The federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) is a permanent source of funding provided to provinces and territories to support local government infrastructure priorities. Municipalities can pool, bank and borrow against this funding, providing significant financial flexibility.

The Greater Vancouver Regional Fund (GVRF) pools 95% of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and its member municipalities’ per capita allocation of the GTF to support regional transportation projects proposed and delivered by TransLink (the remaining 5% is allocated proportionally to member municipalities). Metro Vancouver is responsible for the review and approval of proposals from TransLink for funding. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities administers the federal Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia and transfers the funds to TransLink upon formal notification by the MVRD Board.

The MVRD Board’s Federal Gas Tax Fund Expenditures Policy sets out the application process, information requirements, and evaluation criteria for TransLink to follow. As per this policy, Metro Vancouver will post TransLink’s proposals and semi-annual reports, and MVRD Board decisions on this webpage.

2019 Review of Board Policy

In October 2018, the MVRD Board authorized a review of the Board’s Federal Gas Tax Fund Expenditures Policy. The review will be undertaken in consultation with TransLink and UBCM in 2019.

Projects Approved for Funding by Metro Vancouver

Since 2005, the federal Gas Tax Fund has committed approximately $1.2 billion to TransLink for eligible transportation projects (as at June 30, 2018). Recent projects follow:

TransLink Semi-Annual Reports

TransLink provides the MVRD Board semi‐annual reports on projects that have received funding through the GVRF.

TransLink Semi-Annual Report as at June 30, 2018

TransLink Semi-Annual Report as at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017 (combined)

TransLink Semi-Annual Report as at December 31, 2016

Eligible Projects

The eligible projects that TransLink can propose for GVRF funding are:

• Local roads and bridges, including active transportation infrastructure, and
• Public transit

• EVALUATION CRITERIA

  Metro Vancouver reviews TransLink’s proposals against two types of criteria. Screening criteria are mandatory requirements. Integrated criteria allow for a qualitative assessment of the proposed projects based on high priority objectives of the region and the federal Gas Tax Fund (see the Application Guide for more information about all other information requirements).

  Criterion	Description	Assessment
  Screening Criteria
  Eligible Project Category	Local roads and bridges, including active transportation, OR public transit	Meets criterion
  Eligible Expenses	As set out in the 2014 Administrative Agreement.	Meets criterion
  Plan Consistency	Projects must be consistent with TransLink’s existing Capital Plan and future 10-Year Investment Plan, as well as the Mayors’ Council Transportation and Transit Plan, Metro 2040: Shaping our Future, and the Regional Transportation Strategy.	Meets criterion
  Corporate Policies	Projects must be consistent with applicable TransLink policies such as sustainability, environmental responsibility, emissions, and infrastructure.	Meets criterion
  Integrated Criteria: Regional Growth Strategy
  Supports the Regional Growth Strategy	The degree to which the project assists in achieving the five goals in Metro 2040.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Urban Centres and Frequent Transit Development Areas	Where applicable, the project is located in, or demonstrates tangible benefits to, the overall performance of Urban Centres and Frequent Transit Development Areas.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Integrated Criteria: Transportation Performance
  Headline Targets	Demonstrates tangible beneficial effects on vehicle kilometres travelled and/or walk/cycle/transit mode share.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Other Transportation Outcomes	Demonstrates tangible beneficial effects on vehicle congestion, transit passenger congestion, transit ridership, and/or transportation safety for the duration of the project.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Integrated Criteria: Regional Environmental Objectives
  Supports the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan	Contributes to the achievement of one or more goals in the Integrated Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Measurable Beneficial Effects	Demonstrates tangible beneficial effects on greenhouse gas and common air contaminant emissions from on-road transportation sources for the duration of the project.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Integrated Criteria: Economic Development
  Supports Regional Prosperity	Contributes to a regional transportation system that moves people and goods and aligns with regional prosperity.	Poor/Good/Excellent
  Measurable Beneficial Effects	Tangible beneficial effects on the movement of people and/or goods for the duration of the project.	Poor/Good/Excellent