We don’t envy Surrey the LRT versus SkyTrain debate that the Tri-Cities went through about a decade ago.
Surrey is only now going through the agonizing discussion, with a recent Shirocca Consulting study suggesting that two LRT lines, costing $2.1 billion would provide millions of dollars in economic benefits and provide more stations and a pedestrian-friendly option more in scale with the community than SkyTrain.
SkyTrain boosters, meanwhile, want a seamless system that can get commuters to downtown Vancouver in under an hour.
It’s bittersweet to see the debate that Tri-City residents and politicians agonized over a decade ago. But it was the province that decided in 2008 that SkyTrain would be the system here, and the province will likely make the decision for our neighbours to the east, too.
Still, Surrey is smart to take a close look at the options while keeping in mind who really calls the shots.
Do you think SkyTrain is better than LRT for a seamless system into the further reaches of Surrey?
