BC PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2024: your VOTE matters!!!
SATURDAY, October 19th
is the final day to VOTE for your next provincial government!!!
It's time to bring Surrey and Langley in line with the rest of the region.
We are at a crossroads: the Surrey Langley SkyTrain is about to begin major construction, to which we owe thanks to the support of our NDP-led provincial government. However, with recent talk of expansions to UBC and the North Shore, there is a risk of returning to a pattern where transit expansion in Surrey and Langley is not given priority, and we simply cannot allow that to happen.
Our next immediate priority should be to build SkyTrain on King George Boulevard, connecting Surrey City Centre to Newton and eventually, South Surrey and White Rock. The results of this provincial election will determine how quickly this will occur.
Does this election affect the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain?
Currently, utility relocation and site clearing work is proceeding; major construction on SLS will commence later in 2024, after the election.
Although a change in the governing party (from the current BC NDP, who are leading the SLS project) creates some risk in disruption to the project schedule, no major provincial party has indicated that it either opposes the SLS project, has any intention to delay the project timeline, or will outright cancel the project.
Per the provincial government and SLS project team, the 3 contracts for major construction have been awarded to the respective teams. Attempting to cancel the SLS project at this stage may come with repercussions, and is thus not likely to be undertaken by a new government.
For this election, we have gauged the 3 major provincial political parties on their level of commitment to 2 main priorities:
☑ Completing the full 16-kilometre Surrey Langley SkyTrain.
☑ Building new SkyTrain on King George Boulevard connecting Surrey City Centre and Newton.
On mobile, scroll right to view the entire table →
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| Complete the full 16km Surrey Langley Skytrain (SLS) | YES Will continue building the SLS as planned. (BC NDP platform) | YES Will “expedite the Surrey Langley SkyTrain, ensuring timely delivery.” (July 25, 2024) | YES Pledged support for Mayors’ Council’s Access for Everyone plan which includes SLS. (October 11, 2024) |
| Build new SkyTrain on King George Boulevard to Newton Town Centre | NO Committed to bus rapid transit (BRT) on King George Boulevard as planned by TransLink. However, BRT could still be upgraded to SkyTrain eventually. | YES Transportation platform includes commitment to extending SkyTrain to Newton. (BC Conservative platform) | NO Pledged support for Access for Everyone plan, which specifies BRT on King George Boulevard. However, BRT could be upgraded to SkyTrain eventually. |
We have also assessed the 3 major provincial political parties on the following additional key priorities:
☑ Advancing the additional planned projects in Surrey and Langley (such as BRT on 200 Street).
☑ Supporting other regional projects like UBC SkyTrain and the SFU Gondola (as long as Surrey/Langley priorities are not missed)
☑ Addressing TransLink’s funding crisis, so that there will be buses to get you to the train.
On mobile, scroll right to view the entire table →
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| Advance planned Surrey and Langley projects (such as 200 Street Bus Rapid Transit) | YES Committed to TransLink’s currently planned “Transport 2050” projects, including BRT lines. (BC NDP platform) | UNCERTAIN Will “fund key projects in the Transport 2050 plan”, but have not said which projects will proceed. However, will address service deficits within Surrey specifically. (BC Conservative platform) | YES Pledged support for Mayors’ Council’s Access for Everyone plan and projects, including BRT lines. (October 11, 2024) |
| Support other regional projects like UBC SkyTrain, Burnaby Mountain Gondola (*alongside, but not ahead of Surrey/Langley priorities) | YES Committed to TransLink’s currently planned “Transport 2050” projects, with specific commitments to extending SkyTrain to UBC and a Langley-Maple Ridge BRT extension. (BC NDP platform) | YES Platform includes commitments to “key projects in the Transport 2050 plan”, and new regional rail between the SkyTrain at Langley City Centre and the Fraser Valley. (BC Conservative platform) | YES Will “provide immediate funding for TransLink to maintain and expand service levels in 2025”, but did not commit to specific regional transit projects. (BC Greens platform) |
| Address TransLink funding crisis, ensuring bus service to the train. | YES Will partner with the Mayors’ Council on implementing Access for Everyone plan, which includes increased bus service to SkyTrain. (October 11, 2024) | YES Will “fully fund TransLink for two years”, preventing service cuts starting in 2026, and “reform its financial model” for the long term. (BC Conservative platform) | YES Will “provide immediate funding for TransLink to maintain and expand service levels in 2025”. (BC Greens platform) |
*We have referred to party platforms and media releases, as well as consolidated resources like VoteMate.org and the Mayors’ Council’s Access for Everyone Voters Guide, to gauge provincial party commitments.
CONCLUSION
We are pleased that BC’s major political parties are set up for the completion of the full 16km Surrey Langley SkyTrain (SLS) and advancement of other planned projects that will enhance the riding experience for Surrey and Langley transit riders.
We are thankful to the BC NDP for their long-held support for the SLS project, and the role that they have played in keeping the project on track as well as keeping the project budget reasonable (when compared to surface LRT projects elsewhere in Canada).
However, at this time, a BC Conservative government would be the best and only choice to advance both the Surrey Langley SkyTrain and a new SkyTrain project on King George Boulevard.
The BC Conservatives have clearly indicated that King George Boulevard will be a SkyTrain (and not surface light rail), and have suggested that both SkyTrain projects would be prioritized higher than North-of-Fraser transit projects; this is sorely needed given our deficit in transit expansion here in Surrey.
King George Boulevard SkyTrain - Timeline
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2012 - Surrey Rapid Transit Study
SkyTrain to Newton considered as part of Surrey Rapid Transit Study Alternatives Analysis (options RRT2, RRT3)
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2019 July - TransLink explores SkyTrain extension to Newton
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
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2022 April - SkyTrain to Newton included in Transport 2050
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"
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2022 October - Surrey Municipal Election
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
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2024 October - BC Provincial Election
*This guide up to date as of October 13, 2024. View the PDF copy below:
About SkyTrain for 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).
Media Contact:
Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey
Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]