No voters wanted to send message to TransLink, poll finds

TransLink interim CEO Doug Allen holds a press conference shortly after the results of the transit plebiscite were released. July 2, 2015. (CTV)

The vast majority of people who torpedoed the B.C. government’s transit plebiscite were motivated by a lack of confidence in TransLink, according to a new poll.

The Insights West survey found three-quarters of voters who shot down the proposed 0.5 per cent sales tax, which was intended to fund billions in transportation improvements, did so because they didn’t have faith in TransLink to properly implement the upgrades.

Forty-six per cent said they wanted their ballot to send a message to TransLink and mayors in the region.

About two-thirds of poll respondents also feared the proposed tax would be hiked higher in the future, and wanted TransLink to offer more explanation about how the money would be spent.

Most Yes voters said they were dissatisfied with the transit provider’s performance as well, but saw the plebiscite as the best way of dealing with transportation problems, according to pollsters.

Despite having low levels of confidence in TransLink and the mayors, Yes voters said having annual independent audits and public reporting would have promoted transparency.

Insights West said the majority of voters from both sides said the most pressing transportation issue in Metro Vancouver is reforming how TransLink operates.

Just 22 per cent said finding funding for upgrades and improvements from the federal and provincial government is more important.

The results are based on an online study conducted from June 5-10 and June 28-July 1 among a 1,128-person representative sample of Metro Vancouverites.

The data was statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region.

The margin of error for surveys of this size is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.