IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 18, 2017 – Surrey, BC
SkyTrain for Surrey‘s campaign team is working to mobilize the over 1500 people who have signed in support of SkyTrain South-of-the-Fraser, encouraging all SkyTrain supporters to voice their opposition to the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project at the upcoming TransLink consultations.
SkyTrain for Surrey is opposing the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project as part of its campaign, urging that the LRT project instead be built as a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system at a lower cost.
The following is a statement by our campaign founding director, Daryl Dela Cruz:
The City of Surrey has ignored the results of the original TransLink study, which found that SkyTrain & BRT would have a better business case than street-level Light Rail and forecast that Light Rail would actually result in a net loss to society rather than a net benefit.
This is because Surrey’s Light Rail proposal is completely at street-level. Mayor Linda Hepner says that Light Rail is a sophisticated transit system and she is correct, but many of the Light Rail projects in our country use considerable grade-separation, similar to SkyTrain. Surrey’s proposed system will have no grade-separation and it will run through the middle of dozens of intersections. This street-level LRT will be prone to major delays if trains become blocked, and will offer no time savings compared to dedicated bus lanes. With costs of the full project at $2.6 billion, Surrey’s Light Rail is a waste of taxpayer’s money.
It is imperative and it is critical that we come out to these open houses – and with a loud voice, let Surrey know that we are saying NO to this LRT project.
Daryl Dela Cruz – Founding Director, SkyTrain for Surrey
Campaign supporters for SkyTrain to Langley are encouraged to voice opposition for the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project, and are encouraged to get in touch with the SkyTrain for Surrey campaign team for further updates on campaign activities.
- Do the TransLink Online Survey which will be available from Jan 23 – Feb 13, 2017
- Make it clear that you are not in support of the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project
- Attend the Public Open Houses to submit input. There will be three open house sessions:
- Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Guildford Rec Centre (Lower Lobby)
15105 105 Avenue // 3 minutes walk from Guildford Exchange (96 B-Line) - Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Surrey City Hall (Atrium)
13450 104 Avenue // 2 minutes walk from Surrey Central Station (Expo Line, 96 B-Line) - Thursday, Jan. 26 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Newton Cultural Centre
13530 72 Avenue // 5 minutes walk from Newton Exchange (96 B-Line)
- Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Guildford Rec Centre (Lower Lobby)
- Join the SkyTrain for Surrey campaign outreach team at the Public Open Houses & other events
- We will be attending all open house events to talk to attendees
- We will also be handing out flyers, brochures and other materials.
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 has called on decision-makers to build the Langley Extension of the SkyTrain Expo Line, in conjunction with an extension of the 96 B-Line to Coquitlam Centre and White Rock.
Our campaign directors: Daryl Dela Cruz (Surrey, chair), Jacky Au (Surrey), Spencer Whitney (Langley), Tova Dang (Surrey)
For further information
Daryl Dela Cruz, Campaign Chair, Phone: +1 604 329 3529, E-mail: [email protected]