MLA Garry Begg: Surrey City Council fails in 'selling' its LRT vision

Some decision-makers are feeling the pressure from the rapidly growing numbers opposed to a street-level Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Surrey and Langley.

Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg is calling out Surrey City Council for doing a poor job ‘selling’ its proposed LRT vision to the community, stating that Surrey’s message “isn’t resounding” and that numerous constituents have come to him with concerns about the proposed LRT system.

“Policy should be reflective of citizens’ concerns and when citizens indicate they have some concerns, the city should be out there providing the information that is required.”

Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg, in interview with Global News.

Issues that could potentially affect Surrey-Guildford as a whole include the proposed reduction of 104th Avenue traffic capacity from 4 lanes to 2 lanes (1 lane per direction) to accommodate an LRT, which Surrey has previously admitted will cause significant congestion on both 104th Avenue and parallel roads.

Furthermore, some areas of Surrey-Guildford has already seen negative trade-offs from the proposed LRT and related projects. This includes the construction of new and expanded roads through local neighbourhoods (including 105 Avenue, Surrey’s roadway through Hawthorne Park) and the identified need to relocate a local school, which will cost city taxpayers millions of dollars.

These comments illustrate not only that there is growing opposition to Surrey’s proposed LRT system, but also the acknowledgment from decision-makers and those influential in the community that there are legitimate issues in the LRT vision that have gone unaddressed.

SkyTrain for Surrey has called for the cancellation of the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT project, in favour of the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue. Dedicated BRT/bus lanes can be added gradually instead of all at once – significantly reducing community impacts.

Surrey MLA criticizes city council for not doing a good job ‘selling’ LRT project

Janet Brown – March 26, 2018 on Global News

A Surrey MLA is accusing Surrey council of not doing a good job “selling” the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system to the community.

Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg says he’s heard from his constituents who have shared some of their concerns.

“I think if the message isn’t resounding, as it appears it is not,” Begg said. “It would be incumbent upon those people who have picked this system to do their best to ensure all of the facts and issues are out there so people can make a more informed decision.” He said the city should make sure the public is also aware of the advantages LRT could bring to the area.

“Policy should be reflective of citizens’ concerns and when citizens indicate they have some concerns, the city should be out there providing the information that is required,” Begg said.

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