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LETTER: Proposed TransLink development cost charge ’carefully researched’

TransLink vice-president Geoff Cross responds to Delta staff calling development charges a ‘hard sell’
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(Black Press file photo)

I read with interest reporter Grace Kennedy’s article from Dec. 21, 2017 (“Metro Vancouver, TransLink development cost charge a ‘hard sell,’ says Delta staff”).

The proposed development cost charge (DCC) went through a significant and inclusive region-wide consultation process beginning in 2016, after the Mayors’ Council identified it as a reasonable way of having “growth pay for growth.” We’ve worked closely with staff and elected officials from across the region to ensure our municipal partners had the opportunity to provide input into the framework and rates for the DCC, which will help fund transit improvements in their regions.

The revenue from a DCC will be used exclusively to fund much-needed capital projects, including 56 Expo/Millennium Line cars and 24 Canada Line cars and upgrades to Expo/Millennium Line and Canada Line stations. It will also help fund more bus improvements, like those recently made to the 601 and 620 in Delta.

Our proposed rates for the DCC have been carefully researched. They’ll be set at levels that will support transit expansion without influencing housing affordability nor future patterns of development. Importantly, affordable-rental housing projects will be excluded from the charge.

Next steps for TransLink include an approval from the province. Once that happens we will continue to work with key stakeholders and the development industry to finalize the structure and rates for the transit DCC.

Geoff Cross

Vice President, TransLink Planning and Policy