DEBUNKING MYTHS: “LRT will bring mid-rises, SkyTrain will bring towers”

Metrotown Station in 2006

From Daryl Dela Cruz, Better Surrey Rapid Transit Campaign Director Why does the City of Surrey have a Mayor that seems to have no idea of what she can do as mayor? Maybe I should be Mayor, because I apparently know more than she does about how cities can control land use. A recent Vancouver Sun issue mentioned a comment by her on one of the reasons she is in support of Light Rail Transit over … [Read more...]

DOWNLOAD: Final Surrey Rapid Transit Report

Surrey Rapid Transit Now

Better Surrey Rapid Transit is currently using this 536-page report to conduct a comprehensive modal share review that will be released in the coming days. This report was shortly seen on the TransLink website recently, but has been taken down from there. The report has returned to the TransLink website and is also available for download there. [CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD] … [Read more...]

DEBUNKING MYTHS: Coun. Rasode, Light Rail and a wrong perspective on Business Impact

Metrotown Station in 2006

From the Surrey Leader [LINK] "We've been very clear that our option would be LRT, not just because of the cost but because it is less intrusive to the community," Rasode said. Light rail passengers riding at street level would be more likely to stop and shop at Surrey businesses, she said, than an overhead SkyTrain whisking residents to other cities. A comment from Daryl Dela Cruz, BSRT … [Read more...]

SkyTrain for Surrey is relaunching as “Better Surrey Rapid Transit”

Better Surrey Rapid Transit

A message from your campaign leaders for Better Surrey Rapid Transit Regular readers or past visitors of this website may have noticed that there has been a distinct change in the website style, home page, and arrangement of pages and information. This is because we're relaunching the former SkyTrain for Surrey Initiative as "Better Surrey Rapid Transit", in an effort to tone down the … [Read more...]

Transit not a priority for federal government

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From the blog of MP Olivia Chow of the Federal NDP: Missed Chance for Transit and Infrastructure as Olivia’s Motion is Voted Down Conservatives Defeat Olivia Chow’s Motion, Reject Calls for Federal Transit and Infrastructure Plan February 27, 2013 OTTAWA – The federal government has decided not to listen to the broad call for a long-term federal infrastructure plan. Last night, … [Read more...]

British study questions LRT’s ability to change commute habits

Surrey Rapid Transit Now

From the SurreySide blog, managed by Patrick Johnston, who writes occasional posts looking at development, city planning and transportations in Surrey, BC. Trains for Surrey: Light rail is far from the perfect solution to reducing congestion - Cardiff University study. An interesting report over at The Atlantic Cities on a UK study about the impact of light rail on commuter mode-choice. The … [Read more...]

FEB 26th – Surrey CiTI to host Surrey Transit Rally at Central City Plaza

Bus line-ups for the 320 during the PM Rush

Transportation advocacy group "Surrey Citizens' Transportation Initiative" (Surrey CiTI) have announced a "Surrey Transit Rally" to take place at Central City Plaza on February 26th. Details below: RALLY Better Public Transit - for Surrey - Feb.26, 2013 - 3:30-5:30PM - SFU Campus Plaza   Speakers, live music, support march & your participation  Agenda >3:30 – 4:15 PM – … [Read more...]

Light Rail Transit has a high operating cost per service hour

Portland's MAX light rail, the inspiration for Surrey's LRT plans, is not a profitable transit system.

A comparison of LRT operating costs per service hour vs the operating cost per service hour of SkyTrain. See below table: City System Operating cost per revenue service hour in 2011 Calgary C-Train LRT $200 [1] Salt Lake City UTA TRAX $124.01 [2][3] Portland MAX LRT $187.55 [2] Phoenix Metro Light Rail $180.35 [2][3] Houston METRO Rail $200 … [Read more...]

Regional transit sales tax: Mayors eye popular funding tool for rapid transit

City of Vancouver - completing the region's rapid transit network

Metro Vancouver mayors have made a proposal on potential funding tools that could aid in providing a significant amount of funding for TransLink operations and for capital investments like rapid transit. At 0.5 per cent the tax – tacked on top of the seven per cent PST on transactions within Metro Vancouver – would raise an estimated $250 million per year from transactions within Metro … [Read more...]

SkyTrain creates more accessible communities: The importance of advocating for the right transit technology

SkyTrain and Light Rail

From Daryl Dela Cruz, lead analyst at SkyTrain for Surrey I'd just like to share this as a response to something that I feel may have been expressly dedicated to us: the recent write-up by Nathan Pachal of South Fraser Blog [LINK HERE] that dismisses and discourages any debate between transit technologies. Contrary to his thoughts, I believe that there is a huge value in advocating for having the … [Read more...]

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