At the moment, the incumbent BC NDP have not pledged to match the BC Conservative Party’s election commitment to building a King George Boulevard SkyTrain line to Surrey’s Newton Town Centre.
We are pleased that the BC NDP supports TransLink’s proposal for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on King George Boulevard from Surrey City Centre to Newton, and onward to White Rock Centre. We have long supported BRT as a low-cost way to build ridership for future SkyTrain.
However, as there has been significant discussion around building rail transit to the North Shore, extending SkyTrain to UBC, and advancing various other transportation infrastructure projects, there is a real chance that future SkyTrain expansion in Surrey could be delayed. These projects will be expensive, and Surrey projects will be competing with them to receive funding.
Time and time again, Surrey and Langley projects have fallen behind other transportation projects that serve North-of-Fraser cities. Although the Surrey Langley SkyTrain (SLS) is starting construction this year, proposals for it had been brought forward as far back as 2010. During the years that followed, the SLS was nearly replaced by a significantly inferior surface light rail system (which we thankfully stopped).
Today, Surrey and Langley residents and families face average annual combined transportation costs over $15,000—more than double what those who live in parts of the region well-served by SkyTrain pay. We cannot afford to wait decades again for more SkyTrain expansion.
We strongly call on the BC NDP to commit to supporting a SkyTrain extension to Newton in the long term, in addition to BRT. Until such a commitment has been made, a BC Conservative government presents the best choice to advance SkyTrain to both Langley and Newton.
SkyTrain to Newton considered as part of Surrey Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis (options RRT2, RRT3)
A cost estimate for SkyTrain on King George Boulevard to Newton was prepared as part of a rework in rapid transit planning with the cancellation of the SNG LRT.
- New SkyTrain on King George Boulevard to Newton could cost up to $1.4 billion
See: TransLink unveils first 10 years of Transport 2050 priorities
"Proposed investments detailed in the 10-Year Priorities include: ... Exploring other potential SkyTrain extensions, including Newton in Surrey and Port Coquitlam"
In this election, several Mayoral candidates expressed interest in a King George Boulevard SkyTrain extension to Newton and South Surrey.
- Safe Surrey Coalition promises to bring SkyTrain to Newton if re-elected
- Surrey mayor makes campaign promise for new SkyTrain to Newton
- Mayoral candidate Jinny Sims vows to extend SkyTrain to Newton and South Surrey
SkyTrain for Surrey is the community organization that advocated for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension (SLS). From our beginnings as a petition calling for the scrapping of a street-level LRT proposal, we grew into a community of like-minded folk, taking on various projects such as making SkyTrain an election issue in 2018 as a registered advocacy group. Today we are pushing for the construction of the SLS as well as the King George SkyTrain extension (KGS).
Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey
Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]