Good news for drivers who were almost dinged three times for a new Pattullo Bridge. A new Pattullo was included under the TransLink mayors’ $7.5 billion spending spree, er, plan. Of course, it still would have been tolled, meaning drivers would be paying three ways for that bridge: a toll, all the new taxes proposed by TransLink mayors, and all the existing taxes already collected by TransLink.

But TransLink executive Bob Paddon (2013 salary: $311,844 including bonus of $17,507 – enough to buy a new little car to get back and forth on that bridge) clarified yesterday that the new Pattullo would likely proceed whether the referendum passes or not. After all, tolls would pay for it  either way (a whole other issue, but I digress):

Motorists will likely get a new tolled Pattullo Bridge regardless of whether Metro Vancouver residents approve a referendum on new taxes for TransLink next year.

The billion-dollar replacement of the aging Pattullo is part of the mayors' council vision for $7.5 billion in transportation upgrades released in June and was expected to offer a reason to vote 'yes' for residents who drive and care little about transit.

But senior TransLink executive Bob Paddon on Thursday insisted the bridge replacement must proceed even if the referendum is defeated.

"Regardless of the outcome of the referendum, we need to get this finished," Paddon said, explaining the new bridge can be paid for with tolls and isn't dependent on a 'yes' vote.

I especially enjoyed how the TransLink apologists responded…

Metro Vancouver board chair Greg Moore said he was surprised by Paddon's statements that the Pattullo can proceed without referendum approval.

Moore said it "took a lot of work" for mayors to reach agreement on the Pattullo replacement as part of a fully integrated transportation plan. "If you just build a bridge and not build a better transit system south of the Fraser, you're not building out the overall plan and not achieving the goals in the plan," Moore said.

Asked if he's concerned motorists will vote against the referendum if they can get the new bridge without also paying higher taxes for transit, Moore said he wasn't sure.

"It's the overall vision and pieces of the plan that are important for the 'yes' outcome," Moore said. "If you start to take parts out of the plan, it could affect why someone might vote a certain way within the referendum."

The Pattullo is a safety issue - replacing a 76-year-old bridge that may not stand up to an earthquake shouldn't be a way to troll for a few votes to fund fancy subways in Vancouver.