Panel to perform independent review of BC Transit

VICTORIA– Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom has selected three people with expertise in finance, transit and municipal affairs to conduct the BC Transit Independent Review.

The three panel members are Chris Trumpy, Catherine Holt and John King. Trumpy will chair the panel.

Over the next several months, the panel members will be seeking input from local governments and BC Transit. The panel will be focusing on the following:

·         Operations and performance: examining the efficiency and effectiveness of transit services.

·         Governance: examining the existing structure, processes and policies in place for BC Transit, as well as the Capital Regional District’s request that the regional district perform the functions of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.

·         Funding relationships between BC Transit and local governments: examining the processes for capital planning, budgeting and operating expenditures and how transit service is allocated, priorities set, charges imposed and expenditures monitored. Increases to provincial and local government funding will not be included in the review.

·         Communications and consultation between BC Transit and local governments.

The panel will submit a report to government by the end of August 2012. The Province will ensure the report is available to the public and will consider all recommendations.

   BC Transit is the provincial Crown agency charged with co-ordinating the delivery of public transportation throughout British Columbia, outside of Metro Vancouver.

·         In most municipalities, the Province contributes 47 per cent of funding for conventional transit service and local governments contribute 53 per cent. Local funding includes fare and advertising revenue as well as property tax.