AirCare likely on its way out of B.C.

A decision to dismantle the AirCare motor-vehicle-inspection program could be made by the spring of 2010, TransLink officials said Monday.

TransLink has asked for a request for proposals for a review of AirCare, including whether or not there is a need to continue the program when the current five-year contract with Envirotest Canada to provide testing expires on Dec., 31, 2011.

Because of newer, better emission-controlled vehicles, there may not be a need to continue the program, AirCare operations manager Dave Gourley said Monday.

In the request for proposals, TransLink says the study "is intended to gather sufficient data to support a recommendation on whether or not an inspection and maintenance program for light-duty vehicles should be continued in some form beyond 2011."

Asked if that means the program could be shut down, Gourley replied: "They might do that."

TransLink sent out a request for proposals (RFP) for a study/review of AirCare last Wednesday.

"We need proposals back by Nov. 14," said Gourley, operations manager of Pacific Vehicle Testing Technologies, which is an operating subsidiary of TransLink.

"We think the report will be finished around the end of February [or] into March."

Improved emission-control devices on motor vehicles have been a significant contributor to the stabilization or decrease in air contaminants in the region, said the RFP.

"TransLink has been to date operating on the basis that the program would be wrapped up by the end of 2011," said TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie.

"And, in fact, that certainly was the direction from TransLink’s board back in 2006 – that the contract would be renewed for a five-year term but, at the end of it, the program would be wound up.

"The decision to wind it up would be TransLink’s to make."

E-mail: jkeating@theprovince.com