Surrey Leader Editorial: Keep the pressure on

Frank Bucholz’s Surrey Leader editorial offers strong encouragement to us who are pushing hard for passenger rail service, and holding our government’s feet to the fire. Excerpts: TransLink is starting to get the message, thanks to relentless pressure from South Fraser mayors and community leaders… …There has been a smattering of interest in the idea […]

Transit study set up to fail? Editorial from the Province.

Transit study set up to fail? Editorial, the Province newspaper, Dec. 17 I f the B.C. government thinks it will score political points with voters south of the Fraser River for its $400,000 Fraser Valley transit report, it should think again. Not only will the study’s results not be ready until long after the May […]

Canada asks provinces to suggest stimulus projects

Canada asks provinces to suggest stimulus projects As we’ve long pointed out, regular Interurban rail service could be up and running the whole distance between Chilliwack and Vancouver within 2 years, with political will. The Fraser Valley has been clamouring for this service for long enough. It is now time for our provincial politicians to […]

Langley left out

More coverage today, in the Langley Times: Rail group pans TransLink plan and this very blunt editorial by Frank Bucholtz: Langley left out.

Langley not in rail study

Langley not in rail study (Langley Advance) “Rail for the Valley says Langley is being railroaded when it comes to a study of local transit options…” Jordan Bateman is also quoted. He seems to think the study will seriously look at the Interurban. If that were the case, wouldn’t Langley be included in the study […]

Brian Lewis: Transit boss’s credentials starting to show

Is Translink REALLY going to give honest consideration to light rail on the Interurban route? Brian Lewis seems to think so. He really likes their new CEO Tom Prendergast: Brian Lewis’s Province column yesterday Excerpt: “…after listening to Prendergast yesterday, my gut feeling says: Don’t count this guy out. He’s a consummate transit professional, as […]

LANGLEY COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF TRANSIT STUDIES (press release)

The following press release was sent out today, in response to the provincial government’s announcement today of transit implementation studies:

Today, the province and Translink announced implementation studies for rapid transit lines to UBC and to Surrey (see link). According to the provincial Transit Plan, the estimated cost of these expansions is $2.8 billion (UBC) and $1.1 billion (Surrey), assuming elevated SkyTrain is chosen. This would work out to $180 million/km for the line in Surrey and more than $200 million/km for the UBC subway line.

Rail for the Valley on CTV

John Vissers and Abbotsford councillor Lynne Harris did great on CTV. Check out the video here: