Burnaby, BC. 04-01-2009 In a budget balancing move the Board of Directors of Translink announced a $5.00 per trip toll on the new Pitt river Bridge to coincide with the opening of the Golden Ears Bridge which will also be tolled. During the announcement of the toll, Translink Chairman Malcom Brodie rationalized the new toll by saying that there was an optional non-toll route via Mission and the Trans Canada route to Vancouver.
Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin was outraged but resigned to the tolls creation. "What can we do now, it's a done deal" Daykin said after the Translink meeting. Pitt Meadows council also outraged, lodged a formal complaint with the Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon.
Maple Ridge Councillor Craig Spears suggested that Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge succeed from the Metro Vancouver Regional District and form their own Regional Government. Spears insists that this toll will be detrimental for Real Estate growth in Maple Ridge and will seriously impact on his councils priority of developing the eastern parts of Thornhill and Whonnock.
If you read this far...Happy April Fools!
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