Fleetwood BIA SkyTrain renderings are misleading

The Fleetwood Business Improvement Association are painting an incorrect picture of future SkyTrain with misleading renders of the future SkyTrain extension on Fraser Highway and a street-running LRT option.

Recent technical analysis completed by TransLink and Steer Davies Gleave/Hatch confirms that future SkyTrain would run predominantly on the side of the roadway, not in the centre as shown in their renders. Most stations would have a single ground-level entrance and would not require overpass mezzanines.

TransLink has released its own render (attached below) showing SkyTrain’s excellent integration with the local community with a ground-level station entrance.

As well, the renderings of what a street-level light rail would look like do not take into account the necessary widening to accommodate 4 lanes of road traffic AND 2 sets of tracks. As an example of the impacts, the CIBC bank in the BIA’s rendering would likely have to be demolished. TransLink estimated in 2012 that a light rail line would require over 150 property takes on Fraser Highway – 45 more than a SkyTrain extension.

The difference between these renderings and TransLink’s own renderings and information would suggest that the Fleetwood BIA has not done its due diligence on the design and technical analysis for SkyTrain.

TransLink/Hatch Preliminary Cost Estimate for SkyTrain (PDF)