Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Local Funding Options
Public Survey and Focus Group Solicitation
10 February 2012
The Transit Future Plan is a strategic plan which will guide development of an integrated public transit network in the Capital Regional District. The Victoria Regional Rapid Transit Project has been identified as the first phase of this plan to provide fast, frequent, integrated transit service on major travel corridors. The Local Funding Options Backgrounder provides more information about this project.
The Task Force established to investigate potential local funding options for this project would like your feedback. It is conducting an online survey and sponsoring three focus groups to hear ideas and feedback from community members. Focus group participants have now been selected from those who completed the survey by February 5. The online survey will remain open to continue receiving input.
The table below lists examples of potential new transit funding options:
| Name | Description |
| Fares | Increase transit fares |
| Property taxes | Increased local property taxes |
| Sales taxes | New or increased local sales taxes |
| Fuel taxes | An additional fuel tax in the region |
| Carbon tax | A portion of the provincial carbon tax |
| Vehicle fees | Additional vehicle registration fees in the region |
| Utility levy | A levy applied to all utility accounts in the region |
| Road tolls | Road tolls, with a portion of revenues used to finance transit |
| Vehicle-Km tax | A distance-based fee on vehicle travel |
| Parking taxes | A special tax or fee on parking transactions or spaces |
| Development cost charges | A special fee on new development to help fund infrastructure costs |
| Land value capture | Special taxes on property that benefit from the rapid transit service |
| Station rents | Revenue from public-private station-area developments |
| Station air rights | Sell the rights to build over transit stations |
| Advertising | Additional advertising on vehicles and stations |