Frankly Speaking

One of the SkyTrains heads for King George Station, the final one on the Expo Line. It opened in 1994 and represents the final extension of rapid transit into Surrey. Stock photo by Alamy. The University of B.C. wants an extension of the SkyTrain Millennium line to come all the way to its Point Grey campus, and is prepared to help pay for it. The cost to extend the line from the current proposed end point of Arbutus Street in Vancouver could top $3 billion. While UBC’s concern for students is understandable, it is this type of thinking that has punished Surrey and other South Fraser residents for decades. Residents of the South Fraser area have endured substandard transit service, along with congested roads and bridges, with no significant transit improvements for more than two decades. Meanwhile, the population of the South Fraser region continues to grow at a rate far higher than the Burrard Peninsula. Residents need to let TransLink and local mayors know, in no uncertain te...

LRT vehicles in Surrey would look something like this. In a March 1 meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at city hall, Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner again emphasized the importance of Surrey’s proposal for two LRT lines, as well as other green infrastructure. It was the first visit ever of a sitting prime minister to Surrey city hall, which demonstrates Surrey’s rising importance nationally. It continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. It also suffers from a significant infrastructure deficit, with schools, recreation facilities, roads, parks and transit projects all in short supply. “I wholeheartedly welcome Prime Minister Trudeau’s commitment to work with municipalities to build strong and vibrant communities across the country,” said Hepner. “We had a very constructive meeting and I look forward to working with him and his team to bring positive results on issues that intersect on both the local and national level.” The timing of the LRT line cons...