METRO VANCOUVER - The No side holds a commanding two-to-one lead in the latest poll as Metro Vancouverites get set to begin voting in the transit plebiscite.

The newest poll from the Angus Reid Institute found that 61 per cent of respondents were definitely or probably voting No, compared to 27 per cent for the Yes vote.

The major factor driving the No vote appears to be distrust of TransLink — three-quarters of No voters identified it as a reason to reject the 0.5-per-cent Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax.

Many No voters (69 per cent) also believe that while the transportation improvements proposed by Metro Vancouver mayors are a good idea, they should be funded out of existing taxes.

Only 12 per cent of respondents said they had a positive view of TransLink, and 61 per cent said they expected no change in their personal traffic situations if the plebiscite passes.

The No vote seems to be most popular among people living in the suburbs and voters older that 35 years, while the competition is strongest among Vancouverites, people younger than 35 and the university educated.

About half of those surveyed said they plan to mark and return their ballots as soon as they arrive in the mail this week.

The online survey was conducted 950 Metro Vancouver residents between Feb. 25 and March 5 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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