News Flash – Expo Line Langley Extension Now $6 Billion
Rail for the Valley Vindicated!
Despite the name calling and insults, for Rail for the Valley’s estimate of $5 billion for the 16 km Expo Line Extension to Langley, as it now seems it was $1 billion off.
Today, the provincial government has put the cost of the extension at $6 billion!
So, where is the extra $2 billion in funding coming from, to fund this White Elephant? A White Elephant because TransLink has stated that the Langley extension will carry fewer customers than the Broadway B-Line Bus, which has a maximum capacity of around 2,000 pphpd!
Zwei calls for a judicial inquiry into TransLink; the Ministry of Transportation; the Mayor’s Council on Transit; and the Premier’s Office, before another penny is spent on this.
What could $6 billion buy you?
- A completely restored E&N railway operating as a modern regional railway.
- A Marpole to Chilliwack regional railway.
- A new multi track rail bridge across the Fraser River, replacing the aged and decrepit single track rail bridge. This would enable a regional passenger rail network to White Rock and as far as Hope.
Rail for the Valley had this right all the time!
Below: Ottawa’s O-Train, providing an affordable regional rail service.
Cost of Surrey-Langley SkyTrain surges to $6B amid ‘market challenges’
By Simon Little Global News
Posted August 15, 2024
The estimated cost to build the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain line has surged by nearly 50 per cent, to just under $6 billion, according to the province.
The project had previously been pegged at just over $4 billion, with a projected completion date of 2028.
In an update Thursday, the Ministry of Transportation said the line is now expected to be in service by late 2029.
2:20ACCIONA wins Surrey SkyTrain extension project
The increased cost has been blamed on “market conditions, including rising inflation costs and key commodity escalation, supply-chain pressures and labour-market challenges” resulting in “higher price proposals from contractors.”
BC Conservative leader John Rustad took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) where he posed in front of a sculpture of the “Angel of Death” calling it the “unofficial mascot” of the SkyTrain line.
It is way over budget, it is years delayed, I don’t think this government would ever deliver on this for the people of Surrey,” he said.
“It is so sad to see what is happening. A conservative government will make sure we get this done, will make sure we get it done in an affordable way.”
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon called the cost escalation “alarming,” pinning the blame on the NDP’s Community Benefits Agreements, which prioritize unions, First Nations and women in certain public works projects.
“At a time when British Columbians are struggling with skyrocketing costs and an affordability crisis, the NDP’s reckless mismanagement of public funds and major infrastructure projects is not just deeply concerning — it’s a threat to funding for essentials like healthcare, housing, and education,” Falcon said.
Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward had a “mixed reaction” to the update, saying it was positive news that the project was moving forward, but raising concerns.
“Certainly it’s disappointing to see it over budget by such a significant amount, and then delayed potentially one year, perhaps longer,” Woodward said.
He also tied the delayed completion date to provincial legislation requiring municipalities to build density near transit hubs, an ongoing friction point between the Township and the province.
“How do you require transit-oriented development and make mandates for us to deliver that when there is no transit?” he said.
Earlier this year, the province revealed the Broadway subway line and the Patullo Bridge replacement, both currently under construction, would be delayed by one year. The province has yet to provide an update on those projects’ costs.
The ministry said major construction on the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain line is expected to begin later this year, with guideway, station, systems and trackwork contractor contracts now inked.
Early work on the project is already underway.
when one is stuck in a hole.
stop digging!!
Bob
Remember back around 2018 when the original 2 LRT lines, the first stage, the Surrey LRT line which was set to open this year (10.5 km long) and the next stage, the (16 km) Surrey to Langley LRT line, hit a combined price of $3.5 Billion! This LRT project took quite a lambasting on this website by Skytrain supporters especially. What a waste, 27 km of LRT for $3.5 Billion, seems like bargain now eh. I told you so!
Remember how the incumbent mayor of Surrey said he could build the entire Surrey to Langley line as a Skytrain line for the same price as the first stage, $1.65 Billion and even Translink said,”no sir at the least $3.1 Billion”. Remember people of Surrey, instead of an LRT line, they gave you a Rapid Bus Line instead, how’s that working for you? Do you think it will survive Translink’s 2025’s operating budget cuts? Remember how that Mayor convinced everyone, including the Mayor’s Council, that the Skytrain would be better than LRT operating technology.
LRT is affordable and the Skytrain isn’t, I originally stated. Especially considering the small amount of passengers on opening day. I can now reveal that I was threatened both by idiots on line and Translink by mail, I replied “talk to my Lawyer”. I was insulted and ridiculed as well as having my 30 years of transit planning experience called into question.
Now $6 Billion later, the Fed’s aren’t going to cover the increased price, as of earlier today anyway. It’s now completely up to the provincial government.
The vultures are now circling, this line is probably going to die! Just like I thought it would.
In 2018-2019, I warned you that this new Skytrain line would get dumped to keep funding the Broadway extension.
I warned you back in 2018 that, if you, the people of Surrey and Langley, dumped the LRT you would end up getting nothing until well into the 2030’s!
I WARNED YOU! Surrey & Langley, you are about to get NOTHING!.
I wonder if that “almost $6 Billion” includes OMC #5?
Zwei replies: I have been told that it doesn’t and the increase cost mainly came from crossing the boggy Serpentine River Valley. If OMC#5 is built the cost will rise to $7 billion.
Zwei is not an expert, but I talk and listen to experts and I learn. The armchair experts that champion SkyTrain, listen to no one but themselves and have been easily maneuvered by both TransLink and the provincial government to support the unsupportable.
This could be an election looser for Premier Eby as the stench of FastFerrys is in the air. (hint), next post.
F.O.I. I just heard from a municipal councilor that there is already a push by the provincial government to increase property taxes to pay for this and the collective NYET is still echoing along the Fraser river.
This is not unexpected. The unwelcome cost increase should not surprise and it seems the government knew about this for some time, but waited until now.
One wonders if more bad news will soon come?
The Legoman’s long tomes were, for a better word, time wasted and we have learned from bitter experience not to trust TransLink or your Ministry of Transportation.
Will the project be cancelled? Politicians of all sorts do not like to be wrong and continue to spend billions of dollars hoping in the end they will be vindicated. Billions of Marks and Euros have been spent on such projects on our side of the pond and later have become dead weights, costing a lot more than cheaper alternatives and not fulfilling expectations.
From the Breaker news:
A Dec. 11, 2023 NDP cabinet order, signed by Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh, took a nearly 37-acre parcel of land at 176th and the Fraser Highway out of the ALR on which to build the $1 billion operations and maintenance centre for TransLink.
B.C. Assessment Authority valued the land at $5.65 million in July 2023. It was sold for $8.052 million last November.