IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Surrey, BC
Better Surrey Rapid Transit is applauding a senior planner from the Township for Langley for raising necessary questions about the proposed Surrey Light Rail Transit project, and asking TransLink to change the current proposal.
Rapid Transit questioned by Langley Township planner
A TransLink proposal that would use a ground-level light rapid transit (LRT) line to connect Langley and Surrey, rather than extend the elevated SkyTrain system, has been questioned by a senior Township planner, who says the line may not help Langley commuters get to Vancouver and could mean delays for riders and a higher risk of accidents… [READ MORE – The Langley Times]
“It’s about time that someone asks needed questions about Surrey’s proposed Light Rail. I’m not impressed by how the region has moved this proposal while sidestepping many serious issues” says Daryl Dela Cruz, the campaign manager for Better Surrey Rapid Transit.
Daryl is now working to further engage public policy-makers – with letters being written to city staff and council-members in Langley and throughout the Lower Mainland, to inform them about sidestepped issues, as well as falling support for LRT in the South of Fraser (see Appendix A below).
The campaign has already launched a YouTube Video to inform residents, launched a petition, and posted ‘6 Myths on Light Rail Transit’ as part of an ongoing effort to debunk misconceptions.
“Light Rail supporters have been out of touch with what Surrey residents need. They didn’t do their homework, ignored raised issues, proceeded to brainwash citizens, and now continue to support something that causes more problems than it solves,” Daryl has said in a previous release.
Better Surrey Rapid Transit (SkyTrain for Surrey) is the opposition campaign against ground-level LRT in Surrey. We’ve raised, among several issues, that the first phase LRT – with a 25-min. travel time between Newton & Guildford – saves commuters only 1 minute over the 96 B-Line.
Other issues that have been raised include issues with centre-street running, vulnerability to accidents, slower service, and negative effects on the current transportation plebiscite.
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Appendix A – Writers have flooded local newspapers with editorials and letters expressing concern about LRT in the Mayors’ transit plan:
- “LRT Option Doesn’t Deliver” – Surrey Leader, January 8
- “More tax would be okay if plan was good” – Surrey Leader, January 13
- “More Transit, Fewer Trees?” – Surrey Leader, January 15
- “Trees over Transit” – Surrey Leader, January 22
- “Why I Will Vote ‘no’ to TransLink Tax” – Surrey Now, January 29
- “Surrey deserves better than an at-grade transit system” – Surrey Leader, February 12
- “Slow street cars were replaced for a reason” – The Province, February 28
- “A more direct transit solution” – Peace Arch News, March 10
- “A street car named undesire” – Surrey Leader, March 11
- “We Need SkyTrain, not LRT” – Surrey Leader, March 16
- “Surrey is on the moo-ve” – Surrey Leader, March 23
- “LRT is not efficient enough for Surrey” – Surrey Now, March 26
- “What are plans for laying LRT tracks?” – Surrey Now, March 26
- “The Last Stop: Surrey” – Surrey Leader, April 8
- “Vote ‘no’ to reflect TransLink’s efforts in Surrey” – Surrey Leader, April 8
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For additional info, contact: Daryl Dela Cruz, Campaign Manager – Better Surrey Rapid Transit.
Email us at: [email protected]
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