Light rail to the Valley should trump SkyTrain expansion: transportation group
Posted July 17, 2014 8:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – The story we bought you yesterday about a push to extend the SkyTrain system from Surrey to Langley is now being slammed by some transportation advocates.
In this News1130 follow-up, we’re looking at their claims that other rail technology should be used on a historic route instead.
Donald Johnson is with Rail for the Valley, a group that has commissioned a study looking at the reinstatement of the former interurban line.
“For $1 billion, you get what we call… an electric tram train from Richmond and Vancouver to Chilliwack. When you look at the Evergreen Line for 11 km, it’s $1.4 billion.”
He’d like to see a cheaper and more comprehensive system using light rail on the old interurban line.
“More of a White Rock to Surrey Central, plus our rail for the valley, plus a new rail bridge… that’s doable for about $2.5 billion. And that’s about what the cost is extending SkyTrain to Langley.”
He says White rock and Surrey are growing transit markets. “They’ve got Morgan Creek… nothing but high rises and high-density housing down there, and very poor transit options.”
“I think it’s far more workable than running a few light rail lines in Surrey that really don’t do anything,” he adds.
Johnson adds only seven SkyTrain-type systems have been built, compared with the now over 150 LRT lines built since SkyTrain was first marketed.
