mr.x
August 21st, 2007, 07:46 PM
Brian Lewis: TransLink unaccountable, patently unfair
A public monopoly should have to justify its actions
Brian Lewis, The Province
Published: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
TransLink's latest moves to nearly triple some parking rates at West Coast Express lots and double them at SkyTrain's Scott Road Station is a classic example of why this agency should be regulated by a public watchdog.
Like B.C. Hydro's electricity, and the Insurance Corporation of B.C.'s basic vehicle coverage, the bus, commuter-train and rapid-transit services that TransLink provides are monopolies.
Consumers using these public services are captive, which is why -- in the case of Hydro and ICBC -- the B.C. Utilities Commission must scrutinize and rule on any application for a rate increase.
When a regulatory public hearing process works the way it's supposed to, applicants must open their books and justify why the rate increase is needed.
Part of this process allows those representing user groups to have their experts cross-examine the applicant's experts -- and you'd be amazed by what little crabs of information come crawling out from under these rocks when exposed to the light of day.
But TransLink is a power unto itself, so when it announced the substantial parking-lot rate hikes for the five West Coast Express parking lots (Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitam and Port Moody) as well as the 1,532-stall Scott Road Station parking for Surrey SkyTrain users, it did the deed with no public input.
In fact, it didn't even require consultation with TransLink's own board of directors, spokesman Ken Hardie confirms.
All-day parking fees are jumping from $1 to $2 effective Sept. 1 at the WCE lots and at Scott Road Station.
A monthly unreserved-parking pass for the WCE lots increases by 167 per cent to $40 from $15, while unreserved spots at Scott Road increase by one-third, to $40 from $30.
"The new rates will come closer to covering higher costs for operations, maintenance and security patrols," TransLink said in a news release.
However, riders who use the agency's other 13 park-and-ride lots will continue to park for free, even though these lots incur similar costs.
In other words, commuters who fill the 3,212 parking stalls at WCE and Scott Road Station lots are subsidizing fellow commuters who use the 2,214 parking stalls at other lots.
A properly functioning regulator not only makes sure that rates charged by monopolies are reasonable and justifiable, but that they are also fair.
In this case, what TransLink has done is most unfair.
Nor can we judge whether or not the hikes are reasonable because TransLink doesn't have to justify its actions by fully opening its books.
As Delta North NDP MLA Guy Gentner says: "Because of poor bus service south of the Fraser River, commuters are compelled to park at Scott Road Station. They are being held hostage."
Also, with more transit fare hikes coming in January, the full cost of commuting from south of the Fraser to downtown Vancouver is approaching downtown parking costs.
And the hikes are wiping out benefits from Ottawa's tax break for regular use of public transit.
This is hardly the proper "green" message a public-transit service should be sending to commuters.
To comment on this story, please use the Sound Off link below.
E-mail Brian Lewis at blewis@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2007
A public monopoly should have to justify its actions
Brian Lewis, The Province
Published: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
TransLink's latest moves to nearly triple some parking rates at West Coast Express lots and double them at SkyTrain's Scott Road Station is a classic example of why this agency should be regulated by a public watchdog.
Like B.C. Hydro's electricity, and the Insurance Corporation of B.C.'s basic vehicle coverage, the bus, commuter-train and rapid-transit services that TransLink provides are monopolies.
Consumers using these public services are captive, which is why -- in the case of Hydro and ICBC -- the B.C. Utilities Commission must scrutinize and rule on any application for a rate increase.
When a regulatory public hearing process works the way it's supposed to, applicants must open their books and justify why the rate increase is needed.
Part of this process allows those representing user groups to have their experts cross-examine the applicant's experts -- and you'd be amazed by what little crabs of information come crawling out from under these rocks when exposed to the light of day.
But TransLink is a power unto itself, so when it announced the substantial parking-lot rate hikes for the five West Coast Express parking lots (Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitam and Port Moody) as well as the 1,532-stall Scott Road Station parking for Surrey SkyTrain users, it did the deed with no public input.
In fact, it didn't even require consultation with TransLink's own board of directors, spokesman Ken Hardie confirms.
All-day parking fees are jumping from $1 to $2 effective Sept. 1 at the WCE lots and at Scott Road Station.
A monthly unreserved-parking pass for the WCE lots increases by 167 per cent to $40 from $15, while unreserved spots at Scott Road increase by one-third, to $40 from $30.
"The new rates will come closer to covering higher costs for operations, maintenance and security patrols," TransLink said in a news release.
However, riders who use the agency's other 13 park-and-ride lots will continue to park for free, even though these lots incur similar costs.
In other words, commuters who fill the 3,212 parking stalls at WCE and Scott Road Station lots are subsidizing fellow commuters who use the 2,214 parking stalls at other lots.
A properly functioning regulator not only makes sure that rates charged by monopolies are reasonable and justifiable, but that they are also fair.
In this case, what TransLink has done is most unfair.
Nor can we judge whether or not the hikes are reasonable because TransLink doesn't have to justify its actions by fully opening its books.
As Delta North NDP MLA Guy Gentner says: "Because of poor bus service south of the Fraser River, commuters are compelled to park at Scott Road Station. They are being held hostage."
Also, with more transit fare hikes coming in January, the full cost of commuting from south of the Fraser to downtown Vancouver is approaching downtown parking costs.
And the hikes are wiping out benefits from Ottawa's tax break for regular use of public transit.
This is hardly the proper "green" message a public-transit service should be sending to commuters.
To comment on this story, please use the Sound Off link below.
E-mail Brian Lewis at blewis@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2007