TransLink is postponing a number of planned expansion projects, including a rapid bus route across the Port Mann Bridge and more frequent SeaBus sailings, until the company can secure millions of dollars in funding for them.

CEO Ian Jarvis announced the delays Tuesday while reacting to news that separate funding proposals for the cash-strapped transit provider had been turned down by the TransLink Commissioner and the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation.

"The two decisions of last week impact everyone," Jarvis said. "We don't have surety of that particular revenue at this time, so the prudent thing to do is put the expansion projects on hold."

The long-awaited Evergreen Line, which is being funded by a two cents-per-litre gas tax implemented on April 1, will not be impacted, however.

Neither will the projects already underway this month, including additional early morning and late-night SeaBus trips – though the proposal to increase the sailing frequency from 30 minutes to 15 on evenings and weekends has been indefinitely deferred.

Also intact are TransLink's performance-based executive bonuses, which were blasted by both the Liberal government and opposition NDP when they made headlines earlier this month.

Jarvis said the compensation, for which he and eight other executives are eligible, is non-negotiable this year but may be reconsidered moving forward.

"We will honour our contractual commitments, and that system is under review," he said.

Last week, the Mayors' Council voted against a proposed two-year, $30-million property tax levy to generate transit revenue after learning the provincial government had turned down a number of alternative funding suggestions.

TransLink Commissioner Martin Crilly also rejected the company's request for a supplementary fare increase of 12.5 per cent designed to help fill address a $30-million budget shortfall.

Crilly called on TransLink to find the money in its own budget instead, though Jarvis says 35 of the commissioner's 40 funding recommendations were already being considered prior to his report.

The others will provide only "pretty incremental" changes, Jarvis added.

TransLink is still legally allowed to raise fares by two per cent per year without approval. Since they were last increased in 2008, the company can still hike them by up to 10 per cent next year.

Jarvis said the company will do everything it can to tighten its books, and cooperate fully with an audit ordered by Premier Christy Clark – but the CEO said it's too soon to say whether it can locate the $45-million in efficiencies demanded by the province.

"Is it unreasonable? Time will tell," he said.