IMMEDIATE RELASE – Surrey, BC

We’re at odds with Linda Hepner’s erroneous claim that Light Rail in Surrey “will take 200,000 people out of their vehicles.”

At a recent all-candidates debate, Surrey First mayoral candidate Linda Hepner told voters that Light Rail “will take 200,000 people out of their vehicles” – a statement that has been featured on the Surrey First party’s Twitter page.

This is at odds with the City of Surrey’s own estimates, projecting daily LRT system ridership in 2041 at 166,000. Only a portion of that will be coming from drivers, as a portion of that will be coming from previous users of current bus routes.

“This makes no sense at all. It shows yet again that Light Rail supporters don’t do their homework and have no sense in what transit solutions Surrey needs,” says Daryl Dela Cruz, a prominent Surrey transportation advocate and the campaign manager for Better Surrey Rapid Transit.

“Light Rail supporters don’t do their homework and have no sense in what transit solutions Surrey needs”
– Daryl Dela Cruz – SkyTrain for Surrey

Better Surrey Rapid Transit (SkyTrain for Surrey) has raised several issues with the LRT proposal backed by incumbent Surrey First candidates. The proposed Phase I LRT – with a 25-min. travel time between Newton and Guildford – saves just 1 minute over the current 96 B-Line.

“A 1-minute faster LRT isn’t going to do a thing in solving Surrey’s extensive transportation problems. I have, for a long time, insisted this proposal is ridiculous,” Daryl says.

We just released a campaign video to communicate LRT proposal issues. This video also promotes our “Vibrant Communities, Productive Citizens” vision – a more practical rapid transit vision with SkyTrain and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) instead of LRT, attracting over 200,000 daily riders.

“The city’s plan does not make transit faster, and it does not make transit better.”
– Daryl Dela Cruz, in our campaign video

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For additional info, contact: Daryl Dela Cruz, Campaign Manager – Better Surrey Rapid Transit.
Email: [email protected]
Call: 81-80-3962-9281 or ask for Skype handle
(Note: Daryl is currently out of country; long-distance fees apply)

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Disclaimer: Better Surrey Rapid Transit (SkyTrain for Surrey) is an ongoing, issues-oriented activism campaign and is NOT an election campaign.

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