SkyTrain for Surrey, not LRT!

Financial details for Surrey Rapid Transit, reported in the TransLink/MOTI joint studyThe LRT network will cost 40% as much to operate as the entire South of Fraser transit network today.

An LRT in Surrey will have higher operating costs than extending SkyTrain due to the extensive requirement of LRT drivers, as well as the need for all-new facilities, staff and training.
  • Fare revenues will fall far short of recovering long-term costs to operate the system.
  • New funding sources will need to be found to pay for this operating deficit
  • Estimated opening-day deficits of $22 million annually – over 3x as high as SkyTrain
  • With no plan to pay for these costs, operating LRT could require service reductions on existing bus routes.
High operating costs