Business leaders plan to pitch their case for the need for more due diligence and a regional referendum on a proposed $950-million light-rail rapid transit service.

A delegation of representatives from the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, which represents 1,000 businesses, will be championing the quest when the Victoria Regional Transit Commission meets on Sept. 13.

B次元官网网址淣o surprise, what weB次元官网网址檙e going to do is say there needs to be a third-party review in order to make this funding decision,B次元官网网址� said Bruce Carter, chamber president.

The chamber is now in the process of fine-tuning its referendum position, developing what it thinks the question should be, who should have the opportunity to answer it, and when it could be asked.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the reasons why we donB次元官网网址檛 have a question is because we donB次元官网网址檛 know whether weB次元官网网址檙e borrowing a billion dollars or how weB次元官网网址檙e paying for it, or really if it is a billion dollars, until thereB次元官网网址檚 a third-party review,B次元官网网址� Carter said.

The magnitude of the potential costs involved in the project, combined with the commissionB次元官网网址檚 lacking regional representation make a strong case for an external review, eventually going to voters for direction, as well as a new transit governance model, Carter said.

In June, the chamber sounded the alarm that the LRT project should undergo a third-party review and receive endorsement from voters, after it gave B.C. TransitB次元官网网址檚 proposal a business review.

Given the complexity involved in the proposal, chamber officials concluded an outside party needs to analyze the proposalB次元官网网址檚 construction and operating costs, and determine the economic impact and cost-sharing options.

Since then, Carter has spoken with B.C. Transit representatives and said he has been assured that an external review of the project will happen.

B次元官网网址淲hen they get to the next stage, which is the business case development, there will be a review by an independent third party and it will be a contractor and it will go to government,B次元官网网址� Carter said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a requirement for funding at the federal level.B次元官网网址�