TransLink expands some services in Vancouver, but funding questions remain

Good morning,

One of the things we pride ourselves on here is hearing from our almost 28,000 readers about the issues you care about, and comments on our stories.

As part of a small change here at the Lookout, we’re making it easier for you to share feedback on our stories. We’re calling it Comment Corner. Think of it as a comment section where you can comment on the stories we write, push back against things you disagree with or give us feedback.

We’ll take the best comments from readers and highlight them throughout the week. Our hope is we can get more conversations going through respectful and insightful commentary.

Alright, let’s to today’s main story!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Monday: 14 🌡️ 7 | ☁️

Tuesday: 12 🌡️ 6 | ☀️

Wednesday: 13 🌡️ 4 | ☀️

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🥳 200,000: The expected number of people who participated in the Vaisakhi parade festivities this weekend in Vancouver. [Vancouver Sun]

📈 $487,224: The amount of money that Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer made last year. He’s the highest-paid City of Vancouver employee. [Vancouver Sun]

🏠️ $900,000: A home in Metro Vancouver costs this much. But, you will nee a boat, as it’s on Passage Island, between West Vancouver and Bowen Island. [Vancouver is Awesome]

TRANSPORTATION

TransLink expands some services in Vancouver, but funding questions remain

What happened: Without much fanfare, TransLink announced new streams of funding to deal with their short-term operating funding deficit. That means no major cuts to bus service that may have been required but pushes the operating funding problems to 2027.

The details: The funding includes a bunch of new changes and fees:

• A five per cent increase on fares starting in July, and two annual two per cent increases

• An increase of 0.5 per cent to TransLink property tax charge, of around $22 per home

• A $1.50 increase to people travelling from YVR

• Increase off-street parking taxes from 24 per cent to 29 per cent. 

Along with that, the province has provided $312 million in operating funding for the next three years. 

A question of fairness: Movement YVR, a transit ridership advocacy group, noted that the plan continues to put most of the cost burden on transit users, and not the entire region, with riders paying an average of $64 to $120 per year compared to property owners who pay $20 per year, and motorists who get $110 a year back from ICBC. Compare this to road upgrades through the province or a city, which everyone pays for through taxes.

• The group is also calling on the federal government to fund transit operations, not just money that goes to service expansion. 

Key thing to remember: TransLink is dealing with an operating deficit, meaning it does not have the revenue to cover operating many parts of the transit system. Money from places like the federal government tends to fund expanding transit service, such as new SkyTrain routes, rather than day-to-day operations.

TransLink announced that there will be service expenses as part of the plan. This includes new bus rapid transit corridors, more service to address overcrowding in Surrey and Langley and more HandyDART service.

For Vancouver: The Frequency Transit Network, where buses arrive every 15 minutes, will change to 12 minutes for Vancouver routes like 3, 8, 10, 16, 17, 19 and 20. 

• While not directly in Vancouver, more funding will help move the Metrotown to the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit plan. 

Actual increases?: The Investment Plan touts an increase in bus service of five per cent across the board. But Movement noted that while there is more service than in 2020, the region’s population has increased by 13% in the region, so on a per capita basis service is actually lower. 

• TransLink has also scaled down its public engagements on its upcoming plan, with no in-person meetings, and only a few weeks of online engagement until April 24. 

Transit expert Nathan Davidowicz noted in an email to the Lookout that around 40 bus routes will still have service levels that are below pre-COVID levels.

Audit needed: Davidowicz also highlighted how other transit systems have undertaken an audit to identify cost savings, and says one should be implemented in BC. In fact, an audit of Quebec transit found almost $350 million in savings throughout 11 different transit companies, around 10 per cent of their budgets, according to CityNews.

Opposition: The Vancouver party COPE, which just had their candidate Sean Orr win the recent by-election, took to social media to praise the announcement, but opposed the increase in fees on working families, and said they’ve been calling for making transit free for those under 18. 

Looking ahead: TransLink announced that would be looking to add new funding sources, subject to legislative approval, by 2027, to the tune of at least $112 million a year.

So what could it be? Business in Vancouver columnist Rob Show has speculated it could be a vehicle levy, where vehicle owners pay an additional fee. The benefits include that it targets not only gas vehicle users but also electric vehicle users who do not pay the current gas tax that TransLink levies on vehicles. Many other provinces already do this. 

• The province has already ruled out using part of the carbon tax for transit funding (since the carbon tax no longer exists) and congestion pricing.

SPONSORED BY VIFF CENTRE

Celebrate Canadian and Indigenous cinema with VIFF

VIFF's Canadian Film Week continues to celebrate Canadian and Indigenous storytelling, with filmmaker Q&As, Vancouver premieres and free screenings.

Swing by the VIFF Centre before Thursday to catch an essential documentary (Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper's Incandescence), a charming love story (Darrell Dennis’ Sweet Summer Pow Wow), a recent hit (Atom Egoyan's Seven Veils), or some revered Canadian classics (Denys Arcand’s The Decline of the American Empire and The Barbarian Invasions.)

Get tickets.

DREAM JOB

Discover a new job in Vancouver:

• Partnership insights and strategy lead, Canucks Sports and Entertainment

• Coordinator, recruitment, outreach and community engagement, Simon Fraser University

• Director of policy, BC Trucking Association

• Park worker, Metro Vancouver

• Manager, marquee events, PNE

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Five takeaways and three questions from the Vancouver municipal by-election

Originally published April 7.

Our team has analyzed the results and here are our biggest takeaways and questions from the by-election. 

A massive failure in planning

If you went to vote yesterday, you likely had to wait… for a long time. There were many reports of wait times of over two hours at polling locations across the city. It ended up being the biggest story of the by-election, eclipsing the actual results, as hundreds of people took to social media to vent about delays.

What happened: According to the Vancouver Sun, the expected number of voters was far higher than anticipated, with election officials modelling the number of voters, and planned polling stations, based on the previous by-election in 2017.

• There were early indications this might happen, with advanced voting lines earlier in the month also clocking in long wait times. The city said they added an additional 45 staff members for turnout after that, but that didn’t change the outcome. 

The cause of higher turnout: Voter turnout was 15 per cent, 40 per cent more than the 11 percent in the last 2017 by-election. The election in 2022 saw a 36.3 per cent turnout.

It’s impossible to place it on one specific reason for the higher turnout. The combination of ongoing controversies at city hall, the anger around the Broadway Plan and the nature of by-elections, which are one of the few opportunities for voters to push back against incumbents, all created a perfect storm of higher by-election turnout.

Read the rest of the story

THE AGENDA

💻️ Is Vancouver getting into crypto worth it? Yes, according to Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim who said about making Vancouver a more Bitcoin-friendly city is a “hill that I’m willing to die on.” In a deep dive profile on the mayor’s interest in crypto, the mayor said he’d work to fix staff recommendations if they came out against the city getting more involved in crypto. The mayor owns stocks in a crypto exchange but noted that his involvement in the crypto motion was fine because he consulted with an independent lawyer who said there was no conflict of interest. [Business in Vancouver]

🚶 You will soon have an alternative route after the closure of the Southeast False Creek path along the Seawall due to public safety due to structural support. A new pathway will be created through part of the park and around it, rather than the existing long detour onto the busy nearby road. The city says it will be ready by May. [Urbanized]

🚌 Vancouver school bus drivers will see some of their wages cut by 23 per cent after the Vancouver school district announced it was ending its living wage supplement policy where it topped up wages. Hundreds of contract workers will be impacted, including non-unionized drivers who provide transportation for disabled children. [Vancouver Sun]

🏢 The Regal Beagle Bar and Grill may not be long for this world. The property owner is seeking to redevelop the land to build a 25-storey rental tower. [Urbanized]

🚨 A pedestrian was hit on the Powell Street overpass in the Downtown Eastside on Sunday, though the person’s injuries are not life-threatening. [CityNews]

👮 Two cops were allegedly set on fire by a man in the Downtown Eastside, after being stopped for jaywalking. The man was arrested shortly after and the police were not injured. [Global News]

🏒 The Canucks lost another winnable game after going up 2-0 against the Minnesota Wild after two periods. They ended up losing the game 3-2. The team has one game left in the season against Anaheim on Tuesday, after missing the playoffs [The Province]

⚽️ My colleagues at the Ottawa Lookout will be happy about this — Atlético Ottawa beat Vancouver FC 4-1 to score their first win of the season. Vancouver FC sits at 0-0-2, with zero points after two games.

🥍 The Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team is heading to the playoffs for the first time in history, with a win over the Toronto Rock. The team will play their last regular season game against the Philadelphia Wings on Apr. 19

THE OUT OF TOWNER

A sleepy town? Not in Victoria’s dining scene

With so many people staying in Canada this summer to travel instead of the US, we’ve launched a series called Out of Towner in our food newsletter. We’ll share some of the best restaurants to try when visiting places in BC.

Victoria holds a special place in my heart. I went to university there. Some of my best friends live there. My mom calls it home.

Of course, in university the food I enjoyed most had two criteria. First, it had to be cheap. Second, it had to be cheap. You’ll notice quality wasn’t part of the criteria.

I visit the city often, and now that I have a bit more money to spend on food, you can easily see how the city’s culinary scene has evolved. It has an ever-growing diversity of cuisine, embracing quality local ingredients that the farms throughout the Island have to offer.

Sure it doesn’t have the diversity of Vancouver, but for a small town, it punches well above its weight. Here are just a few examples.

Bray’s

There’s something about Bray’s... If I lived in the city a few blocks away from their location at 460 Pandora Ave., I might make it my neighbourhood haunt. Each visit has showcased the front and back team that is firing on all cylinders.

My visit last year hit all the right notes. The broccolini ($18) was well-cooked with a slight crunch featuring a pleasant mixture of salsa verde and pine nuts. The little puff balls of gnocchi ($18) melted like butter in my mouth. The carpaccio ($18) included the unique addition of crispy parmesan, adding a round mouthfeel in each bite. 

On a recent trip, I only ordered the bread. Some places might leave it at that, but the addition of curry into the butter elevated it beyond just a simple table dish. 

I would be remiss not to mention the half-roasted game hen. People tend to avoid chicken. I get it. Most restaurants, frankly, are terrible at making it. At $18, the dish was simple, letting the juicy flavour build up in each bite, a powerful jus reduction, with the properly cooked chicken showcasing the kitchen’s strong technique. It is a quality dish and speaks to the restaurant’s quality.

If you’re looking for a meal showcasing local flavours, and a lovely ambiance without the airs of frivolity or decadence, then Bray’s should be on your list.  Visit with friends and share the dishes. Or try the Chef’s Choice at $65, which seems like a steal given the quality of the food.

Rabbit Rabbit Wine Bar

The new wine bar Rabbit Rabbit at 658 Herald St. has a vibe. Reminiscent of a visit to Meo in Vancouver, the restaurant and the team behind the design were intentional in their approach. Walls of wine, light pink accent, moody lighting… This may soon be, if it’s not already, a top date night spot.

Sadly the cat is out of the bag, as we had to wait over an hour for a seat on a Tuesday. But kudos to the team, they managed to fit our odd five-person group in eventually.

The menu itself is an inspired combination of different dishes with influences of French and Japanese, and a smattering of other Asian ingredients. It’s the type of fusion (I hate that word) restaurant that I love to explore.

Scallion milk buns with caramelized onion butter, Udon with sake cream, charred romaine salad with miso almond vinaigrette. It’s a menu I wholeheartedly approve of.

The food rotates often, so you might not have the same choices I did. But if you can, the cabbage is, was, and will always be, the star attraction, even if it no longer appears on the website menu. Thick layers charred to perfection, hearty to slice like gamey meat, with contrasting sweet and fatty flavours and decadent miso layers, it’s a dish I can’t stop thining about. 

As the name implies, they do wine. And they do it well. While they were out of a Georgian wine I was eager to try, the Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes Cinsault 2021 from Lebanon was an inspired bottle, bright with a full flavour that those just getting into wine will love. It’s a huge list and worth sharing a bottle (or two). The server was very knowledgable, critical part of any wine bar worth its name.

TORO Japanese Sushi

Smoke-infused sushi. Waygu beef and foie gras. Lobster tail. TORO at 708 View St. is a place of indulgence and extravagance, a modern steakhouse feel with Japanese charm.

While it’s sometimes overboard, the quality of the sushi and sashimi was evident. The rolls were flavourful, the chicken kara-age was perfectly fried and the rice quality was high. What more could you want?

Besides the food, the restaurant has an extensive selection of Japanese drinks, especially Sake, from the southern regions of the country. With Junmai, Daiginjo and raw Nama styles, there is something for everyone to explore.

It’s not a cheap menu, with starters hovering around $17 and sushi at $19 on the low end. Don’t even get me started on the A5 Wagyu pieces (two for $28) or $38 for the bluefin centre belly sashimi. But sometimes it’s okay to put a price on extravagance.

Rudi

It’s been a while since I visited Rudi at 710 Pandora Ave., and I didn’t save any photos, but the team behind the ever-popular Wind Cries Mary (worth a visit) has instilled a European flair into their second restaurant, with dishes like risotto, cacio e pepe and duck. 

I will admit I took no notes and did not plan to review it. But the pasta dishes were the standout. A good spot for a late-night meal that will leave you full. 

Matador

Likewise for Matadora Tapas at 559 Fisgard, I didn’t capture any photos (sometimes I don’t want to review a place I visit). But since visiting, I’ve tried to go twice, both times it was on a day when it was closed. That’s how much I liked it and felt I needed to share it with readers.

An authentic tapas bar in the heart of the city, the happy hour from 5 pm-6 pm is nothing to scoff at and is worthy of a post-work pit stop before heading home, or out on the town. Their Vermouth menu must be explored, alongside the variety of tapas adorning the glass display. For a little slice of Spain, without the airfare, you can’t go wrong.

EVENTS

Abbotsford Tulip Festival | 3663 Marion Rd, Abbotsford | Apr. 12-May 11 at 10:00 am | Come see the tulips! | Learn more

Rio movies | Rio Theatre | All week long | Incendies, Universal Language, Princess Mononoke, Phantom of the Opera and the Big Lebowski | Tickets $15

Vancouver Canadians vs. Eugene Emeralds | Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario Street | Apr. 15-20 | Baseball season is back! | Tickets $29+

Warrior Festival | The Cultch | Apr. 16 – May 11 | Multiple comedy and theatre performances | Tickets $29+

Vancouver Rise vs Calgary FC | BC Place, 777 Pacific Boulevard | Apr. 16, 7:00 pm | Northern Super League season opener | Tickets $47

Kitsilano Comedy Classic | Hollywood Theatre, 3123 West Broadway | Apr. 17 at 8:00 pm | Comedy shows this week | Tickets from $35

The Fabergé Ball | Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway | Apr. 18, 8:00 pm | Drag, burlesque, comedy, and cabaret collide | Tickets $30-$35

Easter at Grouse Mountain | Grouse Mountain | Apr. 18-21, various times | Crafts, egg hunts, Easter Bunny photos and skiing | Tickets $10 for kids

On The Periphery Art Show | The Polygon Gallery, 101 Carrie Cates Court | Apr. 23 at 6:00 pm | Tickets $40

Art Vancouver 2025 | Vancouver Convention Centre East, 999 Canada Place | Apr. 24 at 6 pm - Apr. 27 at 5 pm | Tickets from $30

VANCOUVER QUIZ

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Northern Super League gets started this week with Vancouver Rise FC playing Calgary Wild FC on Apr. 16. [Daily Hive]

• Downtown Van's 2025 State of Downtown Report is here, offering insights on downtown Vancouver's performance across several key sectors. Check it out! [Sponsored]

• A new Portuguese cafe opened on Saturday in this spot in Gastown. 

• Here’s a video of the newest SkyTrain in action. [Reddit]

• A new art exhibit at the Museum of North Vancouver is tackling memory and dementia. [Straight]

• TransLink has a helpful list of where to see the cherry blossoms at their transit stations.