Surrey, BC– With Surrey’s population projected to reach one million residents within the next 20 years, the city is urgently advocating for a transit expansion to address its growing needs. Since the last South of Fraser Area Transit Plan in 2007, Surrey’s population has surged from 400,000 to over 650,000, but no new rapid transit has been introduced to accommodate this growth. Currently, only 27% of Surrey residents have access to frequent transit, in stark contrast to Vancouver’s 90%.
Mayor Brenda Locke emphasized the critical need for a robust transit system: “With our rapid growth, we cannot continue to rely on a transit system that fails to meet our residents’ needs. Surrey has been underserved compared to our neighbors north of the Fraser River, and it is time to make up for this shortcoming.”
Post-pandemic, Surrey’s transit ridership has recovered to 115%, outpacing the region. Thirteen of the top 20 overcrowded bus routes are in Surrey, highlighting the demand for service expansion. Key areas such as City Centre and Newton are set to become significant urban hubs, each projected to exceed 200,000 residents by 2050, underscoring the urgency of the city’s call for action.
Surrey’s demands include extending rapid transit along King George Boulevard, improving intra-city transit connections, and enhancing east-west travel options.