METRO VANCOUVER - First responders and Vancouver’s port authority are adding their voice to the Yes side in Metro Vancouver’s upcoming and controversial transit plebiscite.

Members of Vancouver and Surrey’s fire and police departments, along with Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and acting Surrey mayor Barbara Steele say they are united in their efforts to encourage residents to vote in favour of a tax increase to fund transit improvements in Metro Vancouver.

The Lower Mainland police and fire chiefs cited public safety as their top concern, at a joint news conference held in Surrey on Wednesday.

“People get hurt and trouble starts in Vancouver’s Entertainment District when the clubs close and there are limited transportation options to get people home safely,” said Vancouver police chief Jim Chu, in a statement.

“In addition, reducing the reasons for people to drink and drive will increase safety for all of us”.

Speakers also included New Westminster police chief Dave Jones and Surrey fire chief Len Garis. They also said that fewer cars on the road will mean faster response times for emergency vehicles.

“With one million more people moving to the region, there is a real concern that if nothing changes, the growing congestion and gridlock will severely impact how quickly and effectively emergency vehicles can respond,” added Garis.

Jones said a reduced number of trips from the suburbs will mean less crashes, especially higher speed crashes on the highways.

Meantime, Port Metro Vancouver, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the B.C. Marine Terminal Operators Association also held a joint conference Wednesday morning in their push for the Yes vote.

Robin Silvester, president of Port Metro Vancouver, said the “vote is one of the most important decisions facing our region for the next generation.”

The port relies on regional investment in transportation to ensure safety, connectivity and efficient goods movement in the Lower Mainland, said Silvester, in a statement. ““We are encouraging everyone, including our employees, to vote ‘yes’ in the upcoming referendum.”

The Yes side is scrambling to sway voters after the latest poll, conducted by Insights West, showed 55 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents planned to say No to the regional congestion tax for transportation improvements, while just 33 per cent remained in favour of it.

Just 11 per cent of Yes voters say they have confidence in TransLink’s ability to do a good job, while 70 per cent say they’re dissatisfied with the transit authority’s performance but support the tax anyway, the poll found.

Drivers, residents over 55, people who don’t commute during the week, and residents south of the Fraser River are among the strongest supporters of a No vote.

The online poll was conducted between March 2 and 5 and the results are accurate within 2.5 per cent 19 times out of 20, according to Insights West.

The Metro Vancouver mayors’ council has promised more SkyTrain and Canada Line service as part of a proposed 10-year plan that hinges on a successful plebiscite vote for a 0.5 per cent sales tax in Metro Vancouver.

Residents will start receiving ballots on March 16 and have until May 29 to vote.

ticrawford@vancouersun.com

with a file from Matthew Robinson and Kelly Sinoski

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