Tiger_Quimpo

It looks like one or two others may be singling out White Rock & South Surrey as their preferred destination. This article in the Vancouver Sun suggests that opinion is changing on where the next TransLink Sky Train route should be heading. Not UBC and Port Moody, but Surrey.

Move over everyone in Metro Vancouver and make room for another million souls.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Met...197/story.html

acer rose

Certainly Surrey's population is forecast to expand a lot in the coming years but people based in White Rock and south Surrey already have the Park and Ride at King George and the new bus/Canada Line route. Would adding an extension to Guildford in itself be the deciding factor for those choosing between the various spendy areas of Greater Vancouver?

ExKiwilass

"suggests TransLink give priority to connecting Surrey city centre to other growth neighbourhoods following completion of the long-awaited Evergreen Line, which will link Port Moody, Coquitlam and Burnaby."

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Met...#ixzz0yZmmc7WA

Looks like it would be after the Evergreen line, not bump the Evergreen line. IMO this makes sense.

However, I wouldn't hold my breath because they don't even have the money for the Evergreen line yet!

FWIW I think Surrey should have more transit infrastructure than it does now. A lot more.

Tiger_Quimpo

When I was over in the summer (in White Rock) I was trying to find the best option for commuting into Downtown Vancouver. Looked at Skytrain stations with parking. What's the obvious choice here?

Bus Link park and ride - what's that like? Speedy and cheap or slow and expensive?

JonboyE

The 351 and 352 bus routes run from White Rock / South Surrey to Bridgeport station where you transfer to the Canada line for Downtown. If you don't live near the bus routes then you can use the park-and-ride at King George Hwy/Hwy 99. Once they leave the park-an-ride these are express buses that only stop a couple of times before they get to Bridgeport.

Although the buses are not new they are quite comfortable - more like a coach than a regular transit bus. You are looking at about 1 hour 15 to 20 minutes in rush hour. This is about the same time as driving.

The single ticket costs $3.50. A monthly pass costs $151 and this gives you unlimited access to the whole Lower Mainland transit system (except the West Coast Express) and free rides for your family at weekends. You also get 15% back from the federal government when you file your tax return.

dboy

Not entirely accurate. Port Moody (evergreen line) is slated to go ahead as planned with construction starting in 2011. The issue surrounds if the next project after evergreen should be the UBC Corridor (presently the busiest corrdor in BC) or southern extention of the surrey line.

The argument is growth will be greatest in South Surrey/Langley. Where this notion fails, is that more workers will still be heading to Vancouver than other areas.

Both are needed really, but given the astronomical costs of LRT, it just won't happen. Other infrasctructure needs ever upgrading, replacing or developimng too. The Highway One/port |Mann project is full speed ahead and the Patuillo Bridge replacement will be started in 2015.

ExKiwilass

true dat

Tiger_Quimpo

Thanks. Just the sort of info I was looking for.

kullymack

I thought that they would have expanded out towards Langley?

ExKiwilass

Langley isn't even on the radar at this point. Even if it should be.

We just don't have the money. Periodfullstoptheend.

Aviator

A small group has been pushing for many years to get this, http://rftv.wordpress.com/
However with the new HOV lanes and Port Mann, extremely doubtful. The tracks from the old BC Electric are still in place too.

JonboyE

In some ways it is a shame that Vancouver built the Sky Train for Expo. I guess a mono rail was cool at the time but the Lower Mainland seems to be locked into the Sky Train design which is considerably more expensive that light rail.

I would love to see the Chilliwack line reopened to connect with the Sky Train in Surrey. I think it could have a viable future.

Aviator

It is a pain using the WCE with such a limited schedule and the 45 minute drive to Mission. There are more commuters out in the valley now and I suspect if the money going into the highway upgrades went into a light rail alternative, there would be less congestion on the roads and a higher ridership.

Was down in your neck of the woods last week. Nice stroll along the front and dinner watching the sun go down. Gets real busy down there on a Friday night now eh!

ExKiwilass

yup.

I know I know the Olympics were great, but this is why I didn't want the Sea to Sky. I would much rather have seen the money go towards more transit in the valley.

JonboyE

As soon as the sun come out the promenade fills up. Some of the sea front bars do get a bit lively. Junior works at Jimmy Flynns. Although the theme is mock Irish it is run by Brits and the beer is not bad at all.