TransLink says Newton bus loop move won’t come soon
Posted January 7, 2014 9:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS1130) – Moving the Newton bus loop was a hot topic during a public meeting Monday night to address crime in the neighbourhood.
People who live in the area say it’s a haven for crime and want it moved somewhere else more visible.
Drug use and prostitution top the list of problem activities according to people at the meeting.
TransLink spent around $1.1 million to improve safety at the bus loop last year including better lighting but relocation isn’t in the cards in the immediate future.
Infrastructure manager Jeff Busby says the transit provider isn’t against a move but it’s more of a long-term project. “The existing exchange we expect will be there for a while. There is a long-term plan for Newton. TransLink owns land that we would eventually relocate the exchange to.”
But that land is undeveloped right now. “It needs infrastructure, roads and other services to connect it. And it also needs development. We’re really committed to this long-term plan but we need those in place before we can relocate transit services.
“So when that’s in place we can look at what it will take to re-locate transit service,” adds Busby.
Moving it was one of the top suggestions that came out of the public forum on how to make the area safer.
