The Surrey Board of Trade released the results of the 2024 Surrey Roads Survey, the eighth survey which asks businesses about their perspective on Surrey’s network of over 4,500 lane kilometers of roads, which is seeing an increasing number of commuter and commercial users. Over 900 business representatives responded to the survey.
“We need planning and action that anticipates needs and that results in infrastructure construction well in advance of increased population demand, not long after the capacity is exceeded,” said Anita Huberman, President and CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade.
“To encourage economic growth, provincial and federal governments in partnership with the local government need to invest in Surrey. Business wants an efficient transport system because it allows easier movement of labour from households to firms, and goods and services between firms and from firms to households. If we don’t have this, and Surrey does not, then we continue to compromise our local economy and businesses.”
The Surrey Board of Trade’s assessment resulted in the following general conclusions:
1. Planning of all major infrastructure projects must anticipate needs and result in infrastructure construction well in advance of increased demand, not long after the capacity is exceeded.
2. That all levels of government must work together to develop an inter-regional transit/transportation plan for the South Fraser Economic Region; one that would not be subject to political interference but based on best transportation practice.
The daily commute
55.6% of respondents live and work in Surrey – this has decreased since last year
11.1% work in Surrey but live South of the Fraser or in Metro Vancouver, down from the previous year
84.4% drive their own vehicle to work – up from 2022 (78.7%)
1.1% walked to work, down from the previous year (2.3%)
Travelling for business
27.8% drive 4 or more days a week for work – up from 2022
27.8% drive 2-3 days per week
14.4% rarely drive, a decrease from previous surveys
Work from home
35.6% work from home 3-5 days a week
41.1% do not work from home at all
Travel destinations
13.3% travel within Surrey, down from the 2022 survey
49.9% travel throughout the South Fraser (Surrey plus options combined)
82.1% travel throughout Metro Vancouver (combining multiple options)
Employee travel
36.7% of respondents estimate that 0-20% of their colleagues travel for business purposes
52.2% of colleagues travel 1 to 2 hours per day on average, up from the previous survey
Barriers to choosing alternative modes of transportation
36.7% indicated that there are no barriers to choosing different options – down from the previous year’s survey responses
51.1% indicated that there is a barrier
Traffic congestion impact on business operations
20% indicated there was a limited impact to business operations, down substantially from last year
40% indicated traffic congestion somewhat impacted business operations
40% indicated traffic congestion had a significant impact business operations, down from last year
Top 3 corridors requiring attention
38.2% chose 152 Street Overpass of Highway 99: Widen to 4 lanes with transit, walking and cycling facilities
35.3% chose 88 Avenue: Widen to 4 lanes with walking and cycling facilities from 156 Street to 176 Street
33.8% chose 132 Street: Widen to 4 lanes with walking facilities from 72 Avenue to 96 Avenue
Top choice for road connections
77.8% prioritized 72 Avenue with new construction from 152 Street to Fraser Highway
Top 3 intersections requiring improvement
66.7% indicated 104 Avenue and 156 Street
60.3% indicated 88 Avenue and 140 Street
47.6% indicated 88 Avenue and Harvie Road
Transit needed
58.8% of respondents stated that we should have and definitely need rapid transit on King George Boulevard from City Centre to Newton
51.5% of respondents determined that we should have and definitely need rapid transit on Scott Road/72 Avenue
50% of respondents determined that we should have and definitely need rapid transit on 104 Avenue from City Centre to Guildford
Curbside bus pull-outs
72.1% believe that curbside pull-outs for buses are very important and extremely important, which is a slight increase compared to 2022
77.9% believe that curbside pull-outs for buses would be effective in reducing congestion along major arterial roadways
Safety first
35.3% support lower speed limits to help reduce the severity of collisions in Surrey
47.1% did not support lowering speed limits to reduce the severity of collisions in Surrey
Cycling
36% of respondents would be very unlikely to somewhat unlikely to cycle to work if Surrey had a network of safe, protected and connected cycling facilities
49.4% of respondents would be very likely to somewhat likely to cycle, up significantly from 2021 and 2022
Major infrastructure
47.8% want the Pattullo Bridge to have 6 lanes available when traffic wait times extend beyond 10 minutes to cross the bridge beyond the peak hours
22.4% want the Pattullo Bridge to have 6 lanes available when population levels increase
56.7% are fine with the current design of the new Massey Tunnel replacement project
The Surrey Board of Trade believes that transportation is one of the key economic foundations of building our city. The Surrey Board of Trade advocates in support of transportation infrastructure improvements for the safe and efficient movement of people and commercial traffic throughout Surrey. To do this, we need to continually assess areas in Surrey that may be impediments for our businesses and industry.
Read the full 2024 Surrey Roads Survey Report: https://businessinsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-Road-Survey-Report.pdf
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Anita Huberman, 604-634-0342, anita@businessinsurrey.com
