Big expenses are on the horizon for the regional government and the numbers are daunting.

Metro Vancouver chief administrator Johnny Carline estimated two sewage treatment plant rebuilds stand to cost the region $1.5 billion and other projects – including new facilities to dispose of garbage – could add another $1.5 billion.

He noted the $3 billion that Metro's costs would pile on regional taxpayers are in addition to what TransLink is proposing to expand the transit system.

The expenses are projected to trigger years of steep increases in tax rates, water and sewer bills and waste tipping fees.

No green light on car levy

TransLink has yet to get concrete assurance from Victoria that it would be permitted to impose a vehicle levy.

The transportation authority proposed what it calls a Transportation Improvement Fee in its most generous expansion plan.

The levy would collect an average $122 per vehicle ($65 to $165 depending on fuel efficiency to punish gas guzzlers and reward econo-cars) to raise $150 million a year, roughly a third of TransLink's $450-million preferred expansion plan.

While that plan is off the table for now, area mayors hope to resurrect it.

CEO Tom Prendergast said there are still conflicting signals from the province on whether a vehicle levy would be allowed.

Former transportation minister Kevin Falcon had said he could agree to a vehicle levy if it came with a sweetener – like giving drivers who pay it a free pass or tickets to try transit.

But Prendergast said TransLink staff determined the so-called "value proposition" wouldn't work.

Freebie tickets or passes would erode too much of the money TransLink needed to generate, he said.

Rather than the motorists using the complimentary passes, they would find their way into the hands of regular transit users who normally pay and deprive the system of that revenue.

If TransLink proceeds with a vehicle levy, Prendergast said it would be best if the province allows ICBC to collect it, saving TransLink up to $30 million in collection costs.

Parking reforms needed: Report

It's too easy for motorists to park cheaply or freely in much of Metro Vancouver, according to a regional district report.

A staff analysis of TransLink's plan includes a call for a "regional parking policy" that could tighten the parking supply or boost the prices.

"The availability of surplus, free or underpriced parking greatly influences vehicle kilometres travelled," the report says.

It says TransLink should aim to pursue reforms on parking no matter which funding scenario is approved by area mayors.

Metro's board also endorsed a call for TransLink to explore other "transportation demand management" options, such as regional tolling, to deter vehicle use and control congestion.

"We've been growing lots and lots of carrots," North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto said. "We're going to have to start finding some sticks."

Metro comes up empty on grants

There was no economic stimulus grant money announced for Metro Vancouver amid an avalanche of funding unveiled Sept. 24.

But Metro chief administrator Johnny Carline said a second set of funding announcements are expected soon and Metro projects could make the cut then.

Metro is looking for more than $200 million in federal-provincial cash to help build a regional organic waste composting plant, repair leaky Metro-run housing complexes, expand the Annacis Island sewage treatment plant, add ultraviolet disinfection for drinking water at the Coquitlam reservoir and upgrade the Burnaby waste-to-energy incinerator to reduce emissions.

Provincial and federal officials last week announced $719 million in grants for 174 projects across B.C.

Thirty one projects proposed by Metro Vancouver member cities are getting stimulus grants.

The biggest grants handed out in the Lower Mainland included $20 million from the senior governments for Abbotsford Airport upgrades, $20 million for a new library at Surrey's city centre, $16 million to build rapid bus lanes along Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows and $16 million to help build a new waterfront park in New Westminster.

Incinerator fears from 'bygone era'

Metro Vancouver must counter turbulent public emotions with sober facts and studies when it comes to deciding the fate of the region's garbage.

So said Metro Vancouver chief administrator Johnny Carline Friday.

He was defending the reputation of UK toxicology expert Dr. Jim Bridges, who the regional district had flown here to counter public fears about pollution from garbage incinerators.

Critics accused Bridges of ties to the waste-to-energy industry, but Carline said Bridges has "absolutely impeccable credentials" and his contact with the industry is restricted due to his role chairing an EU scientific advisory panel.

Carline repeated Bridges' assertions that people are exposed to more dioxins barbecuing or frying up bacon than living downwind of a waste incinerator.

"The image that we have of incinerators belching out all kinds of nasty stuff is from a bygone era," he said. "We've moved on from that."