There were boos and jeers from the public gallery, as the TransLink board voted Wednesday to resurrect the controversial RAV rapid transit project.




The TransLink directors voted 8-4 to send the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver line proposal to the "best and final offer" stage.

That means the two companies still in the running to build the line, will now have to come up with their best bids.

Barbara Sharp
Barbara Sharp

Earlier this month, the board had rejected RAV in a 6-6 vote. But since then, two directors have changed their minds.

North Vancouver City Mayor Barbara Sharp and Vancouver city councillor Raymond Louie switched their votes in favour of the project.

Sharp's motion to put RAV back on track includes a cap on $1.35 billion in public funding for the project.

Sharp's motion also shortens the length of the tunnel along the Cambie Corridor – only going far south as West 49th Avenue.

Sharp says she still doesn't believe in RAV, but says its the only transit proposal on the table and that's why she changed her vote.

There have been consistent protests from people who live along the proposed Cambie Street route from downtown Vancouver to the airport and Richmond.

And the debate has left very bad feelings among some TransLink board members.

One of the most vocal opponents of RAV says Wednesday's decision is not based on the merits of the public-private partnership project – accusing the provincial government of bullying TransLink directors.

"Over in Victoria, they're a bunch of ideologues who bullied and pushed this forward into one decision only, a private-public partnership," says Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who is a member of the TransLink board.

"And I am truly embarrassed that this board has capitulated, that they haven't fought this battle."

But Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell disagrees, accusing Corrigan of simply trying to push his own ideology,

"Twice now, I've had to sit through that garbage for director Corrigan. I mean, if you want to hear ideology, just listen to him and that's what it is. It's ridiculous, and I'm tired of it."

With this vote, the two companies bidding for the job will put forward their best and final offers – with construction to be completed in time for the 2010 Olympics.