(News Release from City of Surrey)
At its first meeting since the civic elections last month, the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation has endorsed the City of Surrey’s decision to cancel light rail and switch the technology to SkyTrain.
“Surrey has long been a full partner in building rapid transit transportation for the rest of the region and Surrey has been waiting a long time for its turn,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “I commend the members of the Mayors’ Council who supported the resolutions for their foresight and recognition that the residents of Surrey have said unreservedly that the best rapid transit option for our city is SkyTrain. This is a golden opportunity to move forward and start building.”
On November 5th, after taking the Oath of Office, Surrey City Council convened a Regular Council meeting where a motion was introduced and passed unanimously to cancel the Surrey Newton Guildford LRT project and to begin work on extending the existing SkyTrain network in Surrey from King George Station to Langley City. The City’s Engineering and Transportation staff have already started work on the SkyTrain project in Surrey.
“Just as Surrey City Council has moved quickly on the wishes of our residents, I want to thank the members of Mayors’ Council for dealing with this important issue in such a timely manner,” said Mayor McCallum. “Today’s decision at Mayors’ Council fits well with the Mayors’ Council’s 10 Year Plan, which the City of Surrey fully supports, as SkyTrain is a known and proven technology and is the only rapid transit technology deployed in the entire Metro Vancouver region.”
The decision made today at the Mayors’ Council’s meeting is a significant step forward in realizing a new SkyTrain rapid transit line in Surrey. The Mayors’ Council’s report on “South of Fraser Rapid Transit” can be viewed in its entirety here.