.

STATEMENT OF AFFIRMATION

We believe in this region.

We reaffirm the vision that has informed and shaped it for half a century: “Cities in a Sea of Green” – a compact region, surrounded by nature, made up of complete communities, joined together by a transportation system that serves, shapes and supports a sustainable economy.

We reaffirm the Mayors’ Vision for the growth of our regional transportation system.

We reaffirm the need for a sustainable form of funding for this vision.

We do not believe a No vote should be interpreted as a rejection of this vision, but instead we see it as a call for greater accountability and transparency in the governance of our transportation system.

We believe that a unifying vision and strategy are essential. A piecemeal, fragmented, ad hoc alternative to our regional transportation vision is not acceptable. It would not be affordable, and it would fail to offer our citizens the choices they need to support the region we want to build.

We believe we must and will find a way to get to Yes for the Mayors’ Vision as an essential element of the approved Regional Growth Strategy that has made our region one of the most liveable on earth.

Please join us in affirming this positive vision for our region’s and our children’s future.

With one week to go until the close of voting for the transit plebiscite, have you gotten your ballot in?

Here on the VPSN Blog, we’ve had a slew of posts in support of the YES vote. Need a refresher or want to pass this along to a friend who’s on the fence? Why not check out:

• The VPSN’s official stance on the plebiscite vote – “Effective, enjoyable public spaces promote human connection; they are physically safe and supportive for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.”
• A comprehensive (but not exhaustive!) list of what the voting yes will do for you, including 2,700 kilometres of bikeways, better connections to transit through pedestrian improvements, and maintaining and upgrading Major Road Networks.
• Delve into the many ways the yes vote will cut congestion and improve access for everyone, including seniors and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Into lists? Here are six reasons why voting yes is good for your health.
• This reflection on where the infamous Trans Am Totem and the transit referendum intersect.
• Alignments between human-scale streets and public transit, and how this ultimately supports businesses and reduces costs for all – “…having public transportation embedded into human-scale streets reduces costs even further, as human-scale streets require less infrastructure such as electrical lines and sewage, and fire and ambulance services have less area to monitor.”

What makes a city a great place to reside, work and play in? Although each city has its unique character, all cities also have similar underlying processes that sustain human activity to produce economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes. Today, let’s take a look at one of these generalizable concepts: human-scale streets that act as destinations. How do human-scale streets add value to a city by helping to serve local businesses? And how can public transportation strengthen this value?

Human-scale streets provide environments that are designed for humans to be the end users of (instead of for automobiles, which happen to have humans inside of them, travelling at much higher speeds). For example, the physical elements of automobile oriented roads such as the size of signs, doors and buildings, end up overwhelming a person walking by, but would seem normal while driving by. It is easier and feels safer for pedestrians to cross from one side of a human-scale street to another compared to an automobile oriented road. Therefore, they are more walkable and more community oriented. These streets elevate people above cars. Automobile oriented streets on the other hand, are roads which are connections between two destinations that you can travel to and from in a high-speed manner. Roads are simply conduits for automobiles.

Automobiles are supposed to be of service for human mobility around spaces, but it is easy to become too automobile dependent.

What I mean by becoming too automobile dependent, is having the design focus switch from humans to automobiles in and of itself as the end users. Although being dependent on a car as the main method of mobility brings many benefits, it can also brings a host of negative side effects when compared to being dependent on walking or public transit. Such negative side effects include social isolation, discrimination towards younger and elderly people who need to rely on others to drive them, expenses towards purchasing and maintaining a car, a decline in public health and decreases in small businesses.

An example of a human-scale street in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The size of buildings, doorways and signage of the local small businesses are designed for humans as the end users. The street supports automobile usage as well as walking, but since the streets are narrow, people get the sense that it is easy to cross the street to visit stores on the other side. A sense of community is supported.

Human-scale streets are also more likely to act as places, compared to automobile oriented roads. Places are destinations that you purposely visit. Examples of places include your place of residence, where you work, or places of entertainment such as a mall. Places add value to a city. Contrast this to spaces that are not places. These spaces are basically filler spaces between places, usually taken up by transportation. Human-scale streets act as places and support local businesses because they support human activity and active interest at the street level by virtue of their design. Local businesses receive more foot traffic from community-oriented streets that feel welcoming, safe, and pleasant to walk in.

So how does public transit come into play to support human-scale streetscapes that act as places and serve businesses?

Public transit enables easier access to stores for not just people able to drive, but also for younger and older demographics who cannot. Stores can receive foot traffic, public transit traffic and automobile traffic. By simply renting a shop front along a human-scale street, small businesses can pay less in start-up costs in comparison to maintaining your own building and parking lot along automobile oriented roads. Plus, investing in public transportation helps municipalities reduce costs of services such as road paving and road building. On top of that, having public transportation embedded into human-scale streets reduces costs even further, as human-scale streets require less infrastructure such as electrical lines and sewage, and fire and ambulance services have less area to monitor. Reducing these costs may translate into lower taxes.

The Transit Plebiscite proposes to bring benefits to Surrey by adding new bus service to growing communities, more Skytrain service, light rail transit, new B-line rapid bus routes and more. Elizabeth Model, CEO of Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association, says that not only do human-scale streets and active transportation options make nearby businesses more appealing to customers, but it is extremely important in attracting and accommodating employees. Workers make up a large portion of the people moving around the region, and are often currently – and certainly in a future with no increase in public transportation services – stuck in traffic. What Model is hearing from local businesses is their desire to offer employees the opportunity to get to work in a timely fashion without having to be stuck in a gridlocked car. This isn’t just a solution to moving larger numbers of people efficiently through the region, it’s adding to people’s quality of life: less time in heavy traffic and single occupancy vehicles means more time with family, more interaction with the community, a chance to get the blood flowing and one’s energy up with a short walk to or from the station or bus stop, and cleaner air to breathe for all.

Surrey’s population is predicted to rise at a faster rate than Vancouver’s over the next 20 years.

In conversation with the VPSN, Elizabeth Modal confirmed that the redevelopment and growth plans south of the Fraser, which incorporate this inevitable population increase, are synergistic with the location of the proposed light rail and extended bus service funded by the transportation improvement tax. Specifically, the light rail L-line from Central City to Guilford and Central City to Newtown and the increased service along #104 are necessary to accommodate the planned redevelopment and increasing commercial activity along these major transportation arteries.

In the meantime, don’t forget to vote for the transit plebiscite. Votes must be sent in and received before May 29^th at 8:00pm.

Our event will feature three speakers:

• Staff member, City of Vancouver, Sustainable Transportation
• Tiffany Muller Myrdahl, Women Transforming Cities
• Closing: Karen Quinn Fung, Director, Vancouver Public Space Network

Join us to share your questions and learn more about why your vote matters for your neighbourhood and our region:

• Date: Thursday, May 21st
• Location: Groundswell Café (566 Powell Street – see map)
• Time: 6pm (doors), 6:30 (start) to 8pm
• Light snacks provided.

Haven’t voted yet? Join us on a group walk (length of 15 minutes) to Elections BC’s Plebiscite Office at 180 Keefer Street, to return your ballot immediately!

Many thanks to the Strathcona BIA for their support of this event.

More information

• See our other writing on the Vancouver Public Space Network website about this historic vote on regional transit and transportation investments.
• Read our reasons for supporting a yes vote for the transit plebiscite.
• Questions? Contact Karen Quinn Fung.

It’s not Lions Gate Bridge traffic or Massey Tunnel backups that everyone is talking about these days; it’s the five car traffic jam atop a 20 foot high cedar stump that is attracting attention. I’m referring to the Trans Am Totem Pole; The Vancouver Biennale’s latest addition to the bi-annual public art exhibition.

A bit of background on The Vancouver Biennale: it is a charitable, not for profit organization that attempts to foster community engagement, social action and education through the creation of unique pieces of art in public spaces. The goal of The Vancouver Biennale goes hand in hand with the VPSN as it advocates that good public art is integral for the creation of liveable and culturally inspired communities with a deep sense of inter-connectedness. It attempts to create a space where people of different ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds can come together and identify with the piece in some way.

This particular piece was completed by local artist Marcus Bowcott, who uses the sculpture to allude to the transformation of the False Creek area from a First Nations community to an industrial center to a densely populated neighborhood defined by traffic and high-rises. He argues that Vancouver has moved further away from a connection to its natural landscape and more towards a consumer culture. Whether you see this piece as a quirky new addition to Vancouver’s art inventory or merely an eye sore, there is no doubt that it will continue to be a topic of discussion and will serve as a platform to engage the community on the issues of consumerism and sustainable development in Vancouver.

The timing of the piece could not be more perfect in my opinion as we are currently in the midst of a Transit Referendum. The Transit Referendum is giving Vancouverites the opportunity to say yes to more sustainable ways of growing and developing the social, economic and physical landscape of Vancouver. The Trans Am Totem Pole touches on the struggle between the need to continue the development of Vancouver into a metropolitan center and the social and ecological concerns that come with this development. Bowcott said there was a reason he chose the intersection of where Pacific Boulevard meets Quebec Street at the end of False Creek as “this site now is this major transit hub: we’ve got these stadiums for spectacle; we’ve got the SkyTrain; we’ve got the viaduct; we’ve got condo towers. It’s about this mobile culture and it’s a throwaway culture. It raises ecological concerns.” The Transit Referendum and the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan are two salient planning initiatives in Vancouver right now that aim to promote a more sustainable and liveable future for Vancouver. This piece will hopefully draw attention to these two initiatives and encourage Vancouverites to become engaged in the policy making process that will decide what kind of future we want for Vancouver. 

The public transit plebiscite has started with many of us still undecided on whether we should vote yes or no to the Mayor’s council proposal for the major public transit overhaul. If you are still undecided or leaning on a no vote for any reason, think of the yes vote as an action that would actually improve your health. Here’s why:

1. Less driving means more walking: the new proposal will allow more people to use public transit to reach their destination. People who take public transit are more likely to walk for a longer period of time every day and are less likely to be overweight compared to those who drive. It might not sound like much, but walking is a actually an effective form of exercise, especially if practiced regularly.

2. Less cars means less congestion and a peace of mind: This one is a no brainer. Nobody likes to be stuck in traffic. The stress arising from wasting a significant part of your day sitting in a car instead of spending it with your friends and family (or watching TV if you may) is definitely not healthy, not mentioning the fact that you could be spending that time doing something healthier, like taking your dog out for a walk, or playing with your children. So even if you don’t ever use public transit, allowing others to do so, will help give you less congested roads, less stress and more leisure time.

3. Less cars means less air pollution: With all the people using the improved public transit, there would be less cars on the street. That translates to less greenhouse gas emissions, less impact on climate change and certainly less air pollution in our city. Think of this the next time you are walking on the side of a busy street.

4. Less cars means less chance of road injuries: Every road injury and traffic accident is one too many. Why not help reduce them by having less cars on the roads?

5. Easier access to medical and recreational facilities, friends and loved ones: Everyone deserves to be able to get around, visit their friends and access the city’s services. This is an important issue especially for seniors, people with disabilities or others with reduced mobility. A better public transit system will help everyone get around in the city more safely and comfortably.

6. Less driving can mean more cycling: The proposal promises more safe cycling routes across the Lower Mainland. The number of cyclers in the region is on the rise, and this proposal will help give it a major boost. If you are a current cycler or plan on getting on the bike more often, voting yes will give you more bike routes and longer tracks to cover. If you don’t cycle, voting yes will help take the cyclers off the roads and on cycling routes, making the roads safer for everyone.

Voting yes will benefit everyone: from drivers, to public transit users and cyclers, from young students to families and seniors. A yes vote is a vote for better health.

]]> https://vancouverpublicspace.ca/2015/03/20/six-reasons-why-voting-yes-is-good-for-your-health/feed/ 0 https://vancouverpublicspace.ca/2015/03/16/transit-referendum-vote-yes-on-the-congestion-improvement-sales-tax/ https://vancouverpublicspace.ca/2015/03/16/transit-referendum-vote-yes-on-the-congestion-improvement-sales-tax/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2015 15:00:57 +0000 http://vancouverpublicspace.ca/?p=6178 photo by Anjana Pradhananga

Skate to where the puck is going to be — so that well-worn chestnut from a national hero goes. I’m not much of a hockey fan but I do know sound planning advice when I hear it.

So it goes for transit, too. At its heart, the referendum on a regional congestion-improvement sales tax is about making sure the region is there to get the puck to score our goals in the face of the coming challenges.

We know our population will grow — people already here will have children; people will seek opportunities that compel them to move here; some will choose to settle and feel secure enough to have their loved ones join them.

No more and no less than what we hear in the stories of our friends, co-workers and neighbours when we ask how they’ve come to be here.

Transit takes time to build; so do transit-friendly neighbourhoods. Hearing about the proposal for transit, walking and cycling improvements, it’s too easy to say: “Too much. What’s in it for me? When I could buy so much right now with the money ($135 or $258 per year, depending on who you ask) we’d pay to this tax?”

Two-hundred-and-fifty-eight dollars a year sounds like a lot of money when you compare it to the abstract idea of more bus service — especially if you never use the bus, feel like you can’t even if you did want to and don’t know anyone around you who does.

But it’s the wrong question. The question should be, “What will this tax buy us as a region that you won’t be able to for yourself in 10 or 20 years?”

More transit service throughout the region means more seniors (me, or my parents?) able to live in walkable neighbourhoods they are familiar with and have friends in, regardless of their driving or economic status.

It means young people gain independent movement to enrich their learning and civic engagement, freeing up their parents (a future me?) from time spent shuttling people around.

It means less space required for parking and more green spaces, public spaces and preserved or restored natural habitat (and cleaner air).

Imagine your household saves that $258 (just one guess) for the years until these projects are realized.

You could maybe buy one thing with equivalent benefits to those that I’ve listed. But not all of them, and not without moving.

A yes vote is a yes to all those things, and more, that transit enables. I was that teenager, I might be that parent and, with time, I’ll be that senior. And I’ll vote yes, because I will want to have those choices — and I think you should have them too.

—–

A version of this piece originally appeared in the Your Ride: Vancouver column for Metro News.

ENGAGED CITIES

• Seattle’s Chinatown International District is a historic area where you cannot only enjoy Dim Sum and marvel at early twentieth century brick buildings, but also empty your pockets-of-change at the Seattle Pinball Museum. The district also faces a resilience challenge of preserving the heritage character and cultural identity within Seattle’s urban fabric, while updating infrastructure and implementing new policies and housing standards to protect the buildings that may not stay standing when the next big ‘quake hits. The Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) carried out a community engagement mandate to work with residents and property owners in the historic area.
• Smelling your way through the city – here are 5 tips for smellwalking. Go ahead, smell your city!

DESIGN

• On making room for the invisible micro-urban spaces in ecological urban design, and how the benefits of the small-scale urban can help create more liveable cities.
• Given the transit referendum on March 16^th and ongoing scepticism of new major cycleways in Vancouver, here’s an interesting look into the economics behind the planning for increasing bicycle infrastructure in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Are ‘defensive architecture and design’ tactics in urban environments creating pervasive, unwelcoming public spaces that make the lives of city dwellers more hostile and ignorant? The article praises RainCity Housing’s shelter-bench initiative as a ‘ray of hope’ for creating more inclusive and equitable cities.

HERITAGE

• A photographic journey into Phnom Penh’s rapid urban development and the effect on the city’s landscape and society.
• The streetscapes of Shanghai’s old neighbourhoods give a glimpse into a Japanese war-time legacy remnant from the past.

PLACEMAKING

• The Guardian asked their network of ‘city bloggers’ from around the world what they would change if they were ‘mayor for a day’ in their city. The answer? More inclusive public space.
• Up, up and away! Submitted to the 2015 Folly Competition by Australian architect Jesse Lockhart-Krause, the playful Balloon Swing may send you soaring as you sit on a swing attached to a colourful hot-air balloon. Recommendations for best Balloon Swing location in Vancouver?
• 7, 500 miles (or 12,070 km) of LA’s underused city streets will transition into active, vibrant and accessible public space with the recently launched program, People St., designed to support community projects that enhance the quality of life in the city.
• A look into the public life of Cairo through 1001 street chairs.
• Birmingham Policy Commission’s recommendations for enhancing quality of life in future cities, which includes ‘a call for processes that engage citizens and create systems and policies for local empowerment.’

Starting March 16, the fate of the livability of the city resides directly in the hands of Vancouver residents who will be asked to mail in their vote on a The Mayors Council Transportation and Transit Plan which proposes 0.5% increase in provincial sales tax. Vancouver residents are voting yes to an investment in public life; a less congested, healthier, greener and more sustainable future for Vancouverites. Vancouver’s growing population is unequivocally linked to a growing demand for rapid transportation so a yes vote ensures that the infrastructure is in place to respond to these changes.

Say Yes to less congestion and more accessibility:

Time is a major opportunity cost associated with congested cities. The Mayors Council Transportation and Transit Plan promises a 20 % reduction in congestion thereby freeing up 20-30 minutes per day for drivers and transit users. Voting yes will ensure that Vancouver enjoys the following investments in transportation:

• 25% increase in bus service across the region
• 200 more kilometres of B-line routes
• More frequent all-day and peak hour service
• 50% more Seabus service
• 80 % more Nightbus service
• Upgrades to the Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines
• 2,700 kilometres of bikeways
• Better connections to transit through pedestrian improvements
• Maintaining and upgrading Major Road Networks

Say Yes to better public health:

Less congestion equates to less fatalities and injuries as a result of car collisions. Furthermore, a decrease in the amount of cars on the road gets Vancouver one step closer to reducing its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of pollution emitted into the atmosphere, thereby improving the quality of the air that we breathe in. A yes vote also fills in the gaps in the current cycling network which yields a greater number of safe cycle paths and bikeways. The new transportation plan also plans to improve cycle and walkway access to transit routes thereby incentivizing the option to use transit instead of driving. Lower commute times and an increase in walking and cycling routes inevitably catalyzes improvements in public health by increasing physical activity and decreasing the chronic diseases associated with inactivity and stress.

Both Patricia Daly, the Chief Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and Victoria Lee, the interim Chief Medical Health Officer for Fraser Health Authority, have officially endorsed a Yes vote in the referendum.

Say Yes to a stronger economy:

High capacity rapid transit is needed to capitalize on the economic potential of the city. More specifically, the Broadway Corridor is the second largest business and innovation center in British Columbia and therefore an increase in transportation routes will help unlock the economic growth potential of this area. The Broadway Corridor accounts for one quarter of all metro- Vancouver’s tech jobs and 40 percent of all health care jobs. The corridor connects UBC, the largest academic institution in the province, with Downtown and other key business centers. An increase in rapid transportation will enable innovation and top talent to move efficiently around the region.

What you can do for the Transit Referendum:

If you are a registered voter in BC, you will receive a mail-in ballot starting on March 16 and have until May 29, 2015 to mail in your answer to the following provincially approved question:

“Do you support a new 0.5% Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax, to be dedicated to the Mayors’ Transportation and Transit Plan?”

If you are among those who are not currently registered to vote, you can call 1-800-661-8683 or click here to ensure you are ready to vote in the referendum.

Since December, when the Mayor’s Council on Regional Transportation released their proposal for funding transit expansion and operations with a 0.5% regional sales tax, it has been an endless string of developments, arguments, rebuttals, and hand-wringing, being played out across regional and even national news media, and in numerous online spaces. City councils across the region are voting on the matter and throwing in their support. In these two weeks alone, there have been two public in-person events on the topic: one hosted by the SFU City program, and another one coming up hosted by the Metro Vancouver Alliance.

For the VPSN, our support for public transit is unequivocal. A yes vote will support transit’s vital role in enabling the creation and flourishing of the public spaces that lie at the heart of our work, as well as further improvements to regional infrastructure supporting cycling and walking trips. Effective, enjoyable public spaces promote human connection; they are physically safe and supportive for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities; they invite expression, spanning from the playful to the political; and they support local economic models that create wealth for the community in balance with our ecological systems and shared values.

The voting period beginning March 16th is rapidly approaching. There are a wide variety of labour, environmental, and business-focused groups engaging people on why transit matters, how the sales tax will work and how the wording of the question addresses some of the concerns people have about how the proposed transit improvements will roll out in reality.

We are seeking volunteers to join us in shining a light on the importance of this referendum on Vancouver’s public spaces and will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, January 28th, 5:30pm, to work through our activities on this topic. If you would like to join us, please contact Karen Quinn Fung by e-mail, and we’ll keep you in the loop as we finalize the location and organize future meetings.

More Information

• Our past projects on transportation
• 50 Big Ideas to improve public space in Vancouver (2014)