Expert says Surrey residents hoping for progress to SkyTrain expansion

The Broadway Subway Project in Vancouver, is rapidly moving, but some in Surrey want to see their promised SkyTrain actually be built.

Founder and Chair of Skytrain for Surrey Daryl Dela Cruz, says Surrey is rapidly developing just like Vancouver, and “We need a way for people in our part of the region to get here.”

Last fall, Jonathon Cote, the mayor of New Westminster and chair of TransLink’s mayor’s council said the long-awaited Surrey-Langley Skytrain faced major delays, with the opening now expected in 2028.

He had said the original timeline was based on the SkyTrain project expanding to Fleetwood alone, however, now it will be fully expanded to Langley, “which means that a much larger project, involves a lot more.”

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Dela Cruz explains that so far, the only progress made is the lane expansion of Fraser Highway. Meanwhile, the first piece of the tunnel boring machine has already made its way to Vancouver.

“I would certainly like them to move faster,” he told CityNews.

With major developments like UBC expanding its campus south of the Fraser River, Dela Cruz says he does not think people outside Surrey and Langley grasp how necessary the transit line is to the region.

“I think a lot of people across the river might not be aware of the kind of growth that’s happening here,” he said. “We want progress ASAP.”

Cote previoulsy said the pandemic has also been a major cause behind the delay. He also added, while construction inflation will need to be considered, the added benefit of combining the project with the Fleetwood extension with the Langley extension is there actually be a lot more cost savings.

The 16-kilometre expansion of the Expo Line will stretch from Surrey’s King George Station to 203 Street in Langley and will cost about $3.95 billion.