In Our View: Public transit worthy investment, offers benefits The Columbian
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In debates about public policy, transit is destined to occupy a prominent place. Arguments regarding the benefits and drawbacks speak to fundamental political philosophies about the differences between the public good and the public cost.
These discussions have been highlighted by plans for C-Tran to develop a Bus Rapid Transit line along Mill Plain Boulevard, echoing The Vine route along Fourth Plain Boulevard that debuted in 2017.
Indeed, public transit is never going to directly pay for itself. According to C-Tran’s 2019 financial report, farebox payments covered 14.2 percent of the agency’s operating costs. The sale of passes contributed additional revenue, but most of C-Tran’s operations are subsidized by taxpayers.
When nearly a foot of snow buried the Vancouver area this month, C-Tran CEO Shawn Donaghy was surprised to see that the number of people who relied on public transit barely dropped.
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In Our View: C-Tran on right route with rapid transit plans The Columbian
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Judging by the results of C-Tran’s initial Bus Rapid Transit line, a similar system along Mill Plain Boulevard is warranted.
Officials are moving forward with plans to prepare the region for the future, creating infrastructure that will provide benefits for generations to come. Increasing the accessibility and efficiency of mass transit will help make Vancouver more livable, help mitigate climate change and mark the area as a forward-thinking locale the kind that is attractive to new businesses and new residents.
This week, the Vancouver City Council approved an agreement with C-Tran to upgrade the area’s fiber optic network. C-Tran uses fiber optics to communicate with bus stations, and current capacity is insufficient to support a Bus Rapid Transit line.
Vancouver plans to sell old Fire Station 1 building
Oliva family plans to expand, renovate Hi-School Pharmacy headquarters
Published: December 21, 2020, 6:14pm
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2 Photos The old Fire Station 1 building pictured Dec. 17. The Oliva family, who owns the neighboring Hi-School Pharmacy headquarters, has offered to purchase the property from the city for $1.4 million. (Joshua Hart/The Columbian) Photo Gallery Photo
Vancouver will move forward with plans to sell its old Fire Station 1 building to the family who owns Hi-School Pharmacy and hopes to expand their neighboring headquarters into the historic property.
The city council decided early this month to sell the property, concluding a five-year process that began when the city declared the fire station as surplus in 2015. Three years later, the Oliva family offered to buy the property for $1.425 million.