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TransLink has launched it’s public engagement into a SkyTrain expansion from Whalley to Langley City.

The remaining public consultation sessions are being held this week in Surrey, as the regional transit authority grapples with the details of building the SkyTrain the extra 16 kilometres into Langley City.

Jeff Busby, TransLink’s Director, Surrey Langley SkyTrain Project, told Pulse FM Wednesday there’s good reason the public should attend these meetings.

While there’s only funding for the SkyTrain to Fleetwood, TransLink is embarking on the design work all the way to Langley.

That’s in part to avoid increasing costs due to inflation.

The inflation affects all aspects of the project, not just land,” Busby said in the interview with Pulse FM. “One of the things we are doing to get ahead of that is completing the planning and preliminary design for the project all the way into Langley, so that we are as ready as we can be.

So for those listeners east of Fleetwood wondering why you get involved, this really is a critical time to get involved in the project.”

Some of the things that will be discussed are the environmental impacts of building the SkyTrain along the Fraser Highway into Langley.

Some of the hurdles facing project managers include tree loss along Green Timbers Forest, and navigating salmon bearing rivers such as the Serpentine and Nicomekl.

Through the Green Timbers Forest section, TransLink designers have adjusted the route alignment.

We’ve shifted the alignment to be on the south side of Fraser Highway, where we think the impact to the forest are at the absolute minimum,” Busby said.

As to reducing the impact to the rivers, Busby said that will be part of the public process.

That’s one of the items we have questions on in this round of engagement,” Busby said. “We’ve identified a range of studies, and we want to make sure we’re hearing from the public and other stakeholder groups that those studies are complete.”

The upcoming meetings are at the following Surrey locations:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Surrey Sports and Leisure Complex, 16555 Fraser Hwy. Surrey
  • Thursday, Nov. 14, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 12666 72 Ave. Surrey
  • Saturday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central City Shopping Centre, 10153 King George Blvd. Surrey