Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Federal Government will be providing $1.3 billion in funding for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain expansion project to get it from King George Station to Langley. The funding will create 16 kilometres of SkyTrain line, 8 stations, and 30 SkyTrain cars.
“We are pleased that Surrey is getting the transportation infrastructure investment it desperately needs,” said Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade. “Surrey has been starved of infrastructure investment for years, and this is a small step forward to providing services for our business community to foster economic growth.”
“The Surrey Board of Trade conveyed from the very beginning that SkyTrain to Langley could not be built with the funding originally allocated to LRT, even though politicians said that it could. Cost overruns for construction are expected as it is with any construction project.”
With the announcement of this added funding, TransLink will be responsible for funding 20% of the project, the Provincial Government will be funding 40%, and the Federal Government will fund the remaining 40%.
“Although this funding is welcomed, we still need greater investment from all levels of government to connect Surrey together. Surrey is going to be the largest city in British Columbia by 2030, and we need to build for that eventuality. That means greater transit services to move throughout the city, in areas such as our industrial business parks, a more walkable and cyclable city centre, safer streets, and urban design that plans for future growth.”
“Governments should be planning for the long term and ensure that the project is fully funded and get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible. Doing so will stimulate the economy by providing well-paying jobs, which will enhance economic recovery as we come out of the pandemic.”
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Anita Huberman, 604-634-0342, anita@businessinsurrey.com