TransLink‘s CEO is warning of more possible service cuts if there is no financial help from government, as ridership dwindles under the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a virtual meeting Thursday morning, the council heard that TransLink is projecting a shortfall of $570 million to $680 million this year. “We’re still in the midst of this emergency phase,” CEO Kevin Desmond said. “We’re managing the system differently and we’re obviously managing a scaled-down system in part to match capacity to the vastly-diminished demand, but also very much in light of the social-distancing guidelines.” To continue providing essential service levels, he said the agency has had to draw on critical reserves.