Surrey deserves better
Help us make a SkyTrain extension in Surrey a reality
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Surrey, BC
SkyTrain for Surrey is calling on the Province of B.C., in consultation for B.C.’s 2016 budget, to take leadership and choose a SkyTrain system South of Fraser. As part of this effort, the campaign manager has sent a letter to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
This letter has been sent in response to a competing call by the Surrey Board of Trade and Light Rail Links Coalition. In the letter, we have emphasized the irony in the Board of Trade’s continued support for a system requiring large, $22 million annual operating deficits that will cause other bus service to be cut and will rob taxpayers and local businesses of millions of dollars each year.
We have also emphasized that local organizations, the Board of Trade and the City of Surrey have been irresponsible in centering the argument around capital cost exclusively, and made misleading comparisons with the potential alternatives.
SkyTrain for Surrey is calling for an extension of SkyTrain to Langley and the upgrading of the 96 B-Line to a full Bus Rapid Transit system. This alternative has been previously studied by TransLink at the Province and would cost the same to build as an LRT, yet cost less to operate and offer twice the travel time savings.
An extension of SkyTrain, linking Langley with Waterfront Station in 60 minutes, is the only option for the South of Fraser that will offer region-wide benefits and significant travel time reductions.
We have asked the province to refuse to fund a Surrey rapid transit project if the City of Surrey is not willing to accept a SkyTrain alternative.
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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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ATTACHED LETTER – sent 14th October, 2015
Read our letter to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services now on our website at [OPEN HERE]
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