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Surrey City Council Cancels LRT Project, Approves SkyTrain Extension

CUPE 7000 SkyTrain Workers Contract - North Shore Rapid-Transit Line

Photo: Jeffrey Ngai / 604 Now Flickr Pool

UPDATE: On Thursday November 15, Metro Vancouver Mayors voted in favour of suspending plans indefinitely for the Surrey LRT extension. The Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council approved a motion “recognizing the City of Surrey request to change the technology and timing of the Fraser Highway project from LRT to SkyTrain.” As a result, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is one step closer to delivering his election promise in record time.

Our original story below:

Mayors across Metro Vancouver have voted to indefinitely suspend plans for light-rapid transit lines in Surrey and have asked TransLink to put forward a business case for a SkyTrain extension to Langley.

The Mayors’ Council approved a motion “recognizing the City of Surrey request to change the technology and timing of the Fraser Highway project from LRT to SkyTrain,” paving the way for Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum’s election promise to come to fruition.

Surrey’s new city officials are moving forward with cancelling the light rail transit (LRT) project.

Mayor Doug McCallum and the new members of Surrey City Council officially took the Oath of Office at an inauguration ceremony held Monday evening at City Hall.

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Immediately after being sworn into office, Surrey City Council convened a Regular Council meeting where a motion was introduced and passed 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.

“What City Council has done is immediately deliver on the wishes of the people of Surrey,” said Mayor Doug McCallum.

“It was very clear to me that with all the people I spoke to and heard from that SkyTrain and Surrey establishing its own municipal police force are what is best for our city. As the elected representatives of the citizens of Surrey, we are delivering not just what we promised to do, but we are acting on what the people have said would be best for their city.”

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Surrey LRT Project

City Council has ordered municipal government staff to stop all work on the LRT. Instead, they will be tasked to work alongside TransLink to extend the SkyTrain.

McCallum’s Safe Surrey Coalition will also ask TransLink’s Mayors’ Council to cancel the LRT and reallocate Phase Two funds towards the new SkyTrain extension.

It’s fair to assume many will back Doug McCallum. He’s received public support on the move from Vancouver’s Mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart.

On the contrary, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie has publicly stated he will not support a SkyTrain line to Langley.

If Surrey’s new Mayor is able to extend the elevated rapid transit SkyTrain throughout the city, it will come at a high cost. As it stands, the option will cost nearly double the projected $1.65-billion budgeted for the LRT.

Shortly after City Council passed the motion, TransLink confirmed that they would halt all work on the LRT.

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