Metro Vancouver Transportation & Transit Plebiscite

[Caliplanner1]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Let us not forget that businesses have the option of moving, too. If a business finds that most of its talent lives in Surrey and doesn't want to commute, it can always move to Surrey. Decentralizing jobs to the regions is part of the livable region plan, which envisions people working close to where they live. It's a two-way street, so to speak.

....or they could just go ahead and move their entire high level operations out of the province and to somewhere with lower housing costs/cost-of-living rates!

[Klazu]

Say what you say, but we have it pretty good in here. Transit funding is much more difficult south of the border: http://metronews.ca/news/world/1409584/urban-transit-systems-struggle-to-keep-pace-as-demand-grows/

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by Pinion

1. You live in Surrey
2. You have a miserable commute that, if you shortened, you could use the savings towards maybe not living in Surrey

1. As much as I crack jokes about Surrey myself, it really isn't bad. I walk around my area a lot (there are a lot of parks and paths and trees) and I've never been accosted by a beggar. I can't say the same about Downtown.

2. That's assuming one thing: That I value the enjoyment of my commute more than the enjoyment of my home and having money to spend. (and how do you save money by moving to a more expensive place?)

Sure, I could "afford" to have a really short commute. But having 2 people live in a a 500sqft one bedroom sounds more miserable than riding transit for an hour each way and living in a 2 bedroom+den (for less money).

Even when you account for the difference between a 3 zone and 1 zone pass, or the extra cost of driving further, I'm saving more than $400 a month (that makes a huge difference to my RRSP, and what doesn't go in the RRSP gets some nice toys). Sure, I don't live within walking distance of 10 pubs in SOMO, but I have lots of BBQ space and space and the liquor store is only a 3 minute drive.

But that doesn't mean I can't complain about the commute and want it to be better. I pay taxes and I get a say in how they are spent. And except for a bridge that is way further East than I live, my area hasn't seen any infrastructure upgrades since the AFB in the 80's yet it's exploded in population.

[WarrenC12]

They are close to a gas tax increase to raise $16.1B over 10 years for roads and transit:

http://crosscut.com/2015/06/transportation-plan-nears-final-votes/

[GlassCity]

News1130 is reporting that we will find out the result by the end of the week. It can't come fast enough, I just want to get it over with.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/06/30/results-of-the-transportation-plebiscite-expected-soon/

[CanSpice]

Results to be released Thursday at 10am.

[logicbomb]

Still believe that No wins in a majority (takes 70% of the vote).

[paulsparrow]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

News1130 is reporting that we will find out the result by the end of the week. It can't come fast enough, I just want to get it over with.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/06/30/results-of-the-transportation-plebiscite-expected-soon/

Outside of settling the arguments here over who would win what else does it do. The governing bodies will continue to do what they want Translink and cities will find taxes to prop up the continued misuse of funds. It won't matter at all what a plebiscite says.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Still believe that No wins in a majority (takes 70% of the vote).

Nah, it's going to be way closer than that. I'm guessing 52% no, 48% yes.

[rxp]

Lets get our predictions out there....

I say the yes side will win. 51-55%

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by paulsparrow

Outside of settling the arguments here over who would win what else does it do. The governing bodies will continue to do what they want Translink and cities will find taxes to prop up the continued misuse of funds. It won't matter at all what a plebiscite says.

How are funds being misused? And how much money are you talking about here?

[rxp]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Nah, it's going to be way closer than that. I'm guessing 52% no, 48% yes.

I think lots of people "would have voted NO" but because of the high no polling number and the numerous media coverage highlighting a strong NO vote, people might be more apathetic.

I give one recent example. Last provincial election... If people believe a certain outcome, they might not vote

[CanSpice]

Oh, and to help people come up with their numbers, I made a Plebiscite Predictor that takes the turnout numbers from the last data release (two days before the close of the mail-in period) and lets you pick the percentages by municipality, and it'll spit out which side wins based on your percentages.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by rxp

I think lots of people "would have voted NO" but because of the high no polling number and the numerous media coverage highlighting a strong NO vote, people might be more apathetic.

I give one recent example. Last provincial election... If people believe a certain outcome, they might not vote

Oh definitely. The early Angus Reid poll said that 80% of people were either "definitely or probably going to vote". Turnout was about 45%.

[s211]

My prediction is that anyone predicting a "yes" win also believes that vehicles can powered on elf tears distilled by Gregor's juice factory.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by rxp

I think lots of people "would have voted NO" but because of the high no polling number and the numerous media coverage highlighting a strong NO vote, people might be more apathetic. I give one recent example. Last provincial election... If people believe a certain outcome, they might not vote

That and the fact that voting "No" will just mean keeping the status quo whereas voting "Yes" means improving what we have. It takes much more passion to try changing things for the better and more passionate people will vote more likely.

I think this is one of the few times where "lazy democracy" and low turnover will work for the better and "Yes" side will win.

If I would have been allowed to vote, I would have voted "Yes" just to boycot that brick from the "No" side (forget the name of that lobbyist).

[Rico]

Originally Posted by s211

My prediction is that anyone predicting a "yes" win also believes that vehicles can powered on elf tears distilled by Gregor's juice factory.

As much as I would like a Yes vote I have to admit that it is unlikely....that said, most of my friends who were Yes supporters voted. Most of those who were No supporters did not actually vote so.....fingers crossed.

[go_leafs_go02]

I'm predicting a 55% NO and 45% YES. Won't be a blowout, but pretty sure it will be a "NO" vote.

[Gordon]

In the case of a no vote I wonder what The Mayor's council will do next They & the government must have a plan B.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

My prediction is that anyone predicting a "yes" win also believes that vehicles can powered on elf tears distilled by Gregor's juice factory.

Just like the NDP was a lock, the NPA were going to boot Vision out (twice)... the polls never lie!