The City of Delta is wants residents to put pressure on provincial politicians in the hopes of securing sustainable funding for TransLink and avoiding potentially massive cuts to transit service in the region.

On Monday (Aug. 12), the city launched its "Save Our Transit" public advocacy campaign, spurred by a recent report to TransLink's Mayors' Council saying transit service could be drastically slashed unless senior levels of government provide funding to meet current need and future growth.

As , TransLink is facing a $600-million annual shortfall as of 2026 and, because of that, is pursuing an ambitious $90 million-per-year plan to reduce costs.

CEO Kevin Quinn that TransLink's current funding model is unsustainable, and to "avoid reaching the edge of our financial cliff" the remedy could include cutting bus service in half, with the cancelling of up to 145 bus routes in the region and all night bus services.

"There would be almost no transit services operating in Langley, White Rock, South Delta, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and much of the North Shore," Quinn warned. "It could look like reducing SkyTrain and SeaBus services by up to 30 per cent. West Coast Express could be eliminated completely. HandyDart service could be offering medical service only."

Delta routes on the chopping block include the 310, 391, 601, 602, 603, 604, 606, 608, 609, 614, 616, 618, 619, and 640.

In response to the report, Delta council held a where mayor and council unanimously supported a motion by Coun. Dylan Kruger directing city staff to develop a strategic plan to pressure senior government to secure necessary funds to protect essential bus routes in Delta and across the region.

Kruger's motion further called for staff to prepare for co-ordinated advocacy efforts at the Union of BC Municipalities Conference in September to seek long-term sustainable funding solutions for TransLink, as well as engage with Delta residents and stakeholders to raise awareness and mobilize community support for the preservation of essential bus services.

The new Save Our Transit campaign is designed to do the latter by raise encouraging Delta residents to write to Premier David Eby and other provincial officials and call for a sustainable funding model for TransLink. 

鈥淩eliable and accessible transit is fundamental to the success and well-being of our community,鈥� Mayor George Harvie said in a press release announcing the campaign. 鈥淲e simply cannot afford to lose this essential service and I urge every Delta resident to write to the province and demand a sustainable funding model for TransLink.

"Whether you ride transit frequently or not, the loss of bus service to our city would impact you, because transit impacts everyone. Less transit would mean staffing shortages at local businesses, more congestion on our already busy roads, and an increase in carbon emissions. It鈥檚 time for our community to work together to Save Our Transit.鈥�

The campaign, which is being promoted across social media platforms and through advertising on local bus shelters and in the city's recreation centres and libraries, encourages the public to get involved by visiting , where they can write a letter to their local provincial representative and sign a petition calling on the province to "step in and provide TransLink with the sustainable funding it needs to keep our community connected."

鈥� with files from Tom Zytaruk