Fellow supporters, we are about to reap some immense rewards for our work and your support over the years!
TransLink’s unveiled work plan for a Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension will deliver more transit improvements on all three proposed Surrey rapid transit corridors sooner than the original vision for LRT.
Although light rail supporters have claimed that the change from LRT to SkyTrain will delay transit plans for “decades”, the target dates in TransLink’s new work plan mean that significant transit improvements on all three corridors will actually come 4 years sooner than originally proposed in the regional 10-year-vision.
If the Mayors' Council approves this work plan on December 13th, we will be closing this petition and declaring a campaign victory!
Under the original timeline set in the Mayors' 10-Year-Vision, a Surrey-Langley LRT at street-level would have opened 5 years after the (now-cancelled) Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT were to have opened in 2024. The new timeline for SkyTrain targets a 2025 service start, meaning rapid transit on Fraser Highway will now be delivered 4 years sooner than previously anticipated.
In addition to 16 km of SkyTrain, the work plan also calls for the 96 B-Line to be improved to an upgraded B-Line standard, with investments in landmark B-Line shelters, next-bus displays, traffic signal priority, and dedicated bus-only lanes. As a Bus Rapid Transit “lite” system, the improved 96 B-Line will deliver travel speed and quality of service that is comparable to the originally proposed light rail, and superior in many respects—especially as the rapid buses will be able to avoid blockages and accidents that would impact and shut down a light rail service.
As the 96 upgrades will draw on funding redirected from interim B-Line service on Fraser Highway, they will likely be in place by next year (2019).
These improvements will be a game-changer for Surrey and Langley residents who have waited patiently for a rapid transit system that will deliver real, tangible improvements. The new SkyTrain extension will inherit the current SkyTrain system’s leading 96% on-time record, delivering an ultra-reliable rapid transit service that better connects South of Fraser communities to the rest of the region and with each other.
This is what we've fought for; this is what we've won!
It is clear, more than ever, that a SkyTrain extension was always the right choice for Surrey and Langley on the Fraser Highway corridor. SkyTrain for Surrey has long championed this rapid transit vision combining SkyTrain expansion and Bus Rapid Transit, with a long-standing belief that such a vision would offer more transit improvements to South-of-Fraser commuters sooner than the LRT vision.
We strongly urge the Mayors’ Council to recognize South-of-Fraser transit needs and approve the proposed TransLink resolution on December 13th.
*** FULL TEXT of proposed resolution***
That the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation:
- Endorse the work plan in this report that directs TransLink to:
a) proceed immediately with planning and project development work for a SkyTrain on Fraser Highway project. and,
b) concurrently, initiate a planning process to refresh the South of Fraser rapid transit strategy, consistent with the 10-Year Vision of building 27 km of rapid transit on the three corridors. - Endorse the cancellation of the Fraser Highway B-Line in the Phase One Plan, and instead direct the planned resources to improving the 96 B-Line and existing services on Fraser Highway.
- Receive the "South of Fraser Rapid Transit" report from Geoff Cross, TransLink Vice President of Planning and Policy, dated December 7, 2018.
Please JOIN US at the Mayors’ Council meeting!
It will be important to let our decision makers throughout the region know that the proposed resolution MUST be approved!
Did you know: TransLink’s Mayors’ Council meetings are OPEN to the public! Join us this THURSDAY at TransLink Headquarters at 9:00 AM to witness the Mayors’ Council’s vote on SkyTrain to Langley and TransLink’s work plan! Witness history in the making!
Mayors' Council Meeting
TIME: Thursday Dec 13, 2018 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
PLACE: Suite #400, 287 Nelson’s Court, New Westminster, BC, V3L 0E7
MORE INFO: TransLink website
Keep in touch with us: send us an email anytime at info@skytrainforsurrey.org, and be sure to join our Facebook discussion group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nolrt4surrey/.