Funding still missing for Surrey LRT operating costs
- Media Release
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- For immediate release — September 29, 2015
Despite the recent commitments to capital funding for the proposed Surrey LRT system, there has been no discussion on how the system’s operating costs will be paid for after it opens.
A previous joint study commissioned by TransLink and the Province found that the proposed LRT will require an operating subsidy of $22 million annually on opening day, increasing further to a $28 million annual deficit by the 20th year of operations.[1]
SkyTrain alternative operating costs would be significantly lower
The same study suggested that a SkyTrain + Bus Rapid Transit mixed alternative would have a lower operating deficit of just $6 million—and that this would be reduced to $3 million by the 20th year of operations.
On a light rail system, every train requires a driver, in addition to the usual attendants and staff who are employed to roam the system. A SkyTrain extension would offer lower operating costs both because it is an extension of an existing system and because it is driverless.
Generally, good ridership numbers are required in order for operating revenue to break even with the costs; however, the Surrey LRT system is expected to carry only 3074 passenger boardings per kilometre on opening day[2]. The Canada Line, by comparison, required 100,000 (or 5200 pasengers boardings per kilometre) to “break even”.
SkyTrain alternative would also pay for operating costs through higher ridership
If decision-makers can come up with the money to pay a $22 million annual deficit to run a Surrey LRT system, they should consider that the same money could fund a city-wide expansion in bus service if we built SkyTrain, which runs with a lower operating deficit, instead.
That’s because a SkyTrain extension to Langley would carry 6519 riders per kilomere on opening day.[2][3]
Footnotes
- Surrey Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis Phase 2 Evaluation — Exhibit 3B.21, Appendix 3B p.25, PDF p.369[↩]
- Surrey Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis Phase 2 Evaluation — Exhibit 3A.3, Appendix 3A p.4, PDF p.301 — based on 2021 values as “opening day” divided by route km length[↩][↩]
- note that today’s system-wide average is 5693 riders/km[↩]
Pictured in header: City of Surrey conceptual 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]
