Safe Surrey Coalition – 5-point Comprehensive Transportation Platform

1) Achieve Mixed Source Funding Commitments for LRT within 12 Months and Begin Construction Within 24 Months

Background

• As the Chair of Translink, Doug McCallum secured funding for the largest increase to transportation infrastructure in BC history (including the Canada Line, the Golden Ears Bridge, and at the time, the world’s largest order of trolley buses).
• Doug McCallum’s success followed a tried and true formula that leveraged equal contributions from the provincial and federal governments, as well as the private sector.
• In November 2013, the current Mayor and Council pledged to petition the federal government for $1.8 billion specifically for LRT.  It is one year later, and there has been no progress.
• The New Building Canada Fund has allotted $14 billion in federal funding for “investments in infrastructure projects that contribute to economic growth, job creation and productivity.”
• The Translink referendum on transportation funding tentatively scheduled for the Spring of 2015 is likely to fail.
• Surrey and surrounding communities will attract 28 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s new jobs and 26 per cent of its new residents over the coming three decades.
• Surrey’s is 317 square kilometres, which is almost three times Vancouver’s size.
• By 2041, the City of Surrey will surpass Vancouver in population.
• No new major transit infrastructure has been built in Surrey since 1986.
• Doug McCallum and the Safe Surrey Coalition support LRT on Fraser Highway, LRT on King George Boulevard south to Newton with BRT continuing to White Rock, and LRT on 104 Avenue.

Proposal

By November 2015, secure one third of necessary funding for LRT each from the provincial government, the federal government and the private sector.  By November 2016, begin construction on the first phase of LRT.

Click here for Proposal #2 “Introduce More Community Shuttle Buses Into Surrey Via the Translink Optimization Program“