Surrey council has given TransLink the green light to proceed with the design of a bus rapid transit (BRT) route along King George Boulevard, but the question of funding continues to loom large. At a council meeting on Monday, several councillors expressed uncertainty about moving forward with a project that lacks a clear price tag.
Council Divided on BRT Approval
The decision to continue the design was passed by a narrow five-to-four vote, with only Mayor Brenda Locke's slate supporting the motion. Councillor Linda Annis voiced strong opposition, stating, "I can't support something that I don't have a cost for. So I think we need to wait, find out what this is going to cost." Annis also expressed a preference for at-grade light rail transit instead of BRT.
Councillor Doug Elford echoed similar concerns, arguing that traffic in Surrey is already problematic and that he would only support an elevated transit design. His colleague from Safe Surrey, Mandeep Nagra, also opposed moving ahead with the current BRT plan.
Funding Uncertainties Persist
Despite the council's approval, TransLink has not yet secured funding for the actual project. The transportation agency has only received provincial funding for the design phase, with no cost estimate available. Scott Neuman, Surrey's general manager of engineering, confirmed that TransLink has not provided a cost estimate and is still working with the government on funding.
Denis Agar, executive director of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, expressed frustration over the lack of funding announcements. "It's baffling that we haven't heard any funding announcements from either the province or the feds on anything," he said. "There are a few key projects that we're kind of lagging on, and I don't understand why."
Project Details and Benefits
The King George Boulevard BRT is one of three priority corridors identified by TransLink, along with Langley to Haney Place in Maple Ridge and Metrotown to the North Shore. The Surrey route spans approximately 19 kilometers, from Surrey Central Station to Semiahmoo Town Centre near White Rock, with 12 planned stations. The line is expected to reduce travel time by over 40 percent, featuring dedicated bus lanes in the middle of the boulevard and covered stations along most of the route. Currently, 30 percent of the design is complete.
Agar emphasized the need for BRT, especially with rising gas prices. "There are so many reasons to support this," he added. "It would just be so easy for senior government to announce funding."
TransLink confirmed it is continuing to work with the government to secure funding for the project, but no timeline has been provided.
