The Surrey Board of Trade participated in a press conference with the Mayors’ Council and other stakeholders at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Annual Convention to launch a letter-writing campaign aimed at the main political parties running in the October 19 provincial election.
“The Surrey Board of Trade fully supports the call for expanded transit services. Our local businesses are intricately linked to the vitality of our region, and a well-functioning public transit system is critical for their success,” said Jasroop Gosal, Interim Spokesperson and Policy & Research Manager. “The Access for Everyone plan is not just about improving convenience for residents; it’s an economic imperative. With our population growth and the resurgence of post-pandemic transit ridership, businesses are already feeling the strain of frozen service levels.”
“Transit is an essential service that not only provides equitable access to transportation for the region but is the foundation of our economy. The cuts that we are expecting in April will be devastating,” Jasroop continued. “Without adequate transit, we will see immense levels of congestion. This will impact the productivity of our workforce and we will experience a detrimental effect on our economy.”
TransLink currently faces a structural deficit of over $600 million. With no new funding committed to date by government, TransLink is preparing to make significant cuts to service that will have catastrophic effects throughout the region. This includes potentially shutting down all bus service after 8:00pm, cutting most bus service in communities such as Langley, the North Shore, Maple Ridge and Delta, as well as reducing SkyTrain service by 30%. Despite TransLink making significant cost cutting measures, it is still not nearly enough to address the deficit.
“Moving people and goods around the Lower Mainland in an effective and timely manner is key to ensuring the success of the region’s economy. We need all provincial parties to work with the Mayors’ Council to develop a new funding model that will ensure our transit systems are not only saved but can be improved. Surrey is experiencing 125% ridership levels versus pre-covid, and we are seeing over 1,200 new residents moving to Surrey every month.”
Read the Access for Everyone Press Release here: https://accessforeveryone.ca/translink-mayors-council-calls-on-voters-to-help-save-transit-ahead-of-provincial-election/
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Jasroop Gosal, 604-634-0345, jasroop@businessinsurrey.com
