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A “Yes” Vote Benefits Rob Backie and People of All Abilities to Have
Better Transportation Options Starting Next Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2015
New Westminster, BC– Rob Backie has mobility impairments and travels with a scooter. He lives and
works in Burnaby, makes occasional visits to the hospital, and is looking forward to traveling more
frequently to New Westminster with opportunities ahead of him. With a “yes” vote in the transit
referendum, Rob can see immediate improvements in his traveling as early as 2016. We know Rob from
this photo of him, which garnered attention online from people who believe that a “yes” vote benefits
people of all abilities.
How will Rob‟s life change in the next year with the Mayors‟ Plan?
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Instead of taking the bus, Rob currently travels two miles on his scooter to the SkyTrain station
because he feels that there isn‟t enough space on the bus for him and his mobility device. The
Mayors‟ Plan puts more frequent bus service in Burnaby, so that buses will be less crowded.
Instead of traveling two miles on his scooter to get to the SkyTrain station, Rob can take the bus
and save valuable time and energy.
With increases in HandyDART service, it will be easier for Rob to make HandyDART reservations
for his trips to and from Burnaby General Hospital. He is less likely to have his trips denied or to
encounter delays due to HandyDART service being oversubscribed.
Rob will also benefit from more frequent SkyTrain service, especially on weekends and evenings,
making it faster for him to travel wherever he needs to go, including New Westminster as he finds
new opportunities there.
“With a „yes‟ vote, Rob and other people like him will have more freedom and independence to travel
where he needs to go, regardless of their physical ability,” said New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté.
“He‟ll also save significant amounts of time, which he can spend working or with family and friends all
beginning as soon as next year.”
Metro Vancouverites are urged to vote “yes” for the Mayors‟ Transportation and Transit Plan to see real
travel improvements starting next year. Ongoing improvements will be added over the next decade,
helping people across the region get where they need to go more quickly, conveniently and reliably within
months of a positive outcome.
Vote “yes” when you receive your voting package and please make sure to mail your ballot as soon as
possible. Voting period closes on May 29, 2015 at 8 p.m. To learn more about the voting process, visit
www.elections.bc.ca/plebiscite.
For more information on the Mayors‟ Plan, visit www.mayorscouncil.ca.
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Immediate Transportation and Transit Improvements in the Mayors’ Plan:
Backgrounder
A “Yes” vote for the Mayors‟ Plan would create real and near-term time savings and convenience for
commuters and other travellers across the region, starting in 2016 and building out over the coming
decade.
Providing more service from existing Buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus, HandyDART:
In 2016, customers would begin to enjoy expanded hours and more frequent service from the existing
transit fleet of buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus. This would result in immediate travel time savings, fewer
pass-ups and increased choice across our region. This includes:
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Expanded rail service, to reduce wait times and crowding and improve travel times:
 More frequent Expo Line and Millennium Line service, especially on weekends and holidays
 Additional Canada Line service during weekday rush hours
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Expanded NightBus service, with more capacity and service later into the night and early morning on
busy routes such as N19 Surrey Central, N20 Victoria and N35 SFU
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Additional SeaBus sailings – departures every 15 minutes throughout the day, seven days per week,
all year long (currently every half hour during evenings, Saturday mornings and Sundays)
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More HandyDART trips available to help reduce wait times for persons with mobility needs
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More frequent bus service across the region to reduce wait times and crowding, during the middle of
the day, in the evening, and on weekends, including:
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South of Fraser in Newton, Guilford, and Fleetwood: extend bus service later in the evening on
weekdays
In South Delta and Tsawwassen: more frequent service connecting to the Canada Line
In Richmond on Westminster Highway, Cambie Road, Granville Avenue and Garden City Road:
more frequent buses during weekends
In Burnaby on Willingdon Avenue: more frequent buses during evenings and weekends
In Vancouver along 49th Avenue: more frequent buses during the midday and on weekends
On the North Shore on Lonsdale Avenue: more frequent buses during the evening and on the
weekends
In Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam on Coast Meridian Road and David Avenue: more frequent
buses during the midday and on weekends
In Anmore and Belcarra: later evening service on bus routes connecting to the regional transit
network
In Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows along Lougheed Highway: more frequent buses in the midday and evening, connecting to SkyTrain
In addition to increased and improved service from the existing transit fleet, a positive outcome would
trigger ordering of new buses, SkyTrain cars, West Coast Express vehicles and HandyDART shuttles.
New buses and rail cars would be put into service beginning in 2018 to further expand transit service and
introduce new services in communities across the region.
A “Yes” vote for the Mayors‟ Plan would save families time, money, keep our air and environment clean,
and help keep goods and services moving across the region. These benefits would begin in 2016, almost
immediately after a positive vote for better transit and transportation services and would expand as the
Plan is built out, creating thousands of jobs and an economic boost for all communities.
A “No” vote would increase congestion creating roads and transit gridlock, increase travel time and costs,
and stall jobs and our economy.
Voting packages have been mailed to registered voters and these must be returned to Elections BC by
May 29. Visit www.elections.bc.ca/plebiscite for more information.
To read more about the Mayors‟ Plan, visit www.mayorscouncil.ca.
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