Delta Council in Delta, British Columbia passed a new motion at a special council meeting on July 30, 2024, to take action to protect the city’s transit routes – now at risk due to funding shortfalls at TransLink. During the meeting, council directed staff to develop an advocacy plan to ensure TransLink receives the provincial funding it needs to maintain service in Delta and other suburban communities.

The funding issues could lead to the cancellation of many Delta bus routes in the future starting in 2026, dramatically affecting residents’ ability to travel in and out of the city.

“Thousands of Delta residents depend on transit every day to get to work, school, medical appointments and other important activities,” said Delta Mayor George V. Harvie. “Losing these routes would be devastating to our community, affecting the local economy, the lives of residents, as well as our environmental sustainability. At a time when the province is encouraging cities like Delta to increase housing and take action on climate change, it is reasonable to expect that they will provide sufficient funding to maintain the provincial infrastructure, such as transit, required to make these initiatives successful. We call on the province to step in and ensure the continued viability of transit services in the Delta and across the Lower Mainland.”

The potential cancellation of Delta’s bus routes and a reduction of HandyDART services would disproportionately affect youth, seniors and equity seeking groups. The absence of viable transit options would make it necessary for nearly every Delta resident to own a vehicle, putting more cars on the road when congestion — especially around the George Massey Tunnel — is already a significant challenge.

In addition to urging the province to provide TransLink with the necessary funding, Delta Council also directed city staff to prepare coordinated advocacy efforts at the Union of BC Municipalities Conference in September.