Conservatives promise to fund Surrey LRT
If re-elected Conservatives say they will fund a third of the proposed $2.1-billion LRT project
The Conservative Party says it will help fund light rail transit in Surrey if re-elected next month.
Industry minister James Moore, who is not running for re-election, and former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, now the South Surrey—White Rock Conservative candidate, made the announcement in Monday morning, pledging to provide up to $700 million of the proposed $2.1 billion project.
"Light Rail Transit will shape our city, spur economic growth and connect communities", said Watts in a press release.
On Sept. 9, the Liberal Party announced it would commit $20 billion over ten years to public transportation funding, including Surrey LRT.
At the time Surrey—Newton Liberal candidate Sukh Dhaliwal pointed to unfulfilled transit funding applications the City of Surrey had made to the federal government in previous years, saying, "Stephen Harper's government has completely abandoned the fastest growing city in British Columbia."
The NDP said it will invest $26 billion over 20 years in transit and transportation across the country.
The first stage of the Surrey's LRT proposal is a ground level, 10.9 kilometre L-shaped line linking Guildford Town Centre, Surrey City Centre and Newton Town Centre.
The project was first announced with an expectation costs would be split three ways between TransLink, the province and the federal government, however in a plebicite TransLink failed to get approval for a proposed 0.5 per cent sales tax to fund transit expansion.
