A friendly reminder: B.C. PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2020: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th is the final day to VOTE for your next provincial government!!!
VIEW OUR FULL B.C. ELECTION 2020 VOTERS' GUIDE (print)
How does this election affect the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain?
The Mayors’ Council has endorsed the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain as the region’s next major rapid transit investment and is committed to building all 16 kilometres within the region’s current 10-year-vision. However, regional mayors have only been able to secure the $1.6 billion in funding from the previous LRT plan, and TransLink has determined this will be enough to build as far as 166 Street in Fleetwood. This funding is still subject to a business case approval, which was delayed due to the onset of COVID-19.
To complete the remaining segment to Langley City, an additional $1.5 billion in funding must be secured from all relevant partners. TransLink’s CEO has noted the possibility of completing the entire project to Langley in a single phase, but only if the remaining $1.5 billion is secured, which must be done as soon as possible.
In order to build the full 16 kilometre Surrey-Langley SkyTrain by 2025, the next provincial government must do the following:
- #1: Approve the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain business case (and initial $1.6 billion in funding to 166 Street in Fleetwood).
- #2: Commit, in budget, to the provincial share of the remaining $1.5 billion to Langley City.
- #3: Complete the full Surrey-Langley SkyTrain in a single phase (instead of two phases).
- #4: Prioritize the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain and ensure that other transportation projects do not cause delays.
- #5: Support TransLink operations so that it remains in good financial standing and can deliver the region’s funding share.
How do the parties do on commitments for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain?
Since the start of this election period, SkyTrain for Surrey has been monitoring party platforms, party announcements, debates, and candidate statements on developments regarding the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain. We rate the below four provincial parties on this issue as follows:
- Approving the SLS business case
BC NDP: YES
BC Greens: YES
BC Liberals: LIKELY (indicated support)
BC Conservatives: YES - Committing funds from Fleetwood to Langley
BC NDP: YES
BC Greens: LIKELY (committed to Mayors' vision)
BC Liberals: UNCERTAIN (has indicated support, but not $ in budget)
BC Conservatives: YES - Completing the SLS in a single phase
BC NDP: YES
BC Greens: LIKELY (through Mayors' vision)
BC Libreals: UNLIKELY (no specific commitment)
BC Conservatives: YES - Prioritizing SLS to ensure it can proceed without delays
BC NDP: YES
BC Greens: YES
BC Liberals: UNLIKELY (Massey Bridge + highway projects could delay SLS)
BC Conservatives: YES - Keeping TransLink in good financial shape
BC NDP: YES
BC Greens: YES
BC Liberals: UNCERTAIN (lack of response when asked by Mayors' Council)
BC Conservatives: LIKELY (due to support for SLS, but no specific position)
The party with the strongest commitment to building the full 16-kilometre Surrey-Langley SkyTrain from King George to Langley City is the BC NDP.
The time for SkyTrain is now. B.C.’s economy has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment has risen to record highs, and housing costs are a huge challenge. The lack of a rapid transit backbone has made us reliant on our cars, at a high expense: on average, we now pay 2-3x as much to get around compared to those living in areas well-served by SkyTrain. Building the full Surrey-Langley SkyTrain secures our prosperity through the pandemic: not only will it provide much-needed construction jobs to boost the local economy, but it will give us crucial access to education and job opportunities throughout the region—via fast, frequent and reliable automated trains.
As always, we thank you again for your longstanding support of our organization and for your support of extending SkyTrain. If you have not participated through early or mail-in voting already, don't forget:
VOTE TOMORROW - SATURDAY OCTOBER 24TH!