CKNW has obtained an email from the chair of the mayors council for regional transportaton that seems to indicate tensions are on the rise over transit funding.
 
In the email Richard Walton tells mayors when Transportation Minister Mary Polak's next media appearance is and how best to counter her points.
 
He tells mayors they have to stress the province needs to come through with funding from 2011 for increased bus and seabus service among other things.
 
Walton also emphasizes transit funding must match growth in the region over the next 30 years.
 
He says that will require millions of dollars in transit, cycling, walking, and roads infrastructure.  
 
Walton also tells mayors to hammer the point home that the Expo line needs upgrading, and Surrey along with the Broadway corridor both need rapid transit.
 
Mayors recently sent the minister funding options, she has asked for more details

The mayor of Vancouver says he and his fellow mayors are sticking to their deadline on transit funding.
 
Robertson says if no new funding is found by February 28th the impacts on the transit system will be immediate.

"If there isn't money found in the budget or new money that is put forward by the BC Government then transit service will be cut it will be reduced around the region and we will start going on a downward spiral which I don't think anyone in the region wants we are already straining that system right now you know the ridership keeps going up and if the service goes down that is a big problem."

Robertson wouldn't admit the mayors council is in a fight with Transportation Minister Mary Polak.

"I wouldn't describe it as tension I think it is more the mayors have been meeting for years we agree on the points we are going to put forward. We want better transit service that is the bottom line here we know we are all going to need to pay a little bit more to get better transit service as far as communicating that we do have a shared message."

Robertson also does not think think civic politicians will be divided by the Fraser river when it comes to the next big transit project.

Transportation Minister Mary Polak told mayors she wants to know if it will be expanding the Expo line in Surrey or Broadway rapid transit next.

But Robertson foesn't see the issue causing friction between Surrey and Vancouver.
 
"Well it doesn't makse sense to make that choice right now the first piece...we know we need both of them and it is just a matter of timing and where the money is going to come from to do it so at this point we are saying here is some ways that we can raise the funds we need to obviously work on those details with citizens, with taxpayers."

Robertson says transit must be funded to match the regions growing needs.