Federal Liberals miss mark with LRT promise
- Media Release
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- For immediate release — September 10, 2015
The ongoing two‑year standstill on Surrey’s bid for federal P3 Canada funding for its proposed surface LRT system is not the fault of the Conservative government—instead, the delay is the City of Surrey’s own inaction on providing a business case.
Liberal candidate Sukh Dhaliwal has pledged to “bring Light Rail to Surrey,” suggesting that Ottawa is responsible for the delay. But Surrey’s June 15 staff report makes the situation unambiguous: P3 Canada cannot approve funding because the City has not submitted a business case. Nothing is being held up in Ottawa—Surrey simply hasn’t provided the required documentation.
The City’s own report[1] states that its “screened‑in” status requires a full P3 business case before any negotiations can proceed. Yet Surrey has not produced one—and may not be able to at all. That’s because a previous TransLink joint study found that at‑grade LRT on these corridors would have a negative business case, with a benefit‑cost ratio of 0.69:1—well below the threshold that would pass for federal investment.[2]
Why LRT doesn’t add up for Surrey
Surrey’s proposed ground‑level LRT offers minimal travel‑time improvements while introducing major drawbacks:
- Congestion: LRT would remove traffic lanes on 104 Avenue, slowing general traffic and emergency response.
- Negligible speed gains: Phase 1 improves travel time by only one minute over today’s B‑Line buses, which already operate in sections with dedicated lanes on King George Boulevard.
- Incomplete analysis: The City’s recent “economic study” defending its LRT proposal failed to evaluate transportation outcomes—the core purpose of a transit project.
The viable alternative: SkyTrain + BRT
SkyTrain for Surrey has consistently raised these issues and advocated for a solution that actually meets the region’s needs: extending the Expo Line SkyTrain on Fraser Highway, and building Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue.
Compared to LRT, SkyTrain and BRT deliver:
- Faster, safer, fully grade‑separated rail service on Fraser Highway
- Twice the total travel‑time savings
- Double the number of new transit trips
- Higher reliability and lower long‑term operating risk
Surrey deserves a transit plan grounded in evidence, not election‑season promises. The facts show why SkyTrain and BRT remain the only options capable of delivering real mobility improvements for the city.
Footnotes
- “Update on the Status of Surrey Light Rail Transit Project and Plebiscite Advocacy Plan” — City of Surrey corporate report 2015-R105[↩]
- Surrey Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis — TransLink 2012[↩]
Pictured in header: LRT tracks on the Metro Line, Edmonton
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]
