Federal budget shows Light Rail not on track in Surrey
- Media Release
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- For immediate release — March 24, 2016
The 2016 federal budget presents a disappointing reality for Surrey: with federal capital transit dollars for Metro Vancouver not scheduled to flow until 2019, Surrey’s proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is no longer on track to meet the City’s stated goal of starting construction by 2018—despite repeated assurances from Mayor Linda Hepner that the timeline remains unchanged.
Compounding the issue is the recent revelation that the LRT’s estimated cost has climbed to $2.6 billion, even as projected ridership sits at only 69,000 daily passengers. This now makes Surrey’s LRT the most expensive transit project in the region.
A City representative acknowledged that rising land costs were a major contributor to the increase—a consequence directly tied to the choice of at‑grade LRT. Among the alternatives, at‑grade LRT requires the most land acquisition, driving costs upward and exposing the project to volatility.
Public sentiment is shifting as well. More than 1,100 residents have signed SkyTrain for Surrey’s petition calling for the restoration of the original SkyTrain extension plan. Even the Mayor of Langley has recently stated that he would prefer SkyTrain over LRT.
With rising costs, delayed funding, and growing regional support for grade‑separated rapid transit, it is time for Mayor Hepner and the City of Surrey to reconsider their approach and adopt a more proven, future‑ready alternative.
Pictured in header: Simulation of congestion on Fraser Highway with future LRT
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]
