TransLink should live with the collection of taxes and fees it already has available rather than ask for new funding sources, says B.C. transportation minister Shirley Bond.

She was responding to calls from Metro Vancouver mayors, who signed an accord June 30 with environmental, business and labour leaders that calls on senior governments to negotiate more funding.

The mayors say TransLink needs an extra $450 million a year to finance a major expansion of transit in the region to keep pace with growth, provide a better transit alternative to driving and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"I think it's far too early to be talking about what specific additional tools might be required," Bond said in an interview.

"TransLink also has responsibilities and they have to work within the legislated options that have been provided to them."

The transportation authority says it can generate a maximum of $275 million more a year, if it raises its existing fuel, property and parking taxes to the limit that's allowed, increases fares and charges a new annual levy on every car in the region.

That would enable a modest expansion – more buses, for example, but no new rapid transit lines – that wouldn't dramatically improve transit conditions, particularly in underserved parts of the region.

Bond said there hasn't been enough consideration yet of "what exactly we can accomplish within a moderate option."

TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast previously said the provincial government's opposition has emerged as the main barrier to TransLink getting the $450-million "vision" funding scenario he says is needed to maintain the region's livability.

"I'm not saying they should stop having a visionary approach," Bond said. "What I think we have to recognize is there are challenging decisions to be made. We have to look at what's within our capacity to deliver."

TransLink has eyed a possible tax on shipping containers, a share of the province's Property Transfer Tax, or some other form of revenue-sharing with Victoria or Ottawa.

Bond said the mayors' proposal that the province devote a portion of carbon tax revenues "is not an option."

She also made it clear there will be no special deals for transit in the Lower Mainland, because such an arrangement would trigger protest elsewhere in B.C.

"We are going to treat TransLink as we treat the rest of the province of British Columbia," she said.

"There are lots of needs and demands related to transportation and infrastructure issues."

The Prince George MLA and former education minister replaced former transportation minister Kevin Falcon in the cabinet shuffle unveiled this spring.

A tax on container shipments could unfairly punish container truckers, Bond noted.

"We have to be pretty careful about any additional costs that makes the Port of Vancouver less competitive with other west coast ports."

Although B.C. Chamber of Commerce president John Winter suggested it's time to look at road pricing (the tolling of all bridges and major arteries), Bond said her ministry isn't currently contemplating any change to the province's tolling policy.

jnagel@surreyleader.com