IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sep 30, 2015 – Surrey, BC
On Monday, September 28th, Mayor Linda Hepner broke an election promise to Surrey citizens to deliver the first-phase of a proposed Light Rail Transit system by 2018. In doing so, she has revealed the City of Surrey’s incompetence and inability to plan for the city’s transit future.
When Mayor Hepner made this announcement as an election candidate in November of last year, SkyTrain for Surrey pointed out that without design work, land acquisition and business case preparation completed, the system would have to be finished in a timeline that has never been done in North American history.
“Surrey’s transit future has not been put in the right hands. This is exactly why city residents must reject the plan for at-grade LRT.”
Daryl Dela Cruz, SkyTrain for Surrey campaign manager.
With construction no longer expected to begin at all until 2018, SkyTrain for Surrey is looking forward to the extra time to communicate LRT issues with local residents. We recently highlighted many different LRT issues, including lack of travel time improvements and vulnerability to accidents, in a new campaign video at skytrainforsurrey.org.
We have also pointed out that there is still no plan to fund $22 million in annual, ongoing operating cost deficits for the proposed LRT. If no plan is made before an LRT line is built, residents should prepare for significant cuts in city-wide bus service.
See our original press release: Citizens noting unrealistic LRT promise by Surrey First
About SkyTrain for Surrey
SkyTrain for Surrey is a local grassroots organization calling for a SkyTrain and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network instead of the currently-proposed on-street Light Rail system in Surrey.
Our campaign directors: Daryl Dela Cruz (Surrey, chair), Benedic Dasalla (Surrey), Jacky Au (Surrey), Spencer Whitney (Langley)
For further information
Daryl Dela Cruz, Campaign Chair, Phone: +1 604 329 3529, E-mail: [email protected]