Surrey-Langley SkyTrain

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project is a 16.5km-long extension of the Expo Line along Fraser Highway to provide fast and reliable connections in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

The project is part of the Mayors’ Council’s 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation, which is aimed at meeting long-term ridership demand by implementing various transit projects.

The transportation plan has identified three priority corridors for rapid transit in Surrey and Langley, which include 104 Avenue, King George Boulevard and Fraser Highway.

The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation agreed with the City of Surrey’s decision to cancel Surrey light rail transit (LRT) and approve the Surrey-Langley sky train in November 2018. The project’s total estimated cost is $3.12bn.

Construction of the SkyTrain project will begin in 2022, upon receiving approval from the federal government. The project is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain details

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain will be an elevated guideway starting from King George Station to Langley City Centre along Fraser Highway. The project will also include three bus exchanges, park-and-ride spaces, an operations and maintenance centre and supporting system upgrades.

The proposed SkyTrain extension will have eight stations along the Fraser Highway corridor, including 140 Street, 152 Street, 160 Street, 166 Street, 184 Street, 190 Street, 196 Street and 203 Street. The 160 Street and 184 Street stations will act as the interim terminal, while the 203 Street will be the final terminal.

The SkyTrain extension is expected to be served by 55 SkyTrain vehicles, each with the capacity to accommodate 600 people. It will be installed with the Compass automated fare payment and collection system.

The extension will improve accessibility by connecting Surrey Metro Centre, Fleetwood Town Centre and Langley Regional City Centre. It will feature a high-quality urban design with an aim to integrate with current and future land uses along the project corridor.

Financing

Phase two of the investment was approved under the Mayor’s transportation plan in 2018, with $30m assigned for the project development.

The project currently has $1.6bn in funding, which is sufficient for the construction of four stations ending in Fleetwood.

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain ridership

The SkyTrain extension is expected to accommodate an estimated daily ridership of 62,000 by 2035 and 71,200 by 2050. It is estimated that approximately 24,000 to 30,000 of the trips will be made by passengers switching from other modes of transport.

The extension will reduce the travel time from Langley Centre to King George to approximately 22 minutes.

Trains will operate at a frequency between four and five minutes during peak hours and ten minutes during off-peak, during which one of three Expo line trains will serve the Langley extension.

Contractors involved

Charter PDI provided cost estimation, risk assessment and technical advisory services for the project.

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain benefits

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain will meet the needs of the growing population of Surrey and Langley Township, which is projected to increase by 280,000 by 2035 and by 200,000 by 2050.

It aims to meet the current and future transit needs of the public, reduce road congestion and improve travel times.

The project will also offer more frequent, reliable and convenient rapid transit options and connect commuters travelling between Langley and Surrey with the broader region. It will support economic development by increasing access to employment, schools, housing and services.

Trains operating on the route will run on electricity, which will reduce emissions and greenhouse gases.