Cost increase to $2.6 billion shows LRT was wrong decision for Surrey
- Media Release
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- For immediate release — March 8, 2016
The recently announced capital cost increase to $2.6 billion shows that Light Rail technology was the wrong decision for Surrey.
Surrey city representatives had cited the rising costs of land as a “huge component” in the LRT cost increase. This is a direct result of the choice to use Light Rail technology instead of SkyTrain: the Surrey Rapid Transit Study previously noted that a Light Rail system on Fraser Highway would require as many as 90 additional property takes compared to SkyTrain.
LRT would also require more road widening through Green Timbers Urban Forest with a significantly wider at-grade footprint.
Furthermore, the potential cost-cutting measures hinted at by the City representative, including the removal of a station at 156th St, create more trade-offs on top of the 15 issues with the LRT proposal we’ve already identified.
As of today, over 1100 supporters have joined SkyTrain for Surrey to oppose the proposed Light Rail in Surrey, urging that it be changed to a SkyTrain system with complementary bus rapid transit instead.
Pictured in header: Early concept render of Surrey LRT system
SkyTrain for Surrey is a BC-based community organization that has advocated for the expansion of the Vancouver SkyTrain system, including our successful advocacy for the under-construction Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension.
Media Contact: Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey ・ Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]
