Dianne Watts supports LRT over SkyTrain!
Posted on March 14th, 2008 in politics, surrey, technology, transportation, urban planning, vancouver |
During the Surrey Mayor’s State of the City address, while discussing transportation in BC’s second largest city, Dianne Watts said:
“I for one am a firm believer that instead of SkyTrain expansion in Surrey we should be looking at At Grade Rail. At Grade Rail is significantly cheaper, easier to build and much more aesthetically pleasing than Sky Train. Surrey cannot wait until 2020 for improved rail transit. At Grade Rail can be completed much faster. I have great confidence in the potential of At Grade Rail, and I am currently having City staff analyze this option so that we can move it forward.”
This is a terrific move on the part of the Mayor. It great to know that she understands the added qualities that LRT presents to Surrey over SkyTrain - not just cost efficiency per km, but also aspects like the streetscape asthetics.
While I understand the reasoning for SkyTrain to UBC and to Coquitlam, I am a vehement supporter of the development of a new rail transit network based on LRT. Surrey is in the perfect position to be the beginning spot for this new network and will set the city apart from the North of Fraser’s transportation planning of the past few decades. It’s saying “We will chart our own path, learn from your mistakes, and build the best rail transit we can”. And that rail transit will be based on LRT!
Hopefully Surrey City Council will take a nod from Vancouver, and continue to push forward on the Heritage Rail Project. It would be a fantastic business case for LRT South of the Fraser if we can have a demonstration up and running in the next few years!
Good job Dianne! You just got my vote for November!
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4 Responses
:D
See my comment at civic surrey…
Here’s an interesting fact: on a Sunday morning between 6 and 8 am you can catch a bus from Langley to Surrey Central every 15 minutes. From Cloverdale to Surrey Central? Every hour. 6:34, 7:34, 8:19 at my intersection. I was surprised any buses run at a quarter past 6 on a Sunday (let alone Easter Sunday) and very pleasantly surprised to see it every 15 mins on the 502. I’d move to Langley if it didn’t take an extra 10 - 15 minutes for a normal rush hour commute…
another point for LRT!
And the 64th and 168th tranist rider is a nervous skeptical jaded bitter forgotten-about bunch for real!
Oh D, you always lend such good sarcasm ;) You’re probably the least bitter of the bunch!